You may not consider rain gutters as glamorous. However unless you have long overhangs on your roof rain gutters are essential for routing roof rain runoff away from your home. Properly installed rain gutters keep and preserve topsoil, protect siding on your home from backsplash stain and or rot and shield windows and doors from water splashing and damage.

WHICH TYPE OF MATERIAL TO CHOOSE
Most gutters and downspouts – the vertical sections that send runoff down to the ground - are made out of aluminum, vinyl, galvanized steel, stainless steel and copper. Wood is also an option, but wood gutters are rare, except for restoration work. Wood types are also the most expensive depending on the wood species. Copper is another material usually reserved for direct coastal installation. It's handsome, never rusts and never needs painting.

Stainless-Steel Gutters are strong and rust-free, and maintain their high sheen for years. The biggest drawback for stainless steel is of course the cost. This makes galvanized-steel, aluminum or vinyl gutters are the predominant varieties.

Steel and Aluminum Gutters are the types most homeowners choose. Steel gutters can stand up to ladders and fallen branches better than aluminum. But even thick galvanized steel eventually rusts through.

Aluminum Gutters, however, never rust. Still being relatively inexpensive is why aluminum seems to have the edge in popularity. If downspouts get plugged and water collects, you don't have to worry about rust, as you do with steel.

Vinyl Gutters, besides being impervious to rust and rot, are easiest to cut to size. But vinyl can get brittle with age or in extreme cold.

SIZING UP YOUR OPTIONS
Choosing New Gutters also brings several other decisions that involve balancing convenience, esthetics and long life.

Sectional versus Seamless. All gutters are either sectional or seamless (or continuous). Sectional gutters are sold in pieces and installed as component systems. All do-it-yourself gutter systems are sectional, though pros install these, too. The sections themselves can be over 20 ft. long each or cut to any size with a hacksaw. Snap-in-place connectors join gutter sections to each other and to downspouts. All sectional systems have end caps, corner pieces and drop outlets for connecting to downspouts. The drawback to sectional systems is that all those seams can eventually invite leaks.

Seamless Gutters won't leak at seams because there are none; sections join only at inside and outside corners and at downspout outlets. That's why they're the most popular configuration. Seamless gutters, made of aluminum, galvanized steel or copper, are extruded to custom lengths on site using a portable machine. But, as you might have guessed, seamless gutters must be installed by a contractor.

Choosing a color when available. Sectional aluminum and steel gutters come in more than 25 different colors - ideal for matching trim and house colors. Gutter colors are baked on at the factory. Vinyl typically is brown or white; the latter color holds up better in intense sun.