Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters should be replaced almost as often as the roof on a home, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your 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 home’s gutters lately, it’s probably about time to begin looking at the options. Chances are, your options have changed a lot since you last shopped for new gutters, either when building your house or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and types of materials improve drastically over a period of only a few years. This means that your next rain gutters will be even 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 major upgrades in home gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, as opposed to traditional gutters which are only sold in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in most situations with a special machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow items.
Many gutter installation businesses own their own equipment and can do the whole process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in only one day!
Since they are manufactured to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that stretch over 40 feet, with the longest length of a seamless rain gutter around 100 feet with no joints. This offers homeowners the option to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Standard gutters have been used for so long that it might be difficult to see how another option can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your home, you will want to know the benefits of them so you can also understand why there is a noticeable price difference between the two.
There are many benefits of seamless gutters over traditional gutter systems:
Better Curb Appeal – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which have to be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and perfectly sized. The custom measurements also increase the curb appeal of your home without being overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints means there are less chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water flows through more smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely pleased, since it means you don’t need to clean them out as much. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, some standard rain gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Regular gutters can leak at any joint once the gutters start pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can lead to gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the length and width of your house helps reduce the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract animals, rodents and insects that can hide inside of them or build nests with the debris that is present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and will destroy your roof, causing 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 building them on site guarantees that your gutters will be the correct length without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the length of the house. This is an environmentally-friendly practice that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. Also, there is no need to eliminate the excess or see it end up in a landfill.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are made with the latest technology and the best materials available. This results in fewer leaks, a smaller chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting rain gutters also protect your house, including the exterior walls, windows and surrounding soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically need professional installation due to their size and the experience and equipment necessary to build them. Individuals don’t have access t the machinery needed to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to set up these machines to make exact cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are installed, you will understand their value which pays for itself because of fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions concerning the value of seamless gutters, talk with a gutter installer who does both traditional and seamless gutter systems to determine if the cost difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long gutters is not a job that a single person can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet or so on their own, but anything longer than that will require a second person.
For seamless gutters that are less than 35 feet, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, fastening the gutter every few feet. For rain gutters longer than that, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach those sections due to 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. Homeowners can damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Greece Gutters & More! is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Greece area. Call 585-367-4779 now for more information!