How would you describe Denver’s climate? You’d most likely say it’s ideal, with dry, sunny days and lower humidity. You’d also mention that we have all four seasons, with a relatively mild winter and winter precipitation. Along with snowy winters, you’d also say our springs and falls have variable weather conditions with fluctuating temperatures and the potential for storms. Likewise, our summers are warm with lower humidity and frequent pop-up thunderstorms. Overall, our climate is ideal, but there is a chance for severe weather year-round.
Denver homes need a high-quality and durable gutter system and gutter covers that can withstand severe weather all year. A gutter system should support heavy snow accumulation, strong winds, and severe thunderstorms regardless of season. Keep reading as we compare gutter materials so you can determine which is best for your home.
Gutter Materials
There are a handful of gutter materials with varying durability and performance levels. While some homeowners opt to DIY a gutter installation, others hire a professional installation company to install their new gutter system. While we never recommend a DIY installation job, there are also certain gutter materials we’d never suggest you have installed. Below are the most common gutter materials explained so you can make an informed decision on the best material for your Denver home:
Aluminum Gutters
One of the most common gutter materials, aluminum, is a popular choice among homeowners who want to protect their home from drainage issues without spending a fortune. Aluminum is one of the less expensive gutter materials, and, if the system is made from heavy-duty aluminum, it can resist rust and withstand severe weather. However, not all aluminum gutter systems are the same; some aren’t made from thick coil, and others corrode if the system is damaged.
Traditional gutter systems made from aluminum are usually sectional gutters or half-round systems that allow debris to enter the gutters. If the aluminum isn’t heavy-duty, it’ll easily show wear and tear compared to a heavy-duty aluminum system. Lower-quality aluminum gutters can’t support snow accumulation, the weight of ice dams, or heavy downpours or snowmelt. However, installing a heavy-duty aluminum seamless gutter system like K-Guard will last a lifetime and protect your home from drainage issues.
Copper Gutters
Did you know that copper as a gutter material dates back to the 1800s? These eye-catching gutter systems are better suited for historical homes or buildings that want to maintain their historical charm. While copper gutters add beauty with their reddish-brown hue and polished, vibrant appearance, they require frequent maintenance to keep them looking their best.
Like the Statue of Liberty or the pennies in your wallet, copper gutter systems can corrode when exposed to the elements. It’s a beautiful metal, but it chemically reacts when exposed to oxygen and water, resulting in that green hue. This corrosion can eat away at the copper’s surface, causing it to deteriorate and develop holes. Copper gutters also have a steep price tag, costing around five times more than other gutter materials.
Steel Gutters
We all know steel is durable, often associated with the strength of Superman. It’s one of the strongest materials, widely used in construction for its durability and strength. While a gutter system made of steel can be extremely durable, it has to be the right steel for Denver homes. Steel gutters are available in stainless and galvanized, but you’ll want to ensure you steer clear of galvanized. The protective outer layer on galvanized gutters rusts and warps with time, exposing the metal and ruining the gutter system.
Stainless steel gutters are a better steel gutter option, but expect to pay about four times the price of other gutter materials.
Vinyl Gutters
Are you considering installing vinyl gutters on your Denver home? Think again! Though they’re the most affordable gutter material, they’re a waste of money for Denver homeowners because they can’t withstand heavier precipitation and fluctuating temperatures. Because they’re lightweight, they don’t perform well or last through heavy rain, snow accumulation, strong winds, or severe storms. Though vinyl gutters have a low price initially, you’ll spend more on constant replacements and potential damage to other home components like the roof, siding, soffit, and fascia.
Which Gutter Material is Best for Denver Homeowners?
The best gutter material for Denver homeowners is heavy-duty aluminum seamless gutters, specifically the K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System. K-Guard is an advanced gutter system engineered to keep clogs and debris like leaves and pine needles at bay with an innovative, all-in-one design. Unlike other aluminum gutter systems, K-Guard is made from 0.32-gauge aluminum, much thicker than other systems that are usually 0.27-gauge aluminum. This thicker coil makes our gutter material stronger and more durable than all other systems, so strong that it lasts a lifetime!
K-Guard is a complete system with multiple components, with a curved hood, oversized gutters, and downspouts, working together to keep stormwater and snowmelt moving through the system rapidly. K-Guard’s gutter capacity is 23” of rain per hour, so you’ll never need to worry about those sudden downpours or snowstorms we frequently get here in Colorado. Our heavy-duty aluminum resists corrosion, dents, and chips in the paint. Our gutter system is so durable that we offer a lifetime no pull-away warranty, ensuring it’ll withstand all weather conditions, which is crucial with Colorado’s unpredictable and varying weather patterns.
Our gutter covers are also seamless, eliminating the risk of leaks or loose sections like homeowners often have with sectional or traditional gutter systems. K-Guard is custom-made during your K-Guard Gutter installation service to ensure it’s the proper fit. We run our heavy-duty aluminum through our rolling machine, which slowly bends our flat coil stock, measuring and cutting every piece on-site to ensure an exact fit. We offer many color options, making it easy to customize your K-Guard Gutters, from earthy neutrals to cool-toned blues, you’re sure to find a perfect color that complements or boldly accents your home.
Contact K-Guard Rocky Mountains today for a free estimate, a detailed analysis of your current gutter system, and estimated costs for installing K-Guard on your home. We look forward to helping you with your gutter replacement!
