Aluminum or Steel Gutters: Which is the Best for your Home?
Throughout the years, gutters have been made in many shapes and out of many different materials. The most common style of gutter for a residence is the k-style gutter or “Ogee” gutters. The most common gutter materials for this style you’ll find on a home are aluminum and steel. In this article, we talk about the difference between aluminum and steel gutters to help you determine which is best for your home.
Aluminum gutters
In recent years, Aluminum gutters have become more popular than steel gutters on homes. Aluminum is a lightweight metal so it is easier to hang and will not put a lot of pressure on the hangers that hold them up, but they are still very strong.
Aluminum does have a tendency to expand and contract depending on how hot or cold it is outside, so aluminum gutters may need maintenance over time on corners where different gutter sections join.
Aluminum also comes in a wide variety of pre-finished colors, so you can ideally get a pre-finished gutter that has a baked-on finish that will last 20-40 years (depending on the manufacturer). A lot of our customers really like the pre-finished colors because they plan on not painting them. If you prefer to paint them, just make sure you use a good quality paint that will adhere to aluminum properly. Your paint store should be able to point you in the right direction.
The best benefit to aluminum gutters is that they will not rust. Aluminum inherently is rust-free. That’s why you see a lot of auto manufacturers switching to aluminum construction (that and the weight savings). This means that you should be able to get the most life out of your aluminum gutters if you keep them cleaned out and maintained well.
Steel Gutters
Steel gutters have been around for a long time, and they are still very popular in commercial construction. In residential applications, they are being replaced by aluminum, and I’ll get to that in a minute.
Steel is pound-for-pound a stronger metal than aluminum, so they can technically withstand more abuse from falling debris and excess weight. Steel can be painted and there are some manufacturers that have pre-finished colors, much like aluminum.
That being said, the main issue with steel is that it rusts. We see steel gutters all the time with holes on the bottom of them. Steel can start rusting relatively quickly and, if the gutters aren’t maintained, you can start to see major rust damage within 5-years.
For this reason, we primarily install aluminum gutters at Restoration Roofing. We also recommend a high-quality gutter guard on any gutter system so that you will get the longest life possible out of your investment.
Need Gutters? Work with Restoration Roofing
Working with a skilled Memphis roofer who specializes in gutter installation will ensure your gutters and gutter guards are installed correctly and with quality materials. At Restoration Roofing our team has been trained in the installation, repair, or replacement of gutters.
If you are having issues with your gutters, call us to inspect, find the issue and provide a solution that will get you set for years to come. To get in touch with one of our project managers, give us a call at 901-854-3402 or click here to set up an inspection and digital report. We offer free inspections that are easy and completed quickly. Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more tips on taking care of your Memphis roof.
