Metal vs PVC gutters, which one should I choose?

Choosing the right guttering system will protect our house and its facades from flooding and will also effectively drain water from the roof. Besides, properly selected gutters will have better visual qualities, which will of course affect the appearance of the entire building. Often we see a debate on what we should pick for our home, so let’s talk a little bit more about your options.

Metal or PVC gutters?

When we talk about popularity, we must be honest and say metal gutters are now more popular. But this popularity is mainly due to the fact that the first plastic gutters appeared on the market were characterized by low durability. After the winter, they cracked and deformed, and after a whole season lost their color and properties. Currently, the disadvantages of the first plastic gutters have largely been eliminated, and their place was taken by solid plastic gutters, mainly of high-impact unplasticized polyvinyl chloride.

Plastic gutters have a lower price and a much lighter construction. The main disadvantage of plastic gutters is their low resistance to thermal expansion. At high or extremely low temperatures, plastic gutters tend to leak.

Metal gutters are made of various alloys: titanium-zinc, galvanized steel, copper or aluminum. These gutters are resistant to weather conditions, extreme temperatures and UV radiation. Metal gutters are more expensive than plastic gutters and are also somewhat less tolerant to mechanical damage.

Which one should I choose for my home?

The choice of the appropriate gutter system will depend on the conditions in which we intend to install it. Metal gutters will not work in wooded areas or other places where we will have to slide relatively frequently from inside contamination. In addition, trees adjacent to metal gutters can easily scratch their coating.

Metal gutters are perfect for sunny locations, as well as anywhere they are affected by solar radiation and temperature extremes. Metal gutters also stand up to heavy snowfall.

PVC gutters do not require any maintenance and are much more resistant to scratches and mechanical damage, thanks to which they can be used in the vicinity of trees without fear. These gutters can be sold in a variety of colors, thanks to which we can easily match their colors with the external decoration of the house. Besides, they come in many different colors, so you can combine them the way you want

As you can see, the choice of gutters is not so simple. We should decide in what conditions we intend to install the gutter system and choose gutters of the right material, thanks to which their use will be simple and, above all, effective.

How much do metal gutters cost?

Prices of metal gutters fluctuate depending on the type of metal, additional gutter accessories and the type of gutter: side, outlet or continuous. The cheapest pieces of 100 mm galvanized gutters can be purchased for less than $3, while galvanized side gutters with a 150 mm outlet will cost more than twice as much. Titanium and zinc gutters reach similar prices to galvanized gutters.

There are also gutters made of galvanized steel and additionally coated with a colored layer of polyesters. Their price differs slightly from galvanized gutters. Copper gutters are much more expensive. For copper gutters we will pay up to $10 per linear meter.

Galvanized metal gutters are the most popular gutters on the market. The relatively low price and excellent protection properties, effective corrosion and weather conditions make galvanized gutter systems the most popular today.

In our offer you will find ready-made products, assembly elements, preservative chemicals and complete zinc gutter systems. Galvanized gutters also tolerate UV radiation and temperature extremes. They do not exhibit the ability to change sizes during temperatures.

Continuous metal gutters

The continuous gutter system was developed in the United States. The continuous gutter system is based on the fact that the gutters form a single, integral whole. The solution is trouble-free, economical and most importantly, it looks good.

The continuous metal gutter system is characterized by remarkable watertightness, ease of use and high durability. Continuous gutters are maintenance-free and are made from the best materials, such as ArceloMittal or SSAB, as well as Hydro Aluminium sheets.

The continuous origin can be easily selected in terms of colors and dimensions for your building. The system itself is very adaptable to any building.

Brown metal gutters

If we care about colored gutters made of metal, we should focus on metal gutters made of aluminum or galvanized sheets additionally coated with plastics. Plastics provide gutters with higher resistance to scratches and mechanical damage. Among coated steel gutters we can distinguish those coated with polyester, pural and plastisol. Among the coated gutters, brown, brick, graphite and black gutters are the most popular. The choice of color should be determined primarily by the colors of the building for which we choose the gutter system.

Why metal gutters?

Metal gutters are divided into three main groups, among which we can easily choose a material that meets our expectations and conditions. Metal gutters are mainly characterized by high resistance to temperature differences, ultraviolet radiation, precipitation and other adverse weather conditions.

If we care about the incredible appearance of the gutters, it is worth considering expensive but effective copper gutters. Copper after some time is covered with patina, which makes it suitable for houses made above standard and stylish as stately homes. It goes very well with copper sheet roofing or ceramic tiles.

Titanium and zinc gutters are also patina coated. They are durable, effective and require no maintenance. This type of guttering is also more expensive than classic galvanized gutters.

Galvanized and galvanized gutters coated with plastic coatings are the cheapest. The choice of the color of the coating of polyesters or other plastics allows a suitable selection of colors, and the zinc prevents the gutters from corroding.

So, in the end, it all comes down to your personal preferences. Both kinds of gutters have different pros and cons, and there are many different factors you should take into account before installing them. The final result should be pretty much the same, it will all depend simply on your needs and the conditions of the installation.