Why Contractors Won't Recommend Vinyl Gutters

Vinyl gutters are seen fairly commonly on homes and you may think that the ones on yours have done well over the years and are perfectly fine.

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However, contractors will usually tell you that there are better options out there because there absolutely are. For the few benefits that vinyl gutters give you, there are some very important disadvantages as well.

For this post, we will go over exactly what vinyl gutters are, why people have chosen to use them before and why professionals will tell you not to use them. Finally, you&#;ll see types of gutters that contractors do recommend and will likely perform better than a vinyl gutter system.

What are Vinyl Gutters?

So let&#;s start with, what do gutters do? Gutters are made to keep your roof, walls and siding from getting damaged by lots of water from storms and other types of water damage.

Vinyl gutters are actually made of PVC plastic and are very popular as a cheap alternative to other kinds of gutters. They are seen on many homes and are also fairly well liked by those who install it because it is rather easy to put in.

To put it simply, vinyl gutters are just another kind of gutter on the market that comes in all different lengths, sizes, and shapes. What differentiates it from others is, of course, that PVC plastic used to make it.

Pros of Vinyl Gutters

• Easy Installation

Vinyl gutters are lightweight and are popular amongst those who have little experience with gutter installation and want to give it a try.

Also, for those that do not want to pay someone to install their gutters for them, the easy-to-install vinyl gutters are a particularly appealing option. Which leads us to the next pro for these types of gutters:

• Price

Probably the most popular reason people will turn to using vinyl gutters for their home is the low price. It is possible to find these gutters at many home improvement stores for something around $3.00 a length or less.

Also, because they are very easy to install, you will end up paying less for a contractor to put them in for you. Alternatively, you could always put them in yourself and not even have to bother paying a professional to do it.

• Low Maintenance

Vinyl gutters hardly require any maintenance while they&#;re operational. They will never ding or dent like metal gutters could and, because they&#;re made of plastic, they never corrode.

There&#;s no need to paint vinyl gutters and even if they get scratched, the material&#;s color goes completely through so the scratch is hardly noticeable. Again, this is a problem with metal gutters that people will sometimes be the reason people choose vinyl gutters.

Cons of Vinyl Gutters

• Don&#;t Last Long

Vinyl gutters will usually last you around 8-10 years if installed correctly. However, it depends on how thick the plastic is to see if they will last longer or shorter than that.

Other gutters will last you much longer than this and, while vinyl gutters are easy to install, you will be doing this job a lot more than if you simply get a better gutter system.

• Not as Structurally Sound

The PVC plastic that vinyl gutters are made out of can&#;t support heavier weights over long time periods. This makes vinyl gutters a particularly bad idea for homes that see a lot of heavy rains.

Vinyl gutter&#;s seams are also absolutely a weakness that can cause big problems with excessive weight. If too much water or other material weighs down on the gutter, the seams can pull apart and cause leaks. At worst, the gutter can completely break apart at one of these seams and become unusable.

There are seamless vinyl gutters that are certainly the better of the two, but the material itself is still structurally weak and suffers the same problems. Metal is much better in this regard because the joints are soldered and can handle much more weight than their vinyl counterparts.

Gutters That Contractors Do Recommend

• Steel Gutters

If you live in an area that is prone to rough storms or long rains, steel gutters will last a long time and are much stronger than cheap vinyl gutters. You can go with galvanized or stainless steel gutters and each have their own benefits.

Galvanized steel typically will not corrode for up to 25 years and stainless steel will not rust whatsoever. These types of gutters are more on the expensive side but, if your home needs it, they are well worth the investment.

• Copper Gutters

Copper gutters will succeed in just about any climate you can think of. These types of gutters are arguably the best rain gutters on the market and for good reason.

They last for a long time, are durable even through harsh weather conditions, and also make your home look pretty good while doing it. Of course, these are usually the most expensive gutters out there, but they are certainly worth the price if you can afford it.

• Aluminum Gutters

Aluminum gutters are another inexpensive option for those looking for gutters on a budget and don&#;t want to settle for vinyl. Aluminum is lightweight, will not rust at all, and is pretty durable itself too.

They are nice gutters except that they can very easily get dented by falling branches, hail and other things that could impact the gutter. If you live in a place that blows a lot of branches around or gets hail, you may want to go for a different option.

The Wrap-Up

Vinyl gutters have their benefits but just about any contractor will tell you that there are better options available to you. Vinyl may be cheap and easy to put in but it is cheap for a reason.

Keep in mind the other options you have when looking for gutters and only install vinyl gutters if you are okay with replacing them frequently and know they won&#;t get damaged by too much rainwater weight.

Why don&#;t most contractors recommend vinyl gutters? While each type of gutter system has its pros and cons, the disadvantages of installing vinyl gutters far outweigh the benefits. 

To help you pick the type of gutter system that&#;s most suited to your home, the gutter installation experts at Barry Best Seamless Gutters elaborate further on the pros and cons of vinyl gutters below. 

The company is the world’s best vinyl rain gutter installation supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Why DIYers on a Tight Budget Prefer Vinyl Gutters

Why are vinyl gutters popular among DIYers and homeowners on a tight budget? Well, vinyl gutters are: 

1. Inexpensive &#; Vinyl gutters are quite cheap, with some selling for less than $3 a length. 

2. Lightweight &#; Since vinyl is lightweight, the gutter hangers or the mounting structure don&#;t need to have significant load-bearing capacity. 

3. Easy to install &#; Vinyl gutters are also easier to install because they&#;re made from a lightweight material. This makes them attractive to DIYers who often don&#;t have much experience with gutter installation.

1. Low maintenance &#; Vinyl has minimal maintenance requirements. You don&#;t need to paint it or apply anti-rust coatings to prevent rust&#;the material is naturally rust-resistant.

The Disadvantages of Vinyl Gutters 

While vinyl gutters aren&#;t all bad, they have some serious drawbacks that make most contractors reluctant to recommend them. These include:

1. Short lifespan &#; The durability of vinyl gutters depends on their thickness, but in general, vinyl gutters have short lifespans. 

2. Susceptibility to extreme temperatures &#; Vinyl gutters&#; susceptibility to extreme temperatures is part of the reason they have short lifespans. Vinyl gutters become brittle in sub-zero temperatures and may warp or sag in high temperatures. 

3. Structural weakness &#; Vinyl, which is made from PVC plastic, can&#;t support heavy weight loads over a prolonged period, making vinyl gutters unsuitable for areas that frequently experience heavy rainfall. This weakness is compounded by the presence of seams, a major weak point of standard gutter systems. If the weight load becomes too heavy, the seams might start to pull apart, creating gutter leaks. This is also the reason why a lot of professional contractors recommend installing seamless gutters. If, however, you prefer installing a standard gutter system, we recommend choosing one made of metal. Manufacturers solder the joints of metal gutters to strengthen them. 

To sum it up, vinyl gutters&#; most attractive feature is their affordability. However, because of their short lifespan and poor durability, vinyl gutters aren&#;t cost-effective, which is also why most professional contractors don&#;t recommend them. 

What Professional Contractors Recommend 

If vinyl gutters aren&#;t a great choice, what are the other options contractors recommend? Here&#;s an overview of the common gutter types and their respective pros and cons: 

1. Aluminum gutters &#; If you&#;re on a tight budget, you&#;re better off installing aluminum gutters. Like vinyl gutters, aluminum gutters are relatively inexpensive, lightweight and resistant to rust. Aluminum is far more durable than vinyl, however. A potential problem with installing aluminum gutters is that they&#;re easily dented, so they&#;re not the best choice for areas that frequently experience hailstorms and other extreme weather events. 

2. Steel gutters &#; Long-lasting steel gutters are more suitable for areas that frequently experience extreme weather events. There are two varieties two choose from: galvanized and stainless steel. Galvanized steel gutters can resist corrosion for 20 to 25 years, while stainless steel gutters don&#;t rust at all. One drawback is that steel gutters are slightly more expensive than aluminum gutters, but given their benefits, they&#;re well worth the cost. 

3. Copper gutters &#; If you want a gutter system that can handle any climate, copper gutters are the best choice. In addition to their durability and long lifespan, copper gutters add Old-World elegance to your facade. The only issue with copper gutters is their hefty price tag, but given their exceptional lifespan, copper gutters arguably give the best value for your money. 

Gutter Accessories

The type of gutters you install isn&#;t the only factor that affects the system&#;s durability. Gutter accessories, while optional, can provide quite a few benefits. Here&#;s an overview of the gutter accessories contractors recommend: 

1. Gutter heating systems &#; If you live in a cold climate, frozen gutters are a concern. For one thing, frozen gutters prevent water or thawing snow from being diverted to the downspouts, pushing moisture into the shingles, leading to roof damage. Not to mention, the added weight load can cause parts of your gutter system to sag.

   You can prevent your gutters from freezing by installing heated gutter systems. These products feature heating cables installed near the edges of your roof that emit just enough heat to prevent precipitation from freezing in or around your gutters. To help reduce your electricity consumption, which usually spikes in winter, we recommend installing a self-regulating gutter heating system, like Helmet Heat®. Since Helmet Heat&#;s heating cables automatically respond to temperature changes, there&#;s no need to monitor the cables. 

1. Gutter guards &#; Even the most durable gutter system won&#;t be able to last long if it isn&#;t maintained regularly. The problem is most homeowners just don&#;t have the time to do a tedious but necessary chore like gutter cleaning. They usually have two options: hire a professional gutter cleaner or install gutter protection. The best product on the market is

   Gutter Helmet®, a completely autonomous gutter defense system that ensures you&#;ll never have to worry about gutter cleaning again.

    

Other Add-Ons to Consider

The primary function of your gutters is to divert water to the drains, away from your roof and foundation. However, they don&#;t provide sufficient rain protection for patios. One way of protecting your patio from ultraviolet (UV) and moisture damage is to install awnings, which can provide some much-needed shade on a hot summer day and protection from rain and snow during colder weather. 

However, not all awnings can provide the same level of protection. For optimal protection against UV rays and rain, make sure your new awnings have UV-resistant and mildew-and-water-proof fabric. 

For added convenience, consider installing retractable awnings. With just the push of a button, retractable awnings provide immediate shade or rain protection for your patio. 

It&#;s Best to Leave Installation Work to the Professionals

When shopping for a gutter system and accessories or making any significant investment, always remember this piece of advice: Don&#;t get too preoccupied with the costs. Focus instead on the features that can give you value for your money. Cutting corners when it comes to the quality of the materials, as seen in the case of vinyl gutters, is rarely a good idea. The same goes for gutter and retractable awning installation: It&#;s best to avoid DIY work; instead, leave the installation of your new gutter system to experienced contractors.

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