Gutter Parts and Terminology Explained

Just like your windows, siding and doors, gutters have their own variety of connecting parts that make them function properly. It’s important to know all the gutter parts and terms so if anything goes wrong or you just need to do some simple maintenance, you know what’s happening and how you can fix it. The first thing you need to know about your gutters is the materials they come in. Depending on where you live, you may benefit from one gutter material more than another. The most widely used gutter material is aluminum. Aluminum gutters are very lightweight and can come in a variety of different colors. Although aluminum gutters are light, it’s best to have gutters professionally installed to make sure they’re safely and securely put into place. Copper gutters are known mainly for their aesthetic appeal and beauty. However, with great looks comes a great price. Steel gutters will need to be maintained more often because they can easily rust if left unattended. Vinyl gutters are good for DIYers because they’re a very lightweight option and inexpensive, however, of all the other gutter materials, vinyl gutters are most prone to cracking. Seamless gutters are a much more reliable option. They’re custom made to your home and have no sections. Each length of gutter is one solid piece, leaving no room for parts to fall off and cause leaks. Gutter sections are simply the gutters themselves. They’re the horizontal part that attaches to your home and collects the runoff from your roof. If you have seamless gutters, the gutter sections are the entire gutter on each side of your home. Downspouts are the vertical gutter parts that allow the runoff from the gutters to drain away from your home. Downspouts can come in round or rectangular shapes. Hangers and hidden hangers are the piece that connect the gutter section to your home. Hidden hangers are installed inside the gutter so that they’re not visible from below or front. A miter is the fastener that connects two gutter sections on a corner. KEY TAKEAWAYS:
  • Sectional gutters are good for DIYers and are available at any home improvement store.
  • Pipe cleats are the fasteners that connect the downspout to the side of your home.
  • The elbow on a gutter system is the piece that connects to the end of the downspout so water can efficiently drain away.

  • "End caps are the piece of a gutter section that helps keep excess debris or water from escaping the gutters. Its found at the end of a section and can also be screwed into the eaves." Original Source: http://www.4feldco.com/articles/gutter-parts-terminology/

    Dirty Gutters: Buyers Are Looking at Your Gutters

    We’d all rather other things than spend an hour or two up a ladder cleaning out our gutters. It can be a quick job if you do it regularly, however not many of us enjoy climbing a ladder with a bucket, a mini shovel and a brush, scooping rotting leaves into the bucket, then climbing back down, only to move to the ladder half a step and do it again. No wonder most of us ignore this job to watch TV, have a nap, walk the dog or do nothing at all. When leaves clog your gutters, it stops water being able to flow away. This build-up of water must go somewhere and will often seep into your home. Especially when it goes unnoticed, this water will build up and cause mold issues. Believe it or not, if you’re trying to sell your house, people will notice if your gutters are dirty. No, they probably won’t climb ladders to have a peek, but they will know. Bugs love gutter debris, especially when it’s moist. They’ll happily make their home in your gutters, taking every opportunity to sneak into your house. And no one likes to be constantly swatting bugs when walking through a home. Termites also love rotting branches that collect in gutters, so you run the risk of a termite infestation if you don’t clean your gutters KEY TAKEAWAYS:
  • The harsh truth is that if you ignore gutter cleaning, it will cost you dearly.
  • Cascading water from the gutter not only ruins garden beds but can also fall and sit along the foundations of your home.
  • If your house is surrounded by trees, you may need to do this job more often (every season is recommended). However, if you’re tree-free, twice a year will do.

  • "Overfilled gutters can create a waterfall effect onto your garden beds below. Although waterfalls are a beautiful sight in nature, they’re not so marvelous when they’re caused from a blocked gutter." ORIGINAL POST: http://blog.homesales.com.au/latest/dirty-gutters-putting-buyers-off/