But unless there are long overhangs on your roof and your property is steeply graded, they're essential for routing roof runoff away from your home. Installed properly, gutters keep basements and crawl spaces dry, preserve topsoil, protect siding from backsplash stain and rot and shield windows and doors from water infiltration and damage. Adding or replacing gutters along with a new roof simplifies their installation because the roofers are there anyway - doing two jobs at once is more efficient and less disruptive. But most gutters are installed on existing roofs. There are numerous gutter materials and styles.
Wood is also an option, but wood gutters are rare, except for restoration work.
Copper is another material usually reserved for classic restorations. It's handsome, never rusts and never needs painting. For this reason, galvanized-steel, aluminum or vinyl gutters are the predominant varieties. Steel and aluminum gutters are the types most homeowners choose. Steel gutters can stand up to ladders and fallen branches better than aluminum.