What are the best gutters for a house in Georgia?
Short answer. For most Georgia homes, seamless aluminum K-style gutters are the best value: they do not rust, are formed on site to each run's exact length, and come in many colors. Five inch gutters handle typical roofs, while 6 inch gutters with larger 3 by 4 inch downspouts are the better choice for big, steep or tree-covered roofs and long runs.
Comparing materials
- Seamless aluminum: the standard. No rust, light weight, and seams only at corners and outlets. Heavier gauge stock, such as .032 inch, resists ladder dents and hail better than thinner stock.
- Sectional aluminum or vinyl: DIY friendly, but seams every 10 feet tend to leak over time, and vinyl gets brittle with sun and cold.
- Galvanized or galvalume steel: strong, but cut edges and scratches can rust in a humid climate.
- Copper: beautiful and very long lived, but far more expensive, and it needs compatible fasteners and flashing to avoid corrosion.
Size and shape
K-style gutters carry more water than half-round gutters of the same width and suit the look of most Georgia homes. A 6 inch K-style gutter holds noticeably more than a 5 inch one. Georgia thunderstorms can drop very heavy rain in short bursts, so roofs with large planes, steep pitch, or valleys emptying into one spot benefit from 6 inch gutters and oversized downspouts.
Details that matter as much as the gutter
- Hidden hangers screwed into solid fascia, not spikes and ferrules.
- Proper pitch toward the downspouts, and enough downspouts for the roof area.
- Drip edge or gutter apron lapping into the gutter.
- Downspouts that discharge well away from the foundation.
- Guards where trees overhang, especially pines.
See gutter sizing, seamless gutters and guards and drip edge explained.