Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters should be replaced almost as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your rain gutters need to do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your gutters lately, it’s probably about time to start looking at the options. Chances are, your options have changed a lot since you last shopped for gutters, either when building your house or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and types of materials improve significantly over a period of only a few years. This means your next rain gutters will be more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the current ones on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the biggest improvements in rain gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, as opposed to traditional gutters which only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in many situations with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow items.
Most gutter installation services have their own equipment and can do the entire process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in just one day!
Because they are manufactured to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that stretch over 50 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This gives homeowners the choice to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Standard gutters have been popular for so long that it can be hard to see how another option can be a lot more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good 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 between the two.
There are many benefits of seamless gutters over traditional gutter systems:
More Attractive – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a noticeably sleek appearance. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also help the curb appeal of your house without being too overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are fewer chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you very pleased, as it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 annual cleaning. In contrast, some regular gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Standard gutters can leak from any joint once the gutters start pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are another problem that causes gutter leaks. Eliminating joints across the entire length and width of your home helps reduce the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract small animals and insects that will hide inside of them or build nests with the debris that is present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and can destroy your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of your gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then manufacturing them on site means that your gutters will be the perfect size without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the house. This is an environmentally-friendly practice that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Plus, there is no need to get rid of the excess or see it end up in a landfill.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are made with the latest technology and the best materials available. This results in fewer leaks, a smaller chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your home, including the walls, windows and surrounding soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters almost always require professional installation because of their size and the experience and equipment needed to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have the equipment needed to produce 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 installed, you will understand their value which pays for itself because of less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions concerning the value of seamless rain gutters, talk with a gutter installer who provides both standard and seamless gutter systems to determine if the cost difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless gutters is not a task that a single person can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 35 feet by themselves, but anything longer than that requires a second person.
For gutters that are 35 feet or less, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, fastening the gutter every few feet. For rain gutters longer, the installation team will need to begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach those sections because of the length and 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 easily damage a seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. True Clean Gutters is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Troy area. Call 518-241-5365 now for more information!