(412) 353-5660
Roof gutters and downspouts are not just functional necessities, they are the protectors of our home’s foundation and exteriors and can be decorated with various types of accessories. These elements can add beauty, enhance their effectiveness, and improve your home’s curb appeal and resale value.
As an exterior specialist at McClellands Contracting and Roofing LLC, I’m here to help you explore the possibilities of enhancing your rain gutter system and home exterior. In this blog post, I’ll explain some of the best rain gutter accessories, discussing how they can add style and improve rainwater management.
Functional Rain Gutter Accessories For Effective Roof Drainage
Gutter guards, downspout diverters, and leader heads are the top three accessories selected by our specialists. These are some of the most essential parts of your roof gutter system.
#1 Gutter Guards
Picture a serene, rain-soaked afternoon, but without the leaking gutters. You can stop water from overflowing and seeping through the gutters by using proper gutter guards. These protective accessories prevent leaves, twigs, and other unwanted objects from clogging the waterway. By doing so, these guards reduce the frequency of gutter cleaning and improve the overall water flow. Gutter guards are readily available in various materials such as mesh, galvanized steel, and aluminum, and can be tailored to fit different types of rain gutters and architectural styles.
#2 Downspout Diverters
Sometimes, rainwater needs to be directed to specific locations, such as rain barrels or areas in your garden. You can achieve this functionality using downspout diverters. These useful accessories work like pipes, redirecting rainwater to desired destinations. Crafted in a variety of designs and materials like plastic, rubber, and metals, downspout diverters effortlessly combine functionality with sustainability, giving you the opportunity to harvest rainwater and use it strategically.
#3 Downspout Extensions
If you want to control rainwater strategically, a downspout extension is the right gutter accessory for you. They form long open or closed channels, forming a better system that protects your home’s foundation and basement flooding. These extensions are connected to downspout ends and can also integrate the function of splash blocks.
Decorative Gutter and Downspout Accessories
Gutter lights and medallions may not necessarily play a functional role, but are specifically designed to decorate or customize a home’s exterior by utilizing its roof gutter system.
#1 Gutter Lights
Imagine the subtle glow of delicate lights tracing the outline of your gutters, illuminating your home’s exterior, and adding an enchanting touch to your surroundings. Bright gutter lights can also enhance safety and visibility around the house during the night time. For environmentally conscious homeowners,you can also opt for solar-powered lights. These lights seamlessly merge elegance and practicality, transforming your home into a lit-up haven.
#2 Gutter Medallions
Your home is an expression of your individuality, and gutter medallions offer the opportunity to add a touch of personal flair to your exterior. These are artistic accents, which can be affixed to the leader heads, insinuating a unique and personalized touch into the architecture of your home. Gutter medallions are available in an assortment of designs, such as leaf shapes, rain chains, sun and moon patterns, and even your own designs. Choose a luxurious metal, like copper and bronze, and get creative with your gutter medallions.
Multipurpose Gutter and Downspout Accessories: Blending Beauty and Function
If you’re looking for a device with the dual purpose of improved drainage and beautifying the landscaping, our team has chosen the top four accessories perfect for every home and budget.
#1 Downspout Brackets
Who says functionality can’t equal beauty? Downspout brackets are important accessories that combine practicality and aesthetics. Also known as downspout hooks and clips, these are strips that wrap around the downspouts at intervals, keeping them pressed against the wall. They usually have a simple look, but you can get them customized in delightful designs to match your home. Hence, these artistic accessories secure and stabilize your downspouts while adding a touch of personalized charm to their overall look.
#2 Splash Blocks
Splash blocks skillfully control the water flow at the end of downspouts to eliminate fierce splashing of rainwater. These blocks have a straight and long surface that works to slow down the speed of rainwater, protecting your landscaping and preventing soil erosion. These smart accessories are generally made of stone, brick, metal, or plastic and come in various styles, including pipes, fish-style, gargoyle head, and garden designs.
#3 Leader Heads
Leader heads fall among traditional gutter parts and accessories, installed at the top of downspouts. Also called conductor heads, they work like a funnel at the roofline, preventing rainwater overflow and excessive force on downspouts. Made from a range of exquisite materials, such as copper, aluminum, and zinc, leader heads can be molded into different shapes and sizes according to your roof’s drainage needs and home’s aesthetics. These versatile accessories are also highly customizable, and have been used since ancient times by homeowners to create visually appealing designs.
#4 Rainwater Barrel
As sustainability continues to gain momentum, rainwater barrels emerge as essential accessories for climate-conscious homeowners. These innovative devices capture and store rainwater, providing a renewable water source for various purposes. From gardening and lawn maintenance to other household needs, rainwater barrels offer a sustainable alternative to conventional water usage, reducing both consumption and costs. Available in different sizes, shapes, and colors, these barrels can be customized and decorated to seamlessly integrate with your home’s exterior, making sustainability a beautiful and practical part of your daily life.
Since gutters are not the most charming parts of your home, it’s always better to choose a set of accessories and gutter material that can mitigate their plain and odd looks. But make sure you are considering all the factors that can affect the effectiveness of these tools. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Factors to Consider When Selecting Downspout and Gutter Accessories
First and foremost, consult a reliable local gutter contractor to make sure you don’t need any gutter repairs beforehand, as fitting accessories on damaged gutters is not an option. After the inspection or any repairs, take a professional’s advice on the size, material, and other specifications required for the extras. It’s crucial to use compatible accessories with the type of gutters you have, so they don’t do the opposite job of clashing with the colors and designs or affecting the gutters’ strength and flow of rainwater.
Next, it’s essential to understand that investing in good-quality products will ensure long-lasting performance and beauty. They should be able to withstand harsh weather conditions and resist corrosion. Look for sturdy designs and durable materials such as galvalume, aluminum, and copper.
While it’s important to prioritize quality, also consider the cost-effectiveness of these accessories. Consider comparing prices on different online platforms and offline stores, looking at the long-term benefits they offer. You can get an idea of your options by exploring Lowes gutter accessories or Pinterest.
Before making a final decision, read reviews and seek recommendations from others who have used the accessories you are considering. Their experiences can provide valuable insights into the quality, effectiveness, and durability of the products.
If you want to decorate your home’s exterior with effective gutter accessories in Pittsburgh, our experts are always ready to help homeowners!
Free Consultation or Roof Gutter and Downspout Upgrading
At McClellands Contracting and Roofing LLC, we’re proud to be a part of the Pittsburgh community, and our team is dedicated to helping homeowners all over Pennsylvania. We follow the rules and guidelines of our local residential codes and Homeowners Associations to provide roof and gutter solutions tailored to our customer’s preferences. If you need help selecting or installing downspout and gutter accessories in Pittsburgh or surrounding areas, you can trust your local Pittsburgh gutter contractors, McClellands Contracting and Roofing LLC. Hundreds of homeowners count on us for the safety and aesthetics of their homes and we would love to help you too! Call us at (412) 353-5660 for a free consultation and estimate on your project.
