Gutter Systems
A “gutter system” refers to the arrangement of gutters and downspouts on your home to channel water safely away from your roof to the ground. The style and size of your house dictates the placement of the gutters and downspouts to form a “gutter system.”
Today, the most commonly used residential gutter is the seamless aluminum gutter. Other rain gutter systems available today, though not as popular or resilient as aluminum gutters, are made of wood, copper, steel, and vinyl. There are also specialty gutters, used on older homes, custom homes, and in certain geographic areas, known as half-round, quarter-round, fascia and integral gutters.
Aluminum gutters are strong and lightweight, come in a variety of colors, and are formed and cut to length at your home by a professional installer. Most seamless gutters are open troughs which can easily collect leaves, twigs and other debris, impeding the flow of water, causing leaks, sagging and damage to your home’s structure. To avoid these problems, many homeowners purchase screens, filters, and hoods to cover open gutters.
Gutter Sizes
Most residential rain gutters come in two sizes, 5 inch and 6 inch, and are made of either aluminum, galvanized steel or copper in a standard “K” style. The typical 5 inch K-style gutter comes with 2 inch x 3 inch downspouts. A larger, 6 inch residential rain gutter system would consist of a 6 inch K-style gutter, using a 3 inch x 4 inch downspout.