K-style and box-style gutters are great for homes in areas with heavy rain and snow since they can handle large volumes of water. Seamed gutters are affordable and easy to install but prone to leaks. Aluminum and vinyl are excellent low-cost gutter materials; copper and zinc are more expensive but longer-lasting.

The biggest factors that impact gutter installation cost are the size of your home, the number of stories, the complexity of your roof, and the gutter material you choose. To get an accurate estimate, measure the linear feet of guttering needed and request quotes from several installers.

The standard rain gutter slope is half of an inch for every 10 feet. This means that your gutter should be a half-inch lower in height at every 10-foot mark until you reach the downspout.

Gutters should not be level. All gutter systems should have a slight slope that's between 0.25 and 0.5 inches per 10 feet to facilitate water flow.