Guttering: what type of material should you use?

Guttering is one of the most important components of a home's design. Ineffective or defective guttering can cause flooding outside your home, and may even result in water damage to your roof and leakage into the house. When it comes to guttering there are several options for material, and it usually comes down to a combination of cost and function.

Guttering: What to consider?

There are several factors which will influence what the most appropriate type of material is for your guttering. Considering these factors will help you make your decision:

• Do you want gutters sturdy enough to lean a ladder against them?
• Is avoiding rust over a long term period more important?
• Just how much are you prepared to pay?
• The most suitable material for guttering may therefore be a combination of these factors, depending on your circumstances

Guttering materials: What's available?

Probably the most popular material for guttering is aluminium, which has several advantages over other options. For one thing, it is extremely durable and you will avoid problems associated with rust. There is the perception that aluminium is less hardy than steel guttering, but many tradesmen believe this doesn't really stack up in the real world - aluminium works just fine.

If cost is a factor, aluminium is, however, generally a little bit more expensive than steel guttering, and there may be some instances where steel does prove sturdier, particularly when it comes to clearing debris from the guttering. The downside, though, is that steel is susceptible to rust.

As far as metal goes there are more exotic options, such as copper. Experts agree this is a perfect guttering material, but it is very expensive and most people doing home improvements would find its cost prohibitive. Another factor is that copper has increasingly become the target of thieves, so installing copper gutters may actually create a security issue. Another guttering option is stainless steel, but once again it is costly and many homeowners find they don't like its sometimes 'glitzy' appearance.

Looking beyond metals, durable PVC guttering is an option that many people prefer. It doesn't rust, and is surprisingly resilient. It is also affordable compared to some metal options, but for a lot of people it has a cheap look that they find unappealing. You can of course paint any material you choose, but results with PVC vary at best. There may also be issues with sturdiness depending how you treat your guttering.

Some sort of covering to minimise debris collecting in your guttering is also recommended, and this will usually be a kind of PVC mesh that fits over the guttering.

Guttering materials: How to choose the right type?

Choosing the most suitable material for guttering involves considering factors such as durability, cost and appearance. Overall aluminium generally seems to come out ahead in terms of costs, durability and general sturdiness, however you may find that another material suits your needs better.