Eaves Gutters vs Box Gutters
Choosing the right gutter system is important for all homes and buildings. Often the gutter selected can be chosen more for its cosmetic factor rather than functionality, but it’s important to look at the overall aspects of your gutter choices before having it installed. Sure, it might look nice, but it may not be functional for your home and could be a detriment.
There are two pretty common types of gutters that are generally chosen for use on homes and commercial buildings; eaves gutters and box gutters. There are plenty of benefits to each, but they do also have their own pitfalls, depending on how they are installed, where they are placed, and how well they are maintained.
Let’s find out more about these two popular gutter systems, and we might even be able to help you decide which one will come out on top for your home.
What is an eaves gutter?
An eaves gutter (also known as a high front gutter) is a traditional type of gutter system that you see installed on most homes. You’ve probably seen these types of gutters on plenty of houses in your neighbourhood without even noticing; they’re everywhere.
They are installed around the edge of the roof, channelling water away from the home and into downpipes and drains. If you have an established home with gutters already installed, being able to see them when looking up at your roof from the ground is a good indication that yes you have high front gutters. In Australia, quality eaves gutters are made from durable metals such as aluminium and steel that can withstand our crazy weather and are more resistant to wear and tear.
For the everyday Aussies, eaves guttering is a great choice. The simple design of eaves gutters means that they are easy to install and maintain. Eaves gutters are perfect for most types of roofing. These types of gutters, however, do require regular cleaning as they can become clogged easily, especially in leafy areas like Melbourne. Heavy rainfall coupled with clogged gutters could also cause water to seep into the property and damage roofing.
What is a box gutter?
Far more subtle than eaves gutters, box gutters are usually installed within the roof structure, creating an almost hidden, integrated gutter system. The same steel materials are used in the manufacturing of box gutters, making them durable, strong, and resilient enough to withstand Australia’s weather systems.
This type of gutter is great for low-pitched or flat roofs as the gutter can be completely concealed, appearing as if it isn’t even there. The box gutter’s aesthetically pleasing, concealed design is perfect for modern architectural homes and buildings, while its extra large, incredibly strong make-up (you can usually walk inside them) and ability to handle larger volumes of water makes it a fantastic option for commercial buildings like large-scale shopping centres.
This type of system, however, can be quite costly and complex to install and can lead to extensive water damage if not properly maintained, especially in residential homes where overflow in heavy rain often flows back into the house rather than over the edge. Box gutters cannot be ignored for too long, because they are sitting above the internal floor spaces of buildings, they can flood inside dramatically if the downpipes block up.
Key differences between eaves gutters and box gutters
Now that we’ve spoken about these two guttering rivals, how do they actually compare?
From a design perspective, box gutters are not generally visible from the ground and can be more appealing in that regard, whereas eaves gutters are exposed and trail the entirety of the roof of your home.
While high front eaves gutters are generally better at clearing overflow from roofing, box gutters may end up sending water back into your home. In saying this, box gutters can be more functional in that they are capable of draining more water than the traditional eaves gutter.
This then leads us to our next point; gutter cleaning and maintenance is simple with eaves guttering, provided you can easily access the roof. If they are choka block with debris or covered in gutter guards, box guttering can be more difficult to maintain, but from a safety perspective, box gutters are normally safer to work on because the outside parapet wall can protect anybody from a fall.
The last point to address is cost, with box guttering usually offering a larger upfront cost due to the complexity of installation.
How Grayson’s Gutter Cleaning can help
It’s important to know what type of gutter system is installed on your home when considering maintenance. That way, you know just how big the job is going to be and can ensure that the experts (that’s us) know how to properly look after your gutters when you call them in. At Grayson’s Gutter Cleaning, our team is highly experienced with both box and high front gutter systems (as well as others), assisting in general cleaning, inspections, and maintenance, as well as all things gutter protection as a bonus.
Enlisting the help of our skilled gutter technicians also ensures you’re provided with expertise and advice to help prevent common problems, such as water damage, blockages, and leaks in all types of gutters. These issues can cause you a massive headache, damaging your home and roof, which is often an extremely costly fix. Our experience and knowledge can save you a lot of time, money, and unnecessary stress in the long run.
It can be tricky to choose the right gutter system for your home. It’s important to weigh up the pros and cons of the different types available to you to determine which will be the most beneficial for your home or commercial building. Overall, regular maintenance and cleaning can help prolong the life of any gutter system and ensure they function properly without causing damage to your home or roof.
Options
Do you feel like you’re stuck in a never-ending loop of your gutters being clogged with leaves? Have you found birds and other animals nesting in your gutter and entering your home through gaps in the eaves? Leaf Guards are a great asset in protecting your home from debris, leaf litter, water damage, and pests.
Have you got a nagging feeling that your eaves gutters or box gutters need a good clean? Give us a call via 1300 GRAYSONS (1300 472 976) and we’ll help keep your gutters in tip-top shape.
