Tag: #pvc gutter

What Is The Best Rain Gutter Material?

Posted on by raincache

WHAT IS THE BEST RAIN GUTTER MATERIAL?

Rain Gutters are an essential part of your property’s structure, and one of the most important defenses against water damage. Designed for channeling water from the roof of your property to a proper drainage system, rain gutters have become a vital feature for any home or business. Therefore, owners have the important task to make an informed decision – according to their budget and the property’s needs – in order to achieve a flawless rain gutter installation. By doing this, you are making sure that your home stays dry and your foundation stays protected against water damage.

There is a wide array of rain gutter material to choose from. it’s not about which one of them is the best or the worst; it’s about which one works best for you, since every material has its advantages and drawbacks, and it is important for you to evaluate some aspects when choosing the right material for your rain gutters. 
Below is a list of the frequently used materials for rain gutters and their benefits and drawbacks, so you can go ahead confidently with your rain gutter installation.

types of rain-gutter-materials

01

PVC Gutter

PVC rain gutters are preferred by homeowners, thanks to being inexpensive, lightweight, easy to install, and the fact that they never rust. Do-it-yourself enthusiasts prefer this material because it is very easy to handle and install. However, if installed incorrectly the rain gutters can sag. Other common problems with PVC rain gutters include brittleness and cracking due to exposure to extreme temperatures. Nevertheless, they are perfect for homeowners who need new rain gutters but are on a budget. More

02

Aluminum Gutter

Aluminum rain gutters are the perfect combination of durability and price. They are a homeowner favorite because of their many advantages, such as being lightweight and easy to work with, as well as being rust-proof. Another plus is that seamless rain gutters can be manufactured with aluminum. As their name implies, these rain gutters do not have seams, thus preventing water from leaking. The makes aluminum one of the best rain gutter. The only disadvantage to aluminum rain gutters is that they aren’t as sturdy as other materials and can dent. More

03

Galvanized Steel

Galvanized steel rain gutters are very popular among homeowners. They are usually coated with a layer of zinc and can either be professionally installed or purchased as a do-it-yourself project – though it is recommended that they are installed by specialists since the rain gutters need to be soldered together. The benefits of purchasing galvanized steel material is that they are cost-efficient compared to other materials. However, this material is prone to rusting and must be painted periodically.

04

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel rain gutters are known for being extremely sturdy and durable. They won’t rust like their galvanized steel counterparts, in fact they preserve their shine for many years. However, because stainless steel is one of the strongest materials in the rain gutter industry, they are usually two-to-four times more expensive than gutters made from weaker materials.

05

Copper

Along with stainless steel, copper is another high-end material, as well as one of the most durable for rain gutters. It doesn’t rust, and because of its elegant appearance, it is desired by homeowners everywhere and one of the best rain gutter. The only drawback is the price – since it is a high-end material, owners can expect to pay N5000 to N7000 per linear foot, though prices vary with the value of copper.

06

Wood

Wood was one of the first materials used to create rain gutters but gradually dropped out of favor with the advent of more resistant materials. However, rain gutters made of redwood, cedar, and fir are still available and mainly used for renovations on historic houses. Wood rain gutters are expensive due to their classic appeal and range from N3500 to N7000 per linear foot.

 

Why Choose PVC Gutter

Posted on by raincache

WHY CHOOSE PVC GUTTER

When you think about having a rain gutter installed on your property, you may start asking which type of materials to choose, and you see yourself in front of your devices staring at a wide list of materials and styles of rain gutters available, feeling completely overwhelmed and confused after reading all that information, and in the end you still have the same question in your head; which one is the best material for my rain gutters? Don’t feel bad if this is happening to you; this is not an easy situation for a homeowner, since not all the information you find on the Internet comes from a reliable source, and this interferes with making a good decision when it comes to rain gutters.

You can find plenty of different rain gutter types, materials and sizes (https://raincache.ng/gutters/types-of-gutters-and-costs/), however, it’s not about which one of them is the best or the worst; it’s about which one works best for you, since every material has its advantages and drawbacks, and it is important for you to evaluate some aspects when choosing the right material for your rain gutters. 

The weather – for example – is a feature that will determine which material of rain gutter is the most suitable for your home, if you have a hot weather where you live, you can not install the same rain gutters as if you live in a snowy or rainy place. This means that the material that would work for some people, will not necessarily work for you.

In this post, we will discuss one of the materials that have become very popular among homeowners and builders in Nigeria, the PVC/Plastic/Vinyl Gutters. This is a synthetic man-made material, resulting of the ethylene (found in crude oil) and chloride (found in regular salt) combination, which after being processed together, form Polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Low Cost: 
One of the reasons PVC gutters are currently very popular in Nigeria is their low price; you can find in the market all the PVC rain gutter parts and accessories for an affordable cost compared with other materials. However, there are a lot of cheap versions that are made of a lower quality plastic, which are more prone to get cracked and they just last for a while; so be careful because what’s cheap turns out to be costly. Another benefit of this type of material, regarding its low price is the maintenance; you don’t need to spend too much money in regular maintenance services since PVC gutters when well installed, they don’t require many cares.

Simple Installation: 
PVC gutters are designed to be easily installed, they come in sections that snap together at the joints; this makes them very easy to manage for both installers and homeowners. Compared with others, PVC is do-it-yourselfers’ favorite material because of their combination of practicality and ease; they perfectly fit together at the joints, and their lightweight allows you to carry them up and down the ladder without problems. Despite how simple it may seem, we always recommend looking for experienced rain gutter technicians to avoid poor installations that would end up in costly repairs.

In summary, PVC gutters are a great product in term of cost and ease of installation. The only draw-back with PVC gutters is their durability in harsh weather. If you live in a place with extreme weather, PVC gutters are more likely to flake, get cracked and easily break part resulting in leaks. 

If you live in the tropics (e.g Nigeria), where there is more exposure to sunlight, PVC gutter may not be the best for your property if you are thinking long term, because of UV degradation due to exposure to high temperatures under the sun (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UV_degradation ) 
Heavy rains can also make PVC gutter to sag or bend eventually, so in order to get the best of gutters you need to consider this important variable.

Low Cost: 

Great if you are on a low budget! PVC gutters are currently very popular in Nigeria because of their low price. There are a lot of cheap versions that are made of a lower quality plastic; so be careful because what’s cheap turns out to be costly. 

SIMPLE INSTALLAtion:

PVC gutters are designed to be easily installed, they come in sections that snap together at the joints; this makes them very easy to manage for DIYers 

DURABILITY: 

The only draw-back with PVC gutters is their durability in harsh weather. If you live in a place like Nigeria with extreme weather, PVC gutters are more likely to flake, get cracked and easily break part resulting in leaks

types of rain-gutter-materials

 

We hope this information has clarified all your doubts about PVC gutters and you finally make a decision; remember that having rain gutters in your property is vital to keep it free from flooding in your garden, damp walls or even worse, foundation issues. So, do not hesitate any more, look for a reliable rain gutter company that grants you a quality work and materials.

At RainCache you will find the best quality gutters, as well as the service of experienced and well-prepared technicians that will meet all your rain gutter needs. Contact us at +2348158942188 or by filling out our contact form and we will gladly assist you.
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Rain Gutters Buying Guide

Posted on by raincache

RAIN GUTTERS BUYING GUIDE

Rain gutters handle a critical task: routing the runoff from your roof to proper drainage away from the house. By doing this, they keep your house high and dry, protecting the fascia, walls, paint, windows, doors, and foundation from water damage.

Though most gutters are installed on existing roofs, adding them during building construction simplifies installation and if you’re thinking about renovation your timing couldn’t be better.
Both do-it-yourself and professionally installed gutters are available. You can buy do-it-yourself gutter systems made of PVC. Or you can have professional gutter companies install any of numerous types of gutters from PVC to Aluminum, Copper gutters and more.
What type of gutters and Installation system should you choose for your house? The following information will help you sort through the options.

Rain Gutter Sizes & Profiles

Gutters are formed in several profiles and sizes. The standard profiles are a simple “U” shape (half round), box (square) and “K” style,(which has an ogee-shaped front vaguely resembling the letter “K.”)

 

 

The gutter channels are 4, 5, 6 or 7 inches in diameter; downspouts are 2-by-3-inch or 3-by-4-inch rectangular profiles or 3- or 4-inch round (often corrugated) pipes.

5-inch K-style gutter is the most common type, and is used in 95% of all installations and works for sloped roofs of all types (shingles, metal, slate, etc). 5-inch K-style gutters typically use 2×3 downspouts.
6-inch K-style and Box gutters are used for higher volume of water runoff to a single point (typically on flat roofs) or larger commercial buildings. 6-inch gutters typically use 3×4 downspouts, to accommodate higher volume of water.

K-style gutters have twice the capacity of the half-round gutter of the same width, making them appealing for homes in cities with heavy annual rainfall. K-style gutter systems remain the industry standard because of the elegant shape resembling interior crown molding.

 

Rain Gutter Price Variation

Gutter cost will vary depending on the type of materials, installation method (DIY or professional installation), the gutter company and your location.
You can read more about cost of gutter materials here: https://raincache.ng/blog/types-of-gutters-and-costs/ 

 

DO-IT-YOURSELF GUTTERS INSTALLATION

If you’re planning to install your own gutters, DIY PVC gutters may be your best bet. Generally it can be installed by homeowners with moderate skills and tools, you virtually just plug the entire system together. DIY PVC gutters are available online and comes with silicone gaskets that compress to form tight, leak-proof seals. PVC doesn’t rust or rot, but it can become brittle over the years and crack when the weather is harsh. PVC tends to deteriorate from exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays and you may need to replace the whole systems in less than 5 years.
PVC gutters are relatively inexpensive at N1, 000 per meter, but you must factor in the cost of accessories/fittings, which push the overall price per lineal meter up a bit.
The biggest downside to DYI gutter installation is that they are sold in sections and 99% of homeowners would not be able to install them properly. These tend to leak a lot more and faster, compared to seamless ones. So while you will save initially, you also have to consider that you will have gutter repair costs in the future. It is also possible that full replacement may become necessary as quickly as in 2-3 years.

                                PVC GUTTER 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you plan to have gutters professionally installed, please call 0815894218 for a free estimate or use our quote calculator >> https://raincache.ng/quote/

 

Professionally Installed Gutters

The best of installed gutters are seamless, which are custom-fashioned right on-site. Metals such as Aluminum, copper and stainless-steel are generally chosen for high-end installations. And though wood is rarely used anymore, architectural purists will opt for it. Here we take a look at the Aluminum gutters, you can read more on other materials here.

 

WOODEN GUTTER

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALUMINUM RAIN GUTTERS

Aluminum are the most cost-effective and popular choice of homeowners. In fact, over 90% of professional installs are with aluminum gutters. Their biggest advantage is that they will not rust! Moreover, they are lightweight and highly efficient at carrying water away from your house. If installed well, Aluminum will last more than 60 years.

Aluminum gutters are available in a range of thicknesses, including .032, .027, and .025 inches. It is recommended to choose the thickest 0.032 material, as it’s a lot more durable. Also, be sure to get primary as opposed to secondary aluminum. It costs a little more, but offers more uniform consistency. Secondary aluminum is made from recycled aluminum scraps, and is typically not as strong and consistent.

Aluminum gutters cost from N5, 000 to N6, 500 per lineal meter installed. So, an average duplex of 72m in Nigeria will cost N386, 000 to install aluminum rain gutters.

RAIN GUTTER COMPONENTS
1. GUTTER
2. OUTLET
3. HANGER
4. OUTER MITRE
5. INNER MITRE
6. END CAP 
7. ELBOW
8. DOWNSPOUT
9. PIPE CLIP/BAND
10. GUSHER GUARD
11. SEALANT
12.HEX SCREW
13. ZIP SCREW
14. FLASHRUE
15. TOUCH UP PAINT
16. STRAP
17. SPLASH BLOCK

Gutter Component details in our next post

 

Rain Gutter Installation Tips

Please keep in mind that anyone can start a gutter business, so be sure to check references and get more than one bid. If one bid is considerably lower than another, check the gauge of the material, accessories list, other details and be sure they will follow standard installation procedures.

 

  1. It’s important that your installer installs gutters with proper slope. If drain outlet are above the low point of your gutters, water will stand, and soon you will get a small garden growing in there. The weight of standing water will eventually pull your gutter down.
  2. Be sure the installer will hang gutters along a chalk line, snapped to allow the proper slope of 1/4 inch for each 10 feet toward a drain outlet.
  3. One drain outlet assign to every 10 meters of gutters, That way, your new gutters will flow properly, look good, last long and add to the value of your house.
  4. Gutters are attached along a house’s eaves by any of several means, including straps, brackets, and hangers. We advise the use of hidden hangers and screw method. The hangers are screwed to the fascia- wooden, concrete (parapet) etc or the rafter tail. In a situation where there are no rafters or fascia to attach to, you have to use a strap.
  5. We discourage the use of binding wire or nail because, over the years, the binding wire will rust and break causing your gutter system to fail. Also nails/spikes [of a spike-and-ferrule hanger] tend to pull out as they split the fascia.

 

 

Best of luck with your project – please let us know in the comments below how much you ended up spending and the material used