First of all, any gutter is better than no gutter at all. Rain gutters are proven to be one of the best ways to protect your home and property against water damage. While vinyl gutters are a top pick in areas where the weather is mild, metal gutters are generally a better choice in four-seasons regions of the country. 

However, there’s a lot more to the debate between metal or vinyl gutters than where your home is located. So if you’re trying to decide between vinyl or metal gutters, Spout Gutter Pros is here to clear up any confusion that may be lurking in the back of your mind. We explore the pros and cons of each type so you can choose the rain gutter that will offer the best protection for your home, withstand the weather where you live, provide the look you want, and suit your budget.

Vinyl Gutter Pros and Cons

Even though there are a number of gutter materials to choose from, homeowners often opt for vinyl. But after a short time, some people become disappointed with their vinyl gutters because they weren’t aware of vinyl’s limitations. Let’s look at the pros and cons so you can decide if vinyl gutters are a good choice for your home.

PROS

  • Inexpensive: Many homeowners default to vinyl because they’re typically more affordable than most other types of rain gutters.
  • Easily Available: Vinyl rain gutters are carried in stock at most home improvement centers and many big box stores.
  • Lightweight: Vinyl gutters are the most lightweight of all types of gutters. This makes them easy to handle.
  • Don’t Corrode or Rust: Vinyl gutters are a good choice for homes located in coastal areas because salty air doesn’t damage them. Vinyl won’t rust or corrode.
  • Manageable for DIYers: Because they’re lightweight and are manufactured in manageable 10- and 20-foot sections, vinyl rain gutters are easier to install than gutters made of heavier materials. Some vinyl gutters are manufactured with a snap together design that makes installation even easier, especially for DIYers.
  • Variety of Colors and Textures: Usually vinyl gutters are available in a wide range of colors and textures that make it easy to match them to your roof or siding. The color is embedded into the vinyl rather than powder-coated or painted. This makes dings and scratches less noticeable. But vinyl can also be painted. Just be sure to check that painting won’t null the manufacturer’s warranty.

CONS

  • Can Become Brittle: In areas of the country where summers are hot and winters are frigid, vinyl becomes brittle. The temperature changes weaken the vinyl to the point where it starts to crack. Cracking allows leaking which results in needed repairs. 
  • Fading: Exposure to sunlight causes the gutter color to fade, resulting in mismatched colors where there is more shade or more sun.
  • Don’t Withstand Heavy Loads: Vinyl gutters don’t stand up to heavy snowfall, ice, and heavy downpours as well as other gutter materials. In areas that get a lot of snow and/or heavy rains, vinyl may not be the best gutter choice. Because they’re lightweight, they can tend to sag, allowing rainwater to overflow before it can reach the downspout.
  • Short Lifespan: Vinyl is the least durable gutter material. On average, if they’re properly maintained, vinyl gutters will hold up and protect your home from water damage for ten years. 

Metal Gutter Pros and Cons

Metal gutters are available in a range of materials that include aluminum, steel, stainless steel, zinc, and copper. Each metal has distinct advantages and disadvantages that should be evaluated before you make a final choice.

PROS

  • Durable: Metal gutters are strong, can withstand all types of weather, and are a great choice for homes in four-season locations. Steel is more durable than aluminum but among all metal gutters, aluminum is the most popular.
  • Available Seamless: Metal gutters can be made in a seamless version that is custom-made on site. You can choose the type of metal, size, and profile specific to your area’s weather conditions, home design, and roof pitch. Seamless metal gutters can enhance a home’s architecture. And they add value because, over the long run, they leak less, require less maintenance, and fewer repairs than seamed gutters.
  • Long-Life: Because of their durability and strength, if they’re properly maintained, metal gutters can last up to three or four times longer than vinyl gutters. Aluminum gutters can last up to 25 years, galvanized steel lasts an average of 35 years, zinc has a lifespan of about 50 years, and copper gutters are known to last as long as 100 years when properly maintained and installed. 
  • Rust-Resistant: Aluminum won’t rust but it can corrode if it’s exposed to salt air. Galvanized steel is coated with zinc which makes the steel resistant to rust, although when the zinc coating thins, rust can develop. Stainless steel gutters, zinc, and copper gutters will not corrode, rust, or warp.
  • Colors and Styles: Metal rain gutters can be painted or powder-coated in just about any color you can imagine.
  • Less Likely to Leak: Metal gutters are available both in seamless and traditional models with seams. Seamless metal gutters are the most leak-resistant. In seamed models, the seams are soldered and riveted which means they’re less likely to leak than vinyl. 
  • Won’t Crack: Because of the nature of metal, gutters made of aluminum, galvanized or stainless steel, zinc, or copper won’t crack or warp. This means more efficient water drainage and protection for your home.

CONS

  • Difficult for DIY Installation: With the exception of aluminum, metal gutters are heavy and hard to handle. Joints need to be soldered. For these reasons, metal gutters are best installed by professionals.
  • Corrosion: Aluminum rain gutters can corrode if exposed to salt air or copper. If a roof has copper flashing or algae-resistant shingles, the copper particles can wash off and speed corrosion of an aluminum gutter. Galvanized steel gutters can eventually start to rust once the zinc coating weakens.
  • Cost: Of all the metal gutter options, aluminum is the least expensive. Stainless steel and copper are the costliest. The cost of galvanized steel is between aluminum and stainless steel. Installation costs can also be quite high for some metals due to the joint soldering required.
  • Can Dent or Bend: Lighter-weight metal gutters, like aluminum, can dent or bend. Avoid leaning a ladder against an aluminum gutter.

When you choose the right gutter material, your home will be well protected from water damage. Now that you have a sense of the pros and cons of vinyl and metal gutters, you’ll know which is best for your home. As tempting as it can be to choose a gutter based on price, it’s definitely worth your while to evaluate all the advantages and disadvantages between vinyl and metal. If you’d like more information, Spout Gutter Pros is your one-stop spot to find out everything there is to know about rain gutters.

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Spout Gutter Pros matches you up with professional gutter installers near you. We do all the vetting so you’ll only be connected with licensed and insured experts who care about providing high-quality customer service. It’s fast and easy to get a free quote. Request yours now!