Rain gutters provide a necessary service. Their purpose is right in the name - they route rainwater from your roof and away from your home. They should also direct the runoff so that the water doesn't enter your basement or soak your siding. However, you may not realize how many choices you have in terms of material and shape of the gutters - yet those choices impact how the gutters look and work.
You likely don't give your home's rain gutters a lot of thought until you begin to see water pouring on the ground from your roof. While gutters are supposed to last a few decades or longer depending on the type of material they are made of (copper gutters can last upwards of 50 years), they may need to be replaced sooner than you'd think.