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.
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.
The post Vinyl vs Aluminum Gutters – Which Is Better? appeared first on PJ Fitzpatrick.