5 Reasons Aluminum Gutters Suck
When choosing which gutters are best for your home there can be a lot to consider. There are different materials to choose from, but in the case of aluminum you might want to get your head out of the gutter and choose a more reliable material. Many homeowners prefer aluminum gutters over copper and other materials. This is mainly due to their inexpensive installations, but despite some of their attractive qualities, overall they just suck. Here are our top 5 reasons why we say no to aluminum gutters.
1) Leaky, leaky, leaky!
Gutters are meant to direct the drainage of rainwater off and away from the roof of your home. They’re meant to protect the roof from damage; however, aluminum gutters can help damage your home in the long run because of how much they leak. They leak particularly around the joints, but should enough water accrue due to poor maintenance you might be needing to repair both your roof and gutters.
2) High Maintenance
It takes a lot of hard work to keep your aluminum gutters in tip-top shape. When you hear the word “gutters” you think of the backbreaking and arduous work that goes into cleaning them out. Picture the clumps of leaves and the wet sleeves as you shuffle back and forth with your ladder. To keep them in top condition and function properly, you will have to monitor them frequently and inspect them for any damages like dents.
3) Corrosion
While this may fall under maintenance this can really be a problem for many homeowners. Besides how easy aluminum gutters can dent and block the flow of drainage, aluminum can corrode quite easily and create a new batch of problems. If you spot any holes, crevices, or cracks you will need to act quickly and seal it with a caulk gun. As mentioned above, it is already leaky enough as it is. You don’t need holes adding to that problem.
4) Easily Expands
Drastic temperature changes can really affect your aluminum gutters. This causes the aluminum to contract and expand which can cause the material to crack and fall into disrepair much more quickly than anticipated. These can cause leaks (again, more leaks!) and quick repairs will be needed on top of the normal maintenance.
5) Poor Durability
It is obvious that the construction of gutters need to display lasting fortitude. Aluminum gutters are often made of thin sheets. They’re easily dented during storms should they be struck by flying debris. Footballs, ladders, woodland creatures: they all pose a threat. Heavy rains and fierce winds will only add to this problem.
