Avoid secondary aluminum, a recycled product that's often plagued by inconsistent thickness. But vinyl can get brittle with age or in extreme cold. Sectional versus seamless. Sectional gutters are sold in pieces and installed as component systems. The sections themselves can be over 20 ft. long each or cut to any size with a hacksaw.
All sectional systems have end caps, corner pieces and drop outlets for connecting to downspouts.
The drawback to sectional systems is that all those seams can eventually invite leaks. That's why they're the most popular configuration. Seamless gutters, made of aluminum, galvanized steel or copper, are extruded to custom lengths on site using a portable machine. But, as you might have guessed, seamless gutters must be installed by a contractor. Sizes and shapes.