You’re standing in the yard after a storm, looking at a flower bed that’s been washed out again, or a patch of siding streaked with dirt from water splashing back up. Maybe the house never had gutters on one side. Maybe the ones it has were put up decades ago and nobody’s sure they were ever the right size. You want rain gutters in Kansas City that fit your house, without paying for more than you need.
It helps to know what you’re choosing between. Gutters come in different sizes, shapes and materials, and the right mix depends on your roof and on how rain falls here.
APC Roofing is a GAF Certified roofing contractor, licensed and insured, with an office in Shawnee. We’ll look at your roof and tell you what we’d recommend and why. The estimate is free. Call 913-398-5020.
What rain gutters do for a Kansas City home
A gutter system takes all the water that lands on your roof and puts it where you want it, away from the house. Without gutters, that water drops straight off the eaves in a line. It digs a trench in the soil, splashes mud onto the siding and soaks the ground right against the foundation.
That last part matters in this area. A lot of the metro sits on clay-heavy soil that swells when wet and shrinks when dry. Water soaking the same spot by the foundation, storm after storm, is a common reason for damp basements and cracked foundation walls. Good gutters and downspouts are one of the least expensive ways to keep that water away.
Rain gutters in Kansas City have to handle storm bursts
Most homeowners are surprised to learn that gutters aren’t sized for how much it rains in a year. They’re sized for the hardest few minutes of rain your roof will see.
Kansas City gets a lot of its rain from spring and summer thunderstorms, and those storms can dump water fast. A gutter that handles a steady all-day drizzle with no trouble can overflow in ten minutes of a downpour. That’s why we look at your roof and your downspouts, not just the length of your eaves.
What we look at on your roof
Roof area. The more roof drains to one gutter, the more water it has to carry.
Pitch. Steep roofs send water down faster, and it can shoot right over the front of a small gutter.
Valleys. Where two roof slopes meet, the valley gathers water from both and pours it into one corner. Those corners need extra capacity or a downspout nearby.
Upper roofs draining onto lower ones. A downspout emptying onto a lower roof concentrates a lot of water on one small patch of shingles and on the gutter below it. That’s often better routed down the wall or spread out.
Where the water can go. Driveways, walkways, patios and planting beds all limit where downspouts can empty. We plan downspout spots around your yard, not just the roof.
Gutter sizes and styles
K-style gutters
K-style is what you see on most Kansas City homes. The flat back sits against the fascia, and the front has a decorative profile that looks a bit like crown molding. It comes in 5-inch and 6-inch sizes. The 6-inch size carries noticeably more water and suits larger or steeper roofs. Our gutter installation in Kansas City page goes deeper on sizing and downspouts.
Half-round gutters
Half-round gutters are a rounded trough, often used on older or historic-style homes. They look great on the right house. For the same width, they usually carry less water than K-style, so they need to be sized with care.
Seamless or sectional
Most new aluminum gutters are seamless, made to the full length of each run, so the only joints are at corners and downspouts. Older sectional gutters have a joint every 10 feet or so, and each one is a place that can leak. See seamless gutters in Kansas City for the full comparison.
Gutter materials
Aluminum is the most common choice. It doesn’t rust, it’s light, and it comes in a lot of colors to match your trim.
Steel is stronger and handles impacts and heavy loads better, but it can rust over time once the coating is scratched.
Copper is a premium choice for its look and how it ages. It’s usually chosen for appearance, not performance.
For most homes in the metro, aluminum makes sense. We’ll tell you if your house is the exception.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Call 913-398-5020 or request a free online estimate.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. We look at your roof, roofline and yard, then recommend a size, style and downspout layout with the reasons behind it.
- Your gutters go up and the site gets cleaned up. The crew installs the new system and cleans up before leaving.
Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
Rain gutter questions
Does my house need gutters?
Most do. A few homes with wide overhangs, good grading and no basement get by without them. If you see washed-out soil along the drip line, splashed-up dirt on the siding or a damp basement, gutters will likely help.
Do gutters cause ice dams?
No. Ice dams come from heat escaping through the roof and melting snow higher up. Gutters full of ice can make the backup worse, but the fix is attic insulation and ventilation.
Which color should I choose?
Most people match the trim or fascia so the gutters blend in. Some match the roof or siding instead. We’ll bring samples.
Keep the rain moving away from your house
Every storm without working gutters puts water against your siding and foundation. It’s a slow problem, which is exactly why it’s easy to put off.
Pick a system that fits your house, and the next downpour goes off the roof and out to the yard. No washed-out beds, no muddy siding, no worrying about the basement. Call 913-398-5020 to book your free inspection, or see everything we do with gutters in the Kansas City metro.
