Your seamless gutters work hard to redirect water from your house every day. They’re an essential part of every house but few people know what goes into making gutters what they are. Regardless of the types of rain gutters present on your house, most rain gutters rely on a common anatomy to do their job properly. Here is the anatomy of your rain gutters.

The gutter

The gutter is the most identifiable part of your gutter system. It’s the rounded or K shaped half-barrel that lines the edge of your roof, catching rainwater and other debris before redirecting it from your home.

There are many types and materials of seamless gutter applications. The most common styles are half round gutters, barbie style gutters, and K gutters. Additionally, these styles can be crafted by a variety of materials, including aluminum, copper, and stainless steel to name a few.

The brackets

Even seamless gutters need a little support. During gutter installation, brackets ensure that the gutter will stay on your home for years to come. After all, a single gallon of water weighs around eight pounds, putting thousands of pounds of weight on your gutters during a storm. Your new gutters need the best support to do their jobs properly.

However, caring for copper gutters takes a little more love and care than your other options. Whenever you’re performing gutter maintenance, be sure to check the stability of the brackets

The end cap

Seamless gutters rely on the end cap to close the end of the gutter. Once the rain reaches the end cap, it’s typically redirected to the downspout.

The downspout

The gutter system cannot exist without the presence of one or more downspouts. These tubes connect to your gutter as a type of channel that redirects the water down from the roof and away from your home. It’s also known as a leader since it leads water away from your home to a drainage location.

The downspout is secured to your home via a series of downspout brackets that keep it flush to your house. Any time that there is a change in your home’s surface, the downspout must rely on an elbow to change its direction.

A gutter guard

Some gutters rely on the help of a gutter guard to prevent clogged downspouts or other debris buildups. Also known as gutter covers, these guards stop debris from getting clogged, allowing gutters to redirect only rain and smaller objects.

There you have it! Though there are many types of rain gutters, each style relies on this basic anatomy. If you want to know what types of rain gutters are right for your home, call Northwest Rain Gutter today!