It’s no secret that you can save a lot of money by doing many home maintenance and repair jobs yourself, including installing a new gutter system. However, there are a few essential things to beware of before you make this decision. After all, your gutters play a vital role in keeping your home safe from the elements, so a professional level of installation is vital.

#1. Not Calculating the Pitch

Even if your gutter system might look perfectly even, the slightest inaccuracy in the pitch can render them completely ineffective. Although it might not seem so, functioning gutters do in fact have a slight downward pitch that allows water to flow along them and into the downspouts. It’s only very slight, as it needs to be, but it is one of the most important factors of all.

#2. Choosing the Wrong Type

Most modern houses in the US use the K-style gutter system with 5- or 6-inch-wide troughs, while those living in rainier environments tend to prefer the traditional half-round design. Another important consideration is whether to go for a standard sectional system or the newer seamless design. Seamless gutters tend to be a much better investment, since they are more durable and require almost no maintenance.

#3. Placing the Gutters Improperly

It is important to ensure that your rain gutters are located no more than few inches below the roof, otherwise rain be more likely to get behind the gutter and into the fascia boards and siding. If you currently have this problem with your roof, you may want to consider installing a drip edge, which is placed underneath the first line of shingles to improve the flow of water into the gutters.

#4. Sectional vs. Seamless Systems

Traditional gutter systems feature sectional designs, which typically come as ten-foot sections cut to fit. As such, there are many seams in the system, which are also weak points in the structure where leaks may develop. By contrast, a seamless gutter system, which can only be installed by a professional with specialized machinery, requires almost no maintenance and is practically immune from leaks and blockages. They do cost more up front, but the investment certainly pays off.

Allied Siding & Windows is a Texas-based company that offers a variety of exterior home-improvement products and services, including high-capacity gutter systems that are custom-built for every property.