The Home Exterior Project That'll Add Curb Appeal And Increase Your Home's Resale Value

You know how they say that the quiet ones are always the most dangerous? The same might be said about parts of a home. Even if a house has a new roof, freshly painted exterior, well-maintained shutters, and a garden that could put an arboretum to shame, the one element that can detract from all that curb appeal could be the gutters. They should look clean on the outside and be parallel to the roof line, with securely fastened end caps, elbows, miters, and downspouts. No dirt. No sag. No loose parts.

But it's more than a house's look that makes gutters matter so much. Properly installed and maintained, gutters prevent water damage to foundations and basements, as well as protect roofs and landscapes from rot and erosion and stave off moisture that can attract pests and mold. A new guttering system can even be the trick to lowering humidity in your home. Those are the kinds of repairs to avoid when it comes time to sell a house. And with a 2019 study from The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics showing that homes that look good sell for around 7% more than those that need work, gutters may be one of the less glamorous projects that offer a rather seductive return on investment.

Since gutters are available in a variety of materials, it can be hard to choose the right type of gutters for your home. On average, you can expect to pay a pro between $110 and $7,000 for a new system, which might leave you wondering if you can DIY a gutter installation. Either way, there are a few things to know. The most affordable is vinyl, which is strong but may be too lightweight for regions with heavy winds and rain. They can crack and warp in areas with extreme temperatures. The most common material is aluminum, which is durable in most climates but can dent and form leaks. Shades of blue, gray, red, green, and brown offer exciting possibilities over standard white, allowing homeowners to make a statement while also complementing a house's style.

More expensive steel gutters are fire-resistant, long lasting, and can handle hot and cold climates, although sometimes they rust. Copper gutters are prized for their look, particularly on architecturally significant homes, and are easy to care for, even as their surfaces change color over time. Zinc gutters also develop a patina, but can be damaged by salty seaside air.

If the house is the center stone in a diamond ring, think of the gutters as the halo. They bring that extra sparkle to the house (the way, say, shiny copper gutters can), especially when they are clean inside and out. Artistic looks created by combining materials and colors can be amped up with decorative parts and accessories, such as gargoyle downspouts and leaf medallions. There are even hand-painted statues, like this $18 one of frogs on Amazon, that can be placed at the bottom of a downspout to block gutter splash (and undoubtedly make an observant passerby smile).

Another fetching design would be to incorporate a rainwater collection system, where water is reused for the garden, or, with the proper filtration, a home's drinking water supply. Rain chains replace downspouts, and come in a variety of elegant designs, such as floating lotuses, crocuses, and blossoms, and often create waterfall-type sounds.