There are different kinds of portable rollforming machines for you to choose from that make various styles and sizes of seamless gutter profiles. Do you know what makes a K-style different from a fascia profile? Which seamless gutter machines should you use to create each profile?
At New Tech Machinery, there’s a lot to consider when selecting which portable rollforming machine to use for your gutter business. It’s important to know not only the features of the machine you want, but what kinds of gutter profiles it can make, how each profile is commonly used, and the features of each metal gutter profile.
In this article, we’ll explain the different types of seamless gutter systems commonly used in building applications, what gutter profiles we offer at New Tech Machinery, and which machines you should use to produce each kind of profile.
Types of Gutter Systems
As you probably know, there are different types of gutter systems for commercial and residential buildings. To figure out which kind of gutter system and machine is best for your particular application, consider these three factors:
- The length and size of the roof – The length and size of your roof will dictate how long you need your gutters to be.
- The slope of the roof – The slope of your roof can play a role in determining what size gutters you’ll need to drain water away from the building effectively.
- How much rain your region gets – The amount of rainfall you receive will help you choose the most efficient size and style of the gutter system.
Gutters are made through the rollforming process, either as a seamless system, or sectional.
Seamless gutters can be made on site, to the actual length of the roofline. There’s also less risk of them leaking since you don’t have any seams in the gutter system where water could go through. Seamless gutters also speed up installation since no seam welding is required.
Sectional gutters are sold in pieces and installed as separate components, usually by soldering or caulking them together before installation. Since these gutters have seams from two pieces joined together, the chances of leaks happening are greater unless they are regularly maintained, sealed, and cleaned.
Some of the different gutter profile styles you can use are:
- K-style
- Fascia
- Box
- Half Round
For this article, we’ll only discuss the gutter profiles available with New Tech Machinery portable gutter machines: K-style and box.
K-Style Gutter Profiles
K-style gutters are the most popular gutter style in North America and get their name because they slightly resemble the letter “K” when looked at from the side. They can be installed right onto the fascia board because of their flat backs, which helps save you money on brackets.
They can carry twice as much water as a half-round gutter due to their flat bottom and angled sides. However, K-style gutters might be a little harder to clean due to their stylistic design in the front.
New Tech Machinery’s MACH II™ portable gutter machines can make various K-style gutter profiles, including these:
MG5-SB5 – 5” with Straight Back
Gutter material: 30 ga. to 24 ga. steel (painted, Galvalume, coated galvanized), .019“ to .032” painted aluminum, or 16 oz. to 20 oz. copper 3/4 hard
Gutter size: 5”
Machines that make this profile: MACH II 5” and MACH II 5”/6”
MG5-HK5 – 5” with Alcoa Hook
Gutter material: 30 ga. to 24 ga. steel (painted, Galvalume, coated galvanized), .019“ to .032” painted aluminum, or 16 oz. to 20 oz. 3/4 hard copper
Gutter size: 5”
Machines that make this profile: MACH II 5” and MACH II 5”/6”
MG5-BB5 – 5” with Bottom Bead
Gutter material: 30 ga. to 24 ga. steel (painted, Galvalume, coated galvanized), .019“ to .032” painted aluminum, or 16 oz. to 20 oz. copper 3/4 hard
Gutter size: 5”
Machines that make this profile: MACH II 5” and MACH II 5”/6”
MG6-SB6 – 6” with Straight Back
Gutter material: 30 ga. to 24 ga. steel (painted, Galvalume, coated galvanized), .019“ to .032” painted aluminum, or 16 oz. to 20 oz. copper 3/4 hard
Gutter size: 6”
Machines that make this profile: MACH II 6” and MACH II 5”/6”
MG6-HK6 – 6” with Alcoa Hook
Gutter material: 30 ga. to 24 ga. steel (painted, Galvalume, coated galvanized), .019“ to .032” painted aluminum, or 16 oz. to 20 oz. 3/4 hard copper
Gutter size: 6”
Machines that make this profile: MACH II 6” and MACH II 5”/6”
MG6-BB6 – 6” with Bottom Bead
Gutter material: 30 ga. to 24 ga. steel (painted, Galvalume, coated galvanized), .019“ to .032” painted aluminum, or 16 oz. to 20 oz. copper 3/4 hard
Gutter size: 6”
Machines that make this profile: MACH II 6” and MACH II 5”/6”
Box Gutter Profiles
Box gutters were a popular style before other gutter types became more mainstream. They were typically built into the roof’s structure, but now it’s more common to see these gutter styles exposed. Metal box gutters were sometimes made on brakes or folders in 10-foot sections and welded together, however, you would be limited in how long you could make the gutter system based on the length of the brake or folder. Box gutters are an excellent choice for commercial buildings or larger residential applications that need a deep enough base to hold a lot of water.
New Tech Machinery’s BG7™ Box Gutter Machine makes these 7-inch commercial box gutter profiles:
BG7-SB7 with Straight Back
Gutter material: 26 ga. to 22 ga. steel (painted, coated galvanized, aluminized), .032” to .050” painted aluminum, 20 oz. to 24 oz. copper 3/4 hard
Gutter sizes: 7”
Machines that make this profile: BG7
BG7-SB7 with Hook
Gutter material: 26 ga. to 22 ga. steel (painted, coated galvanized, aluminized), .032” to .050” painted aluminum, 20 oz. to 24 oz. copper 3/4 hard
Gutter sizes: 7”
Machines that make this profile: BG7
Final Thoughts
While it’s essential to know the differences in gutter profiles to properly produce the profile you desire, it’s also crucial to know:
- Which portable gutter machines can rollform each style
- What material is best to use for each profile
- The differences and features of each gutter profile
Knowing this information can help you narrow down which machine will best suit your needs and produce high-quality profiles for your customers.
Our goal is to help all of our clients choose the best portable gutter machine for their business, know which machines can manufacture each profile, and give you the best post-sales support so you can get the most out of your portable rollforming machine.
If you’re looking for help in choosing the right seamless gutter machine, or want to know more about our rollforming equipment and profiles, please feel free to contact our rollforming specialists.
