Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters have to be replaced about as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a good long while, and in the meantime, your gutters need to do their job with little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t needed to replace your gutters recently, it’s probably about time to begin looking at the options. Chances are, your options have changed a lot since you last shopped for gutters, either when you built your house or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and materials improve drastically over a period of just a few years. This means that your next gutters will be much 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 major improvements in home gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, opposed to traditional gutters which are only available in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in most situations with a custom machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.
Many gutter installation companies own their own machinery and are able to complete the whole process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Since they are built to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that extend over 40 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless rain gutter at around 100 feet without joints. This offers homeowners the option to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Standard gutters have been used for so long that it can be difficult to see how another choice can be much more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your home, you should understand what sets them apart so you can understand why there is 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 sleek appearance. Seamless gutter machines cut out holes for downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and perfectly sized. The custom measurements also improve the curb appeal of your home without being too overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints mean there are less opportunities for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the gutters. Water flows through smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely happy, because it means you won’t be cleaning them out as often. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, most standard rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Traditional gutters can leak from any joint if the gutters start to pull away from the house. Loose fasteners are another problem that lead to gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints along the length and width of your home helps reduce the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages 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 are able to destroy your roof, causing hundreds of dollars’ 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 ensures that your gutters will be the correct length without having additional 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. In addition, there is no need to destroy the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are built with the latest technology and the best materials available. This results in less leaks, less chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting rain gutters can also protect your home, including the exterior walls, windows and surrounding soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically require professional installation because of their size and the training and equipment necessary to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have own the machinery required to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to program these machines to make exact cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are installed, you will immediately understand their value which pays for itself due to fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions concerning the value of seamless gutters, talk with a gutter installer who offers both traditional and seamless gutter systems to determine if the price difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long rain gutters is not a project that a homeowner can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet or so on their own, 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, attaching the gutter every several feet. For gutters any longer than that, the installation team will need to begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten those places due to 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. Homeowners can damage a long gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Gutter & Exterior Experts is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Frederick area. Call 301-215-2645 now for more information!