10 Rain Gutters: Type and Materials (2024)

Home Improvement

Exterior Remodel

Roof

Learn which type of rain gutter system works best for your home.

• 01 of 10

  Seamed Gutters

  

  • Best For: DIY installation, repair, and maintenance; includes vinyl, aluminum, galvanized steel systems
    

  Seamed or sectional gutters come in 10-foot lengths that are made to attach directly to the home's fascia board using hangers. This style of gutter can come in vinyl, aluminum, galvanized steel, copper, or zinc, though galvanized steel, copper, and zinc gutters need to be installed by professionals.

  Seamed gutters are also available in half-round, K-style, box-style, and custom fascia shapes, depending on your preference. Seamed gutters are a good choice for DIY installation and are typically more affordable than seamless gutters, though the type of material can increase or decrease the overall cost.

  Another beneficial factor of choosing seamed gutters is that if one section gets damaged in a storm or otherwise fails, you only need to replace the damaged 10-foot section instead of trying to repair or replace an entire seamless gutter system.

• 02 of 10

  Seamless Gutters

  

  • Best For: Professional installation; wider variety of color options; minimum leakage; and a smooth, uniform appearance

  As the name suggests, seamless gutters are made to be all one piece, instead of having separate sections that need to be joined together during installation. Seamed gutters come in distinct 10-foot lengths, but seamless gutters have almost no length limit.

  Professional gutter installers are able to create seamless gutters of nearly any length because they use a mobile shop to create custom gutter roll-outs specifically measured and manufactured for your home. The gutter starts out as a large roll of aluminum. The roll runs through the machine and is extruded at the other end in the shape of a gutter.

  This service comes at an increased cost, but the gutter system is superior to a seamed gutter system. Seamless gutters are more resistant to leaks and some companies will even agree to do a custom gutter run-out for you and let you install them yourself.

  A major drawback to seamless gutter systems is that they are typically only available in rolled aluminum, while seamed gutters can be made out of vinyl, aluminum, galvanized steel, copper, or zinc.

• 03 of 10

  Half-Round Gutters

  

  • Best For: DIY installation; traditional appearance for home with a classic look; or for copper and zinc gutter systems

  Traditional gutter systems will typically have a half-round appearance with a U-shaped profile. These gutters are not as tall as K-style gutters, though they are wider, often protruding from the fascia by about five to six inches.

  If you are interested in installing gutters on a historic home, make sure to check local ordinances before proceeding because you may be required to install half-round gutters in order to help preserve the historic appearance of the home.

  Additionally, copper and zinc gutter products are often made with a half-round gutter shape. So if these premium materials are an attractive alternative, you might want to consider purchasing half-round gutters for the house.

• 04 of 10

  K-Style Gutters

  

  • Best For: DIY installation; modern appearance; high water volume capacity; and enhanced structural strength

  The most common gutter shape is the K-style gutter which has largely replaced half-round gutter systems since this gutter is deeper and has greater structural integrity. This allows the gutter system to carry more water in the deep troughs with a reduced chance for the water to spill over the side or cause the gutter to collapse.

  One downside is that K-style gutters also collect more debris than half-round gutters, making them prone to clogs caused by leaves, sticks, and dirt. The top lip can collect mold and mildew, as well.

  If you opt for installing K-style gutters, it's recommended to invest in a gutter guard and regularly clean the gutters to avoid the formation of clogs and blockages.

  Continue to 5 of 10 below

• 05 of 10

  Custom Fascia Gutters

  

  • Best For: Professional installation; seamless appearance; contemporary aesthetics; and custom-built gutter system

  The goal of custom fascia gutter systems is to give the home a contemporary appearance that cannot be replicated with half-round, K-style, or box-style gutters.

  These gutters have a seamless design but need to be installed by professionals. The installers will work with you to create a custom-built gutter system made from a single piece of aluminum.

  Typically, fascia-style gutters have the same height as K-style gutters, but they are narrower, which can make them more difficult to clean. Custom seamless fascia gutter systems will usually cost more than seamed half-round or K-style gutters.

• 06 of 10

  Box-Style Gutters

  

  • Best For: Professional installation; high water volume capactiy; heavy-duty construction; and enhanced durability

  Large, heavy-duty box-style gutters are made for commercial, industrial, and multi-unit residential properties, but you can have a professional gutter installation company install them on a single residential home if extra water volume capacity and durability are needed.

  Box-style gutters need to be installed under the roof's shingles, so it's recommended to have box gutters installed when the home is built or when the roof is under repair. These bulky products can be as large as 10 inches wide and 10 inches deep, allowing them to handle heavy rainfall or meltwater after a snowstorm.

• 07 of 10

  Vinyl Gutters

  

  • Best For: Seamed DIY installation; 20-year lifespan; affordable price; and a variety of available colors

  Vinyl is one of the most common materials used to make gutters because it's inexpensive, easy for DIYers to install, and water-resistant. White is the most common color for vinyl gutters, but a number of darker colors like forest green and brown are available, too.

  These gutters typically have a lifespan of about 10 to 20 years, depending on the level of care and maintenance frequency. On average, you can expect to pay about $1 to $2 per linear foot for vinyl rain gutters, though the price increases to about $5 per foot if the gutters are professionally installed.

  Vinyl gutters are highly durable. Unlike aluminum or steel gutters, when vinyl gutters are dented, the dent usually pops back on its own.
  

  Vinyl gutters are heavier than aluminum gutters, so they can strain the fascia, especially when the gutters are full of water. Dark-colored vinyl gutters aren't as colorfast as painted aluminum gutters.

• 08 of 10

  Aluminum Gutters

  

  • Best For: Seamed DIY installation; 30-year lifespan; seamless professional installation; inexpensive; rust resistant

  Aluminum and vinyl are the most common gutter materials for several reasons, including price, ease of use, and product availability. Aluminum gutters are rust-resistant and can be painted in a range of colors to match the aesthetic of the home.

  Aluminum gutters last about 20 to 30 years and cost about $2 to $3 per linear foot for a DIY installation. You can expect to pay about $5 to $6 per linear foot for a professional seamed installation, while the cost for seamless aluminum gutters is closer to $10 to $12 per linear foot.

  Dent's don't fare well with aluminum gutters. Dents can be popped back by hand, but the gutter never quite looks like the original. Aluminum gutters caved by falling tree branches need to be replaced.

  Continue to 9 of 10 below

• 09 of 10

  Galvanized Steel Gutters

  

  • Best For: Seamed professional installation; 30-year lifespan; moderate durability; and high rainfall capacity volumes

  Galvanized steel gutters tend to last about 20 to 30 years, depending on user maintenance. This is about the same amount of time as aluminum gutters, though galvanized steel is resistant to rust, heavy rainfall, and wet weather.

  Due to the need for soldering during installation, galvanized steel gutters are typically installed by a professional and cost about $8 to $10 per linear foot. You can also invest in stainless steel gutters, though the price increases to about $16 to $20 per linear foot.

  Steel gutters hold up against dents better than aluminum gutters, but still not as good as vinyl gutters.

• 10 of 10

  Zinc or Copper Gutters

  

  • Best For: Seamed professional installation and repair; 100-year lifespan for copper gutters, 80 years for zinc gutters; high weather resistance; high- and low-temperature resistance; and rust-resistance

  What could be a better material than metal for gutters? When the metal is steel or aluminum, the metal needs to be powder-coated for appearance as much as for durability. But when the metal can stand on its own, look great, and has natural properties that resist the elements, that metal is either zinc or copper.

  Zinc is a premium gutter material that costs about $10 to $22 per linear foot for a professional gutter company to install a zinc gutter system on your home. Once installed, pre-weathered zinc gutters are incredibly low-maintenance with a high level of rust resistance and a self-sealing patina that helps to prevent scratches or cracks. Expect professionally installed zinc gutters to last up to 80 years, but keep in mind that zinc isn't the best choice for locations with salty air or cedar-shingled roofs.

  The top choice for a premium gutter system is copper. This durable material is commonly used to make both hot and cold water pipes for a home's infrastructure, so you know that copper is highly resistant to water, cold, and heat. This type of gutter system doesn't warp, bend, or rust in extreme weather conditions, and can last for up to 100 years if it is properly installed and maintained. The drawback is that copper gutters need to be professionally installed and this installation can cost as much as $15 to $25 per linear foot.