K-style gutters are the most popular style of gutter in the U.S. They are the predominant style of gutter you’ll find at your local big box store, and they are the gutter of choice for seamless gutter installers like us!
K-style gutters are also known as OGEE gutters. K-style gutters are easy to identify because they have a very distinct design. They have a flat bottom and flat back with sleek curves along the front of the gutter. They call them K-style gutters because if you look at the profile of the gutter as shown above in the photo, they give the appearance of a K. We admit, it’s far from a perfect letter K but if you look hard enough you sort of see a K, or a half K at least.
Unlike round gutters, K-style gutters are designed to look like crown molding along the roof’s edge. They provide a clean and professional look as they blend in seamlessly with a home. This why they are so popular among builders and homeowners alike.
K-Style Gutters are typically made of aluminum, vinyl, or steel and are designed to handle large amounts of water and debris while still looking fabulous. We use aluminum exclusively for our k-style seamless gutters because aluminum is lightweight and yet durable and long-lasting. Aluminum is also affordable.
K-style gutters come in different sizes but the most popular sizes are five inch and six inch gutters. We use six inch k-style gutters exclusively to handle the heavy rains we get here in Florida from time-to-time! The bigger the gutter, the more water the gutter can handle without overflowing.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of K-Style Gutters
We already talked about one of the advantages of k-style gutters and that is their curb appeal. Simply put, they look great on almost any style of home.
Another advantage is they are wider than standard gutter systems, making for more efficient drainage. K-style gutters are also deeper, allowing more water to be collected and channeled away from your home. Because of their distinct design, k-style gutters can withstand heavier flows of water or debris without compromising their shape or structure, making them even more appealing.
The disadvantages of k-style gutters are their sharp edges and corners. The sharp edges are notorious for catching debris, and because of the corners on the bottom of the gutter, the debris tends to accumulate faster. The sharp edges and corners also make them harder to clean than other styles of gutters.
If you have a lot of trees on your property, especially if they are close to your home, we strongly recommend you install gutter guards. They will greatly reduce the amount of debris that can catch and accumulate in your k-style gutters.
Whether you are considering installing gutters yourself, or are looking for a professional to tackle the job, we recommend you stick with k-style gutters given all of their advantages. We’re confident you’ll be happy with how stylish they look and how well they handle water!