Let's Talk Curb Appeal: Gutter Styles and Colors
If you are like most people, you probably have never paid any attention to your gutters, or anyone else's for that matter. Gutters are usually only noticed when they aren't working.
However, when you have gutters in a color and style that accents and enhances your home, your gutters become beautifully functional.
While the main function of your gutter is to keep water away from the foundation, beautiful gutters can also be a huge asset in making your home stand out, as well as add value.
Choosing Gutter Styles
K-Style Gutters
The gutters that most people think of are standard K-style 6" gutters made from aluminum.
While these gutters are "standard", they are anything but normal. They are incredibly good at what they do if they are the correct size. Many homes have 5" gutters which carry up to 50% less water. They also look tiny on any decent-sized home.
Upgrading to a 6" gutter from a smaller gutter can dramatically change the look of your home in addition to making it more functional. Putting bigger gutters on your home may not seem like it would be a big deal, but once you see the difference a bigger gutter makes on the look of your home, you'll wonder why you didn't upgrade sooner.
Because of the sharper corners and angles of K-style gutters, they require regular maintenance to prevent sediment and debris buildup.
This style is the most common type of gutter and the most inexpensive to install. Most homes in most styles will look very classy with 6" seamless K-style aluminum gutters.
Half-Round Gutters
Half-round gutters look just like their name suggests. These gutters are best when you are looking for an elegant, old-world feel for your home. With their unique design, half-round gutters can give your home a classic feel. However, even modern homes can benefit from half-round gutters.
They tend to be more lightweight gutters, and their smooth design makes them easier to clean as they allow sediment and debris to flow more smoothly.
Half-round gutters have exposed hangers, and this can make installation more technically challenging. If you are looking to have half-round gutters on your home, be sure to have a gutter pro install them.
One thing to take note of is that their smooth design sometimes allows water to flow and splash over the edge of the gutter more easily than a K-style gutter.
Box Gutters
Box gutters are often thought of as commercial gutters, but they can also have a place on residential homes. Also called trough gutters, these wide, square gutters carry a significant amount of water away from the home.
They are typically found on more modern homes, but might be just the style you are looking for. Box gutters tend to give homes a more square shape, so be sure that is a look you are comfortable with.
Box gutters are usually very durable due to their commercial applications, and often require less maintenance. Because of their size, they are less prone to clogs and blockage. However, every gutter style still requires some maintenance.
Both the complex nature of box gutter installation and the heavy-duty materials used contribute to a higher cost per foot than some other gutter styles on this list.
Quarter-Round Gutters
This unique gutter style is relatively uncommon, but it might just be the perfect style for your home. Quarter-round gutters have a flat back and bottom side which curves up into a quarter of a circle on the front to give it its name and distinct look.
While this look is not as used as other styles, it certainly is unique and would set your home apart from most other homes.
Quarter-round gutters combine the smooth look of half-rounds with the flat back of K-style. This offers a chance to hide the mounts if desired. This style may still see some splashing over the edge of the gutter due to the smooth lip.
Choosing Gutter Colors
One of our clients once told us that she didn't even know that gutters came in different colors than white. If you've never paid attention to gutters, you might not know that either.
However, choosing the correct gutter color can have a huge impact on the curb appeal of your house. If the correct gutters are barely noticeable, poorly chosen gutter colors could stand out like a sore thumb.
What To Consider
There are basically two schools of thought when it comes to gutter colors: blend in perfectly or stand out dramatically.
If you want your gutters to blend in, the best option is to match the trim color of your house. The closer your gutters match the trim of your home, the less noticeable they will be. Trim usually includes any actual pieces of trim along the edges of the home, but also the soffit and fascia. If these colors are different, then you may have to choose the best option between the two.
It is possible to have different color gutters and downspouts, but not incredibly common.
People often choose to have the gutter color blend in when they want to highlight another feature of the home, such as landscaping, large windows, or some unique architectural feature.
Our suppliers offer colors in a huge variety that allow you to match the existing color of your trim perfectly. Your gutters will only be noticeable if you are looking for them.
If you want your gutters and downspouts to stand out, consider a gutter color that contrasts with your house. Very often this is a darker color like brown or black, but it could be a lighter color if that is what provides contrast to your home.
Gutter colors that are the same as the trim might already be a strong enough contrast for you, assuming that the trim contrasts the main house color. However, more and more homeowners are choosing a gutter color that is contrasting to not only the home color but the main trim color as well.
Choosing the correct contrasting color is certainly riskier than matching the trim directly, but it can make your home stand out from the rest of the neighborhood. Consider consulting a home designer, or get ideas and inspiration from online catalogs.
At Edge, we meet you with color samples that bring your gutter color choice to life. We walk around the home and see what each color would look like in different lighting and against the different shades of your home. We offer a wide variety of colors in the cream, white, brown, and black families, as well as a few more colorful options.
Let the experts at Edge Gutters be your guide in choosing the gutter style and color that will raise your home's value and turn heads on your street!