Start with conditions, not a product
What decides long-term performance is roof area, valleys, tree debris, fascia condition, and discharge routing, not color -- especially with lake-effect snow loads and a Grand River setting with a mature tree canopy.
Build a complete scope
- Roof area and valleys, and the sizing that follows from them
- Fascia and soffit condition on pre-war houses before hanging anything
- Downspout count, placement, and how ice loading is accounted for
- Where discharge lands and how far it is carried from the foundation
- Debris handling, access for seasonal cleaning, and warranty terms
Grand Rapids Context
The Grand River has flooded the city repeatedly -- 1904, 1905, 1947, 1948, and most recently April 2013 -- and the city's own stormwater ordinance now promotes Low Impact Development and requires many projects to retain runoff for the 2-year, 24-hour storm, a standard that makes roof drainage and gutter capacity part of the same conversation as the river's own flood history.