Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters need to be replaced nearly as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your gutters need to do their job with little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your gutters lately, it’s probably a good time to begin looking at the options. Chances are, your options have changed a lot since the last time you shopped for gutters, either when you built your home or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve a lot over a period of just a few years. This means that your next gutters will be a lot more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the current ones on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the most revolutionary enhancements in rain gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, opposed to standard gutters which are only available in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in most situations with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow items.
Most gutter installation businesses have their own equipment and are able to complete the entire process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Since they are built to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that stretch over 40 feet, with the longest length of a seamless rain gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This offers homeowners the option to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Traditional gutters have been popular for so long that it can be difficult to realize how another option can be more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your home, you will want to know the benefits of them so you can also understand why there is such a noticeable price difference for them.
There are many benefits of seamless gutters over traditional gutter systems:
More Attractive – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The custom measurements also increase the curb appeal of your home without being overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are less chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water flows through smoothly with fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you very pleased, because it means you don’t need to clean them out as often. Seamless gutters only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, most traditional rain gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Regular gutters can leak at any joint if the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that cause gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the length and width of your home reduces the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that will hide within them or build a nest with the debris that is present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and will destroy your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars worth of damage (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of rain gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting them on site means that your gutters will be the correct size without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an eco-friendly practice that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. Also, there is no need to eliminate the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are designed with the latest technology and the best materials available. This leads to fewer leaks, a smaller chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your house, including the walls, windows and surrounding soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually require professional installation because of their size and the training and equipment required to build them. Individuals don’t have to own the equipment required to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to program these machines to make exact cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are professionally installed, you will quickly understand their value which pays for itself over time via fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions about the value of seamless gutters, talk with a gutter installer who offers both standard and seamless gutter systems to determine if the price difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long gutters is not a job that a single person can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 35 feet by themselves, but anything longer requires a second person.
For gutters that are less than 35 feet, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, attaching the gutter every few feet. For rain gutters that are longer than that, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten those sections because of the length and the weight of the seamless gutter.
Paying for professional seamless gutter installation also means that your warranty will be intact in the event of an accident or storm damages.
Seamless gutter installation is not a recommended DIY home improvement project. You can damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. AllClean Gutters is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Warren area. Call 330-278-8916 now for more information!