Vinyl vs Aluminum Gutters – Which Is Better?

Vinyl vs Aluminum Gutters – Which Is Better?

Many homeowners don’t think much about their gutters until they cause a problem. They actually play a very important part in your home’s safety. Rainwater and melting snow need to be diverted away from your roof, walls, and foundation to help prevent premature deterioration and internal water infiltration. Thankfully you have options when it comes to your gutter system. The vast majority of homes have gutters already installed but if you need to replace your gutters or install gutters where you don’t currently have them, the most popular choices are made of aluminum or vinyl. When choosing between vinyl vs aluminum gutters there are a few factors to consider.

Which Gutters Are Right For You?

K-style gutters are the most commonly found gutters in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and Maryland. They come in different sizes depending on the size and pitch of your roof. Aluminum gutters are the most traditional form of water mitigation. Both types are made of lightweight material so they do not cause added stress to your home when they are filled with water. Choosing between vinyl vs aluminum gutters typically comes down to aesthetics but there are other attributes to help determine which is best for you and your property. Overall, the home improvement experts at PJ Fitzpatrick highly recommend aluminum gutters over vinyl.

Factors to Consider When Choosing New Gutters

As with any choice of building materials, several determining factors impact your decision. Your home’s location, roof style, design, and material cost are all important things to consider when researching vinyl vs aluminum gutters. Performance and ease of repair or replacement are also paramount. Consider the following factors so you can make an informed decision.

Gutter Durability

You will be hard-pressed to find a better material for gutters than aluminum. Aluminum gutters are very light, resistant to erosion, and should last 20 years or more. Vinyl gutters are also lightweight but the material is more susceptible to expanding/contracting and cracking. With the difference in temperatures and weather throughout the seasons, that added stress can cause the need for replacement in 10-15 years.

Gutter Performance

Vinyl gutters come in sections so there are areas where water can escape the channel and they have a greater reliance on connecting pieces. Aluminum gutters come in sections or seamless options. Even a sectional aluminum gutter system will typically have tighter seams than vinyl and hold together better for more efficient performance.

Gutter Installation

While most homeowners don’t try to tackle the installation of their gutter system, it’s important to understand how it works and that impact on the project cost. Vinyl gutters typically snap together but they have more seams that take more time to install. Gutter professionals prefer working with aluminum for ease of length customization and versatility.

Gutter Cost

The cost of vinyl vs aluminum gutters is a mix between material and installation costs. Vinyl gutters are usually cheaper from a materials standpoint, but they don’t last as long and take longer to install. Aluminum gutter materials cost is a little more, but they are easier to find, will last longer, and are more efficiently installed.

Install Aluminum Replacement Gutters
Aluminum Gutters Are a Great Choice

When weighing in the factors of vinyl and aluminum gutters it’s no surprise that aluminum is the most popular choice. From affordability and lasting performance to customization and replacement costs, aluminum gutters check all of the boxes for those trying to protect their property and look good doing it. Aluminum gutters are also infinitely recyclable so if you do need to replace yours, you can rest assured they can be repurposed.

Choose PJ Fitzpatrick for Aluminum Gutter Installation

PJ Fitzpatrick has been providing gutter replacement, gutter repair, and gutter protection throughout the Delaware Valley for over 40 years. If you’re ready to install new aluminum gutters on your home, give us a call or schedule an estimate today. Our skilled and courteous gutter professionals will inspect your home and go through all of the options with you so that your home can stay protected from water infiltration.

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Shingles Or Vinyl Siding – Which Roofing System Is Best?

roofing

roofingIf your roof is leaking, you need the roofing services of a qualified and experienced roofing contractor. The roof is the most expensive part of your home. The damage caused by leaks can cause you to lose your home, your personal belongings, and all of the equipment stored in your home. Leaks can start small and end big – they can start with a small leak in one area and end up with an entire wall leaking water. When you call a professional roofing contractor to come and inspect your roof and see what the problem is, you are taking that step to ensure your home’s continued safety and functionality.

When you have an existing roof, or you just want a brand new roof installation, a roofing company will come out to inspect your home, evaluate the situation, and provide free estimates for roofing replacement. These estimates are generally provided on the spot, and can save you time and money. They can also help you determine the extent of the damage, and let you know the best course of action to take. When you are considering a new roofing installation, you should keep in mind the type of materials used, the amount of wear and tear you may have to endure, and the likelihood of leaks or other damage. You want a quality system, but one that is less likely to cause damage in the future.

Roofing contractors can also recommend commercial grade roofing materials for your residential needs, including high quality roofing shingles. This will reduce the chance of leaks or other damage. Leaks are not the only cause of damage to a roof. Weathering can cause it to crack or bow, and wind damage can cause it to bend and lift off its surface. A qualified roofing contractor can analyze your situation and recommend the best solution for your particular needs, whether it is repairing leaks, replacing damaged shingles, repairing damage or energy efficiency.

There are several types of roofing system. There are roofs that are attached to the home, called gable roofs. There are homes withperimeter-mounted roofs, which rest on the foundation and are known as domino roofs. And there are flat roofs, which are generally not gable or domino, but are attached to the home and sometimes slope to the driveway. All roofs have two layers: the top layer is the structural exterior of the home, which is called the fascia, and the bottom layer is called the sheathing, which is typically made of fiberglass, asphalt or tar paper. The roofing materials used for these systems can vary greatly, as can the choices of materials for the top, bottom and other layers.

It is common for a new roof installation to include the installation of new roofing materials, such as shingles and slate. If your existing roof is weak and prone to leaks, you might want to consider replacement shingles for the entire roof. This is particularly true for older homes, which might have undergone more damage from the weather than newer homes. However, if you live in an area that experiences colder temperatures for part of the year, you might be able to save money by choosing to use slate instead of shingles. Slate is a very durable roofing material that is also fairly easy to install.

If your home has had a recent leak, you may also want to consider vinyl siding. Although this option is often associated with older homes, it can work for new construction as well. Vinyl siding has been proven to be highly resistant to fire. Plus, if you choose this product, you will find it to be highly aesthetically appealing. In fact, many homeowners with homes built in the 1970s have opted for vinyl siding due to the appearance of ease with which they can clean and maintain the product.

If your roofing system has extensive damage, there are a number of steps you can take to ensure the least amount of damage is inflicted on the interior of your home. For example, if your attic or exterior wall has visible damage, you should contact a roofing contractor to identify how the damage was incurred. This information can help you avoid placing materials on the wall in the future that could cause additional damage, such as adding insulation to the wall. In some cases, if the cause of the damage is not clearly identifiable, the roofing contractor may suggest replacing the existing insulation.

Unfortunately, most roofing contractors cannot offer a guarantee on the condition of your roof or your gutters because most leaks occur after years of neglect. If you notice small amounts of water leaking onto your ceiling or walls, you should speak with a professional roofer immediately. He or she can assess the damage and recommend the best course of action to repair the leaks.

Popular Decorative Concrete Contractors

decorative concrete

decorative concreteWhat is decorative concrete? Decorative concrete is essentially a blend of decorative concrete and marble. While decorative concrete has been around for many decades, it wasn’t until recent years that the styles and techniques used in the past were exposed to the public. These decorative concrete techniques include stamped concrete, tile stamping, decorative concrete overlay, decorative concrete staining, and colored concrete. Decorative Concrete Contractors in Jacksonville FL can turn ordinary concrete into beautiful decorative finishes with these new techniques.

The popularity of decorative concrete projects has come from their ability to increase curb appeal. Statistically, curb appeal is one of the main factors that decide a buyer to walk into a store or select a product. More importantly, curb appeal is also one of the significant reasons why prospective clients will even visit your office. One thing you may not realize is that prospective clients walk into your office because they are already intrigued by your products and services. Therefore, if you want to make your office as inviting as possible, you must engage in creative and original concrete projects.

One way that you can enhance your office space is through the implementation of colored aggregate concrete, or 51blocks. Colorized aggregate is made of finely milled colored polystyrene pellets. This material is extremely lightweight, yet extremely powerful when applied to a smooth base such as concrete. Colorized aggregate concrete allows its colors to shine through, thereby making it highly attractive and transforming bland, gray concrete into an eye-catching work of art.

If you’re a decorative concrete contractor who’s looking to expand your clientele but you don’t have the budget for large new projects, there is always the option of outsourcing your sidewalk and driveway repairs to another firm. There are many concrete contracting firms that will do any concrete job within the city limits at a fair price. Some of these firms may only offer general services, while others specialize in concrete work for specific locations. You should ask any prospective contractor if they do a specialty of driveway and sidewalk work, and if they do not, they should be able to tell you how much the job would cost in comparison with other firms that may also offer the service. If you decide to outsource your concrete needs, make sure you select a reputable company that will give you fair and competitive prices.

If you have decided to hire decorative concrete contractors to handle the brunt of your concrete projects, you should ask them about their past experiences and education. You should also inquire about the number of years they have been in business, as well as the number of jobs they have completed. It’s important to find a company with a high degree of experience handling concrete projects because you can guarantee that they’ll do a better job than those that haven’t. Also, it’s always wise to choose a firm that has a highly competitive rate because this will give you the best value for your money.

When you hire a decorative concrete contractors to manage your project, you can relax because you will be given all the freedom you need to ensure that your project is carried out as efficiently and effectively as possible. Any reputable contractor will be happy to provide you with a free quote so you can compare costs. So don’t hesitate to ask any contractor about their past experiences and education before hiring them to manage your concrete works.

Once you’ve shortlisted a few of the decorative concrete contractors, schedule a consultation so that you can discuss your ideas and ask any questions you may have. During the consultation, the potential contractor will review your ideas and then provide you with a quotation. Most people prefer to make use of a fixed price instead of an estimate since it doesn’t require an accurate prediction. You can use the fixed price as your guide when negotiations begin. In case there is something about the plan you want changed, chances are that a highly experienced place-and-finish concrete contractor will be able to help you.

There are many social media websites that are dedicated to providing information about contractors, construction, projects, and anything else related to it. Usually, these online forums provide not only feedbacks about place-and-finish concrete contractors but also links to social media profiles of the most reputable contractors around. You can use these sites as your own ‘construction inspection’ panel and get all the important feedbacks from people who have tried out different contractors’ services before.

You should always try to choose concrete contractors with a lot of experience in the place-and-finish business. Their work will be sure to add life and color to any concrete surface. They will know exactly how to customize their concrete coatings to achieve specific effects such as hammered gold, hammered bronze, or hammered copper. They will also know how to take great care of the concrete surface they have been hired for. Thus, if you wish to give your concrete surface a personalized look, make sure you hire a professional concrete contractor.