Black Gutters: A Chic Trend That's Right For You?

Gutters serve the important functional purpose of keeping your home safe from water damage, but that doesn’t mean they can’t match your home’s aesthetic. Homeowners are increasingly choosing black gutters for the added curb appeal and style. Gutters can be both manufactured in black or painted. This is a bold choice for gutters, so it may not make sense for every situation. 

Continue reading to find out if they are the right option for your home, as well as the pros and cons. 

Pros and Cons of Black Gutters

Black gutters can certainly bring something new and different to a home, but does that make them right for your home? To decide, let’s review some pros and cons so you know what to expect if you have them installed.

Pros:

• Maintain an attractive look for a longer period of time. A lot of the wear and tear that becomes evident on white gutters is not visible when you have black ones. If you live in an area with a lot of wet weather, it won’t take long for white gutters, as well as other light-colored varieties, to develop stains from splashing water and mud. Mold, dirt, mulch particles, and grass clippings can also discolor light-colored gutters, so if you want to avoid these maintenance issues, black ones are a good option.
• Create warmth. In cold, snowy climates, black gutters help to create warmth in the home by absorbing light, which can help boost energy efficiency. This also aids in melting snow and ice faster, so you don’t have to worry about it accumulating inside of the gutters and clogging them—which can eventually lead to the gutters overflowing and becoming damaged when the ice and snow eventually melt. As a result, dark-colored gutters can actually help move water away from your home effectively.

You may want to get an expert opinion on installing darker gutters if you live somewhere with much warmer temperatures. You don’t want to make changes to your home that make it harder to keep things cool inside. Click below to be matched to experts.

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Cons:

• Increased costs. The cost of gutters depends on the size and materials they’re made from. However, dark gutters do tend to cost more than the lighter options, in part thanks to the extra work it takes for installation. Depending on the product, for example, black gutters may require corrosion protection, painting, or staining, which can significantly raise the installation costs. If you are choosing black aluminum gutters from a manufacturer, costs will likely be about the same as light-colored gutters. However, if you are choosing to paint your gutters or are picking another material, plan to spend a bit more.
• Color may be overpowering. Black gutters definitely make a statement, but they may say something you don’t actually intend your home to communicate. These gutters really stand out on homes with lighter roofs and trim, which may be a good or bad thing depending on your aesthetic. 

These gutters are trendy at the moment, but they may lose their luster in the future. You have to really be committed to this look so that you love them even if the trend passes. 

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Best Homes for Black Gutters

When it comes to black gutters, it boils down to a matter of taste. 

Some people may feel that these gutters are best for their homes if they have a dark roof and trim because the gutters will not stand out that much. In the photo above, for example, the gutters blend seamlessly into the Tudor details of the house.

However, some homeowners prefer the combination of black and white, so they achieve that look by adding black gutters to their white home. It is a much more eye-popping option. In the above photo, you can see a new construction home being finished out with black gutters and black windows and doors to create a striking contrast.

Black gutters can be found on other light-colored houses as well as brick homes, so the possibilities are endless and depend on what you prefer.  

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