Take a drive around Lynchburg, Charlottesville, or Danville, and you’ll notice many homes have traditional half-round gutters installed. They’re the most common type of gutter due to their affordability. Many home builders will install them to save on building costs due to their affordable price and decent protection against drainage issues.
If you’re considering replacing your current gutter system and installing half-round gutters, there are some things you should know before you schedule installation. Gutters are an investment that protects your home from drainage issues, so carefully consider the pros and cons of half-round gutters before you purchase them. Keep reading to learn if they’re right for your home.
Pros of Half-round Gutters
They’re Affordable
Half-round gutters are usually more affordable than other systems and options. Therefore, many homeowners choose to install them. The cost to install a half-round gutter system varies by state and company you hire, how large your home is, and a few other factors. Half-round gutters are usually the most affordable option, especially if they have seams.
They’re Easy to Clean
Half-round gutters require some maintenance (more on that later) like frequent cleanings. Luckily, cleaning half-round gutters is easy and can be performed by the average homeowner. While they are easy to clean, they have to be cleaned often which requires a lot of time. Traditional half-round gutters have seams that trap debris and often lead to more clogs, forcing homeowners to clean them often.
They Offer Decent Protection
Traditional half-round gutters protect your home from rainfall, snowfall, and meltwater. Their protection is decent; they’re not extremely durable, but they will provide some protection against drainage issues.
Cons of Half-round Gutters
They Clog Easily
The inside of a half-round gutter is completely exposed unless you have a guard, screen or filter installed. Because the top is open, debris like leaves, twigs, and silt can easily enter the gutter. When debris builds up over time, it’ll create clogs that impede water flow forcing the water to spill over the gutter. Clogged gutters are a nuisance to deal with and they can cause damage to your home.
Again, traditional half-round gutters have seams. These seams trap debris that can collect and eventually will create a clog and impede water flow. Unless you have gutter guards installed, traditional half-round gutters will inevitably clog if they aren’t cleaned often because of those seams.
They’re Prone to Leaks & Overflowing
Spinning off what we just mentioned about debris creating clogged gutters, clogs will result in further issues like leaks and overflowing gutters. Traditional half-round gutters are prone to leaks, especially if the gutter system has seams. Seams can loosen from severe weather, creating gaps in the gutter system, and forcing water to leak from these gaps. Half-round gutters can overflow easily if clogs are present since water can’t flow freely through the gutter if debris is blocking the way.
They Offer Limited Protection
While they offer decent protection, it’s limited because the top of the gutter is completely exposed. This means the channel can’t hold nearly as much water as a gutter guard, especially compared to the gutter guards and complete system we offer at K Guard / One Stop Home Improvement Shop. Our gutter guards have a hood that’s guaranteed to keep debris out!
Living in the Lynchburg area means we get all four seasons with weather ranging from heavy rainfall and severe storms in the spring and summer and snow and ice storms in the winter. Homeowners in our area need a gutter system that can withstand all types of weather and handle large amounts of rain and meltwater.
While installing a traditional half-round gutter system will save you money in the short term, you’ll most likely pay more in the long run due to limited protection, the likelihood to leak and overflow, and the risk of clogs. If you’re considering installing a traditional half-round gutter system, think twice and get a quote from K Guard / One Stop Home Improvement Shop.
We offer a wide array of solutions to protect your home from drainage issues better. With our durable seamless gutters, Xtreme mesh gutter guard system, and the K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter Guards, there are plenty of gutter and gutter guard options to choose from.
Our seamless gutters are top-of-the-line and unlike traditional half-round gutters, they offer extreme protection. In addition to our seamless gutters, our Xtreme mesh gutter guard system is a surgical-grade stainless steel mesh that will block even tiny debris, such as pine needles and leaves, from entering your gutters while still allowing rainwater to filter through and be diverted away from your home. We can also install the K-Guard System which has a curved hood and keeps all debris out and requires zero maintenance.
K Guard / One Stop Home Improvement Shop is an authorized installer for the K-Guard Leaf Gutter Guards. We’re located in Lynchburg, Virginia and we cover the surrounding areas. Contact us today for a free estimate.
