DIY QUOTE 10% OFF
Gutter Calculator

Aluminum vs Vinyl Gutters: Which Are the Best?

aluminum vs vinyl gutters

So you want to throw some new gutters on your house, and you want to know which is better, aluminum gutters or vinyl gutters?

The answer is pretty simple in 99 out of 100 cases – aluminum gutters for the win!

Now coming right out and making such a claim might seem a bit bold; however, in this article, we will explain why aluminum gutters are virtually always the best bet compared to their vinyl counterparts.

We just didn’t want to lead you on and reveal the answer at the end of this article!

However, in this article, we will cover the following:

  • Aluminum Gutters vs Vinyl Gutters
  • The difference between the two
  • Factors to always consider before getting new gutters

Aluminum Gutters vs. Vinyl Gutters

So you’re considering replacing your existing gutters or perhaps you need new channels on an addition. Either way, you recognize the importance of gutters, but you are caught between deciding whether your best bet is aluminum or vinyl gutters.

At first glance, the big difference might simply seem like material – aluminum or vinyl – and that, as a gutter, they both do the same thing.

Yes and no.

First, while they both have the same job, which is to take water from your roof and displace it properly away from your home and foundation, they are not created equal.

Let us look at both:

Aluminum Gutters

  • Material: Aluminum
  • How they’re made: On-site, custom fit
  • Durability: Our rating, 9/10
  • Hung: With screw-in hidden hangers
  • Warranty: We offer a lifetime warranty on material

Vinyl Gutters

  • Material: Vinyl
  • How they’re made: Sectional, in pieces
  • Durability: Our rating, 4/10
  • Hung: Screws, clips
  • Warranty: Depends on the product (we don’t mess with vinyl)

Which gutter is better?

Aluminum gutters are always better than vinyl.

The only time vinyl gutters make sense is when someone is looking to do a DIY gutter job on perhaps something like a shed – we never recommend DIY gutters either by the way.

Vinyl gutters are just a tad bit cheaper than their aluminum counterparts and they can technically be installed by a homeowner, however here is the catch:

Vinyl gutters leak, break easier and are sectional.

Unlike vinyl windows which are great, using vinyl gutters is similar to putting a bandaid on a wound that needs stitches. Taking shortcuts when it comes to gutters isn’t a great idea. It can cause more issues in the long run!

Not to mention, vinyl gutters are not strong, thus they require CONSTANT gutter cleaning and upkeep.

This is why it is almost impossible to find anyone who even installs vinyl gutters.

So what is your choice?

Always use Aluminum Gutters

Sorry if we killed your dream of installing brand-new sectional vinyl gutters that you just picked up from Lowes or Home Depot.

Don’t worry, we will save you time, money, energy, and headache because we are about to explain why you need to go with aluminum gutters.

Aluminum Gutter Price

First, brand-new aluminum gutters INSTALLED are not much more expensive than vinyl gutters. At most, maybe a few dollars per linear foot. If you don’t believe us, price your gutters out here for free using our gutter calculator and see for yourself:

DIY Gutter Calculator

Figure out how much to pay for new aluminum gutters & gutter guards for your home!

START HERE

0$

Thanks, we will contact you soon

Select a Size

5" gutters come with 2"x3" downspouts, 6" gutters come with 3"x4" downspouts and drain 400% faster than 5" gutters

You need to select an item to continue

NEXT STEP

Choose Your Color

Please select a color that best works for your home.

Wicker

Dark Green

Dark Grey

Eggshell

White

Ivory

Light Grey

Musket Brown

Red

Cream

Clay

Brown

Bronze

Black

You need to select an item to continue

NEXT STEP

Estimate Footage for 5" Gutters

Please provide the estimated total footage needed for gutters on your home.

Please slide to equal total footage needed for gutters.

Please slide to equal total footage needed for downspouts

You need to select an item to continue

NEXT STEP

Lifetime No Clog Warranty

Raindrop Gutter Guards are an absolutely fantastic way to save time and extend the life of your gutters, roof, and home. By adding Raindrop Gutter Protection System to your order, we guarantee a lifetime of free flowing gutters.

Please slide to equal total footage needed for gutter guards on your home.

You need to select an item to continue

NEXT STEP

Choose Your Color

Please select a color that best works for your home.

Wicker

Dark Green

Dark Grey

Eggshell

White

Ivory

Light Grey

Musket Brown

Red

Cream

Clay

Brown

Bronze

Black

You need to select an item to continue

NEXT STEP

Estimate Footage for 6" Gutters

Please provide the estimated total footage needed for gutters on your home.

Please slide to equal total footage needed for gutters.

Please slide to equal total footage needed for downspouts

You need to select an item to continue

NEXT STEP

Lifetime No Clog Warranty

Raindrop Gutter Guards are an absolutely fantastic way to save time and extend the life of your gutters, roof, and home. By adding Raindrop Gutter Protection System to your order, we guarantee a lifetime of free flowing gutters.

Please slide to equal total footage needed for gutter guards on your home.

You need to select an item to continue

NEXT STEP

Final cost

Here is your final cost, please fill out the form below to get started!

Summary

Description Information Quantity Price
Discount :
Total :
This is simply an online estimate. The final price depends on the accurate measurement of linear square feet, communicated before installation. This is not a contract. Simply, a rough estimate of gutter pricing that is subject to change depending on the total footage. The minimum gutter installation starts at $650. 

ORDER YOUR NEW GUTTERS!

Gutter Install:

Next, by electing to go with aluminum gutters, you don’t have to worry about installation, which is an excellent thing for your home and wife (since they might not want you doing it in the first place).

Gutters matter. They’re not something you can just do on a whim and by yourself. In fact, installing gutters is, at a minimum, a two-man job, and getting the right angles, pitches, and downspout placement is half the battle.

Dealing with ladders is the other. Not to mention, install gutters correctly so they don’t fall off with a gentle wind gust! Lastly, you can’t make aluminum gutters yourself. That requires a gutter machine.

We already said vinyl isn’t the way to go, so aluminum is your best bet. But for a final heads up, here is another point to consider:

Aluminum Gutter Warranties:

Here at Gutter Gurus of Virginia, we offer a lifetime labor and product warranty (that you can read more about here) that guarantees our gutters.

While not every gutter installation company offers this same deal, we stand by our gutter work. We only ask that homeowners maintain their gutters annually or install gutter guards!

Speaking of gutter guards, we also install self-cleaning Raindrop gutter guards. Vinyl gutters – those plastic things – only allow for cheap gutter guards (cheap gutters, cheap guards).

So in the long run – the case is simple when it comes to aluminum vs vinyl gutters – aluminum gutters win when it comes to your home!

Final Thoughts

If you were some vinyl gutter fan, sorry, we just crushed your love for vinyl.

While vinyl records are the best form of music for many, vinyl gutters simply don’t cut the mustard, and we are very transparent as to why.

To recap, aluminum gutters are better than vinyl because:

  1. They last longer
  2. They are right in line with the price between the two
  3. More durable
  4. Less likely to leak (that don’t leak unless compromised)
  5. Installed for you

If you still have questions, feel free to use the Gutter Guru chat feature at the bottom right or reach out here. Also, don’t forget to check out our gutter calculator and get a custom price online in under 120 seconds!