Gutter Replacement

Gutter Replacement: Is it Necessary?

If the time has come for roof replacement or restoration some people believe that they also need to have new gutters installed as well. However, gutter replacement, Adelaide homeowners have learned, is not always a necessity. Just because you’re getting a new roof doesn’t mean that you need to replace your gutters too.

Essentially, if the gutters are well maintained, don’t exhibit any leaks and seem pretty robust and are free from rust, then there’s really no need to replace them. If they do seem to leak a bit, a little gutter repair might just do the trick.

Then again, there are situations in which there’s really nothing you can do other than to have the existing gutters removed and new ones installed. If that’s the case, the question is what type of gutters you should install.

Gutter Types Available for Gutter Replacement in Adelaide

There is a wide range of gutter styles available on the market. They are generally differentiated by their profile, but also the materials used in their construction. Some of the types of gutters you will find in Adelaide include:

Quad Gutter or d gutters are highly popular because of their classic shape and are suited to a wide range of home styles. They fit in seamlessly with colonial and cottage style homes but are also used quite often in the building of new homes. They are also available as a slotted gutter to prevent overflow in high rainfall areas.

OG are also popular with colonial style homes and are very stylish yet a little harder to clean.

Square Front Gutters are ideal for carports and verandas due to the high gutter front. They are also a great option if you need to hide the ends of roof sheets.

Half Round Gutter is shaped as the name suggests, just like a semi-circle when you look at a cross section of the gutter. The benefit of this type of gutter is that it empties quickly, tends not to collect too much rubbish and doesn’t require too much maintenance. They also have a large water capacity, making them an excellent option for residential applications but also larger buildings.

Smoothline Gutters are basically half round gutters that have a flat back. They are generally not as expensive as half round gutters because they have internal brackets and are an improved version of the Half Round Gutters of old with excellent drainage and water carrying capacity.

Factors to Consider with Gutter Replacement in Adelaide

There are other factors you have to take into account when replacing gutters. Sometimes, to remove your old gutters, roof tiles and ridge capping have to be removed. This is because guttering systems need to be installed so that they have a drop towards the closest downpipe.

The problem is that it’s not always feasible or even possible to install a downpipe at every corner of the building, which means that at certain points of the roof, the gutter has to be the high point. This often means that the starter point of the ridge capping and the roof tiles will be hanging over the back of the gutter, as the latter has to be installed as high up the fascia as possible at the corner points.

In other words, once the gutter has been replaced, the roof tiles and ridge capping have to be reinstalled, which is the correct way to do things. Don’t try to install the new gutter at a lower point, because this will affect its effectiveness. It might be slightly more expensive to do it the right way, but remember that cheaper and quicker is not always better.

Also, when considering gutter replacement, Adelaide homeowners have found that gutter guard is a great way to extend the life of their gutters as well as saving them a lot of effort when it comes to gutter cleaning. So, consider getting gutter guard installed as well, which will definitely save you money in the long run.