Some of the most common materials are vinyl, steel and aluminum, although some houses have copper and wood gutters. Seamless aluminum gutters are ideal to complement your home. In fact, this is why they are the most popular type of gutter, accounting for nearly 80% of all gutters installed in the U.S. UU.
When it comes to aluminum versus plastic rain gutters, the installation processes are a little different. Another advantage of aluminum gutters is that, unlike plastic ones, which are installed section by section, aluminum gutters have no seams, making them less prone to leaks. Aluminum gutters are a type of gutter made from lightweight metal of the same name. They have been prevalent in both homes and commercial buildings for many years.
Vinyl gutters are made of a lightweight plastic material. You may also know them as “PVC gutters” or “plastic gutters”. They have a pressurized installation method, which led to their initial popularity in the DIY market. Aluminum rain gutters typically last at least 20 years regardless of the weather, making them a stronger and more cost-effective option in terms of long-term performance.
While many plastic gutters last up to about 20 years, some wear out and stop working effectively after just 10. Most plastic rain gutters are only available in shades of brown or white, so if you're looking for something you can really customize, aluminum is the way to go. The metal itself can rust, but thick gutters can last a long time without wearing out, and you can paint aluminum gutters to make them last even longer. Alternatively, aluminum gutters can crack and bend in climates where extreme temperature fluctuations are the norm, since aluminum will expand and contract much more than steel gutters. It's worth taking the time to evaluate if aluminum or steel gutters are the best for your home.
While vinyl gutters can last up to 20 years in dry, temperate climates, vinyl gutter systems in Pennsylvania may need to be replaced in just 10 years. Unlike aluminum gutters that come with seamless options, vinyl gutters are only available in sections. While there are a variety of gutter materials on the market ranging from PVC, zinc and copper gutters, aluminum and steel gutters tend to be a popular choice for a variety of reasons. This makes the process of installing steel gutters generally more expensive, since the gutters must be specially formed before being placed in a home or business.
In contrast, steel gutters have the additional advantage of being able to be installed as a seamless gutter system without articulated sections that do not expand or contract as much. While your home's rain gutters may not normally be in the foreground, they serve a very important purpose. Alternatively, steel gutters require more effort and labor to install, and the number of gutter, downspout and elbow machines that can produce steel gutters is limited, which could add additional costs.
