Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters should be replaced almost as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a good long while, but in the meantime, your rain gutters need to do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your home’s gutters recently, it’s probably about time to start looking at the options. More than likely, your options have changed since you last shopped for gutters, either when building 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 a lot more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the ones that are currently on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest 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 very 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 custom machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation businesses own their own equipment and are able to complete the whole process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in just 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 around 100 feet with no joints. This gives homeowners the option to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Standard gutters have been popular for so long that it can be difficult to see how another option can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good idea for your house, you need know the benefits of them so you can 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 just at the corners, seamless gutters have a sleek appearance. Seamless gutter machines even cut out holes for downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and perfectly sized. The measurements also improve the curb appeal of your home without being overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints means there are fewer opportunities for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this will likely make you very pleased, as it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, most traditional gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Normal gutters can leak at any joint as soon as the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that lead to gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the entire length and width of your house reduces the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that can hide inside of them or build a nest with the debris that is present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and will damage your roof, causing hundreds of dollars’ worth of repairs (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of gutters makes them less appealing for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then manufacturing them on site ensures that your gutters will be the perfect size without having scrap pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the home. This is an eco-friendly process that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. Plus, there is no need to get rid of the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are made with the latest technology and the best materials available. This leads to fewer leaks, less chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your home, including the walls, windows and the soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters almost always need professional installation because of their size and the experience and equipment required to build them. Individuals don’t have own the equipment necessary to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to program these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are professionally installed, you will quickly understand their value which pays for itself because of less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions about the value of seamless rain gutters, speak to 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 these extra-long gutters is not a project that a homeowner can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 35 feet or so by themselves, but anything longer will require a second person.
For seamless gutters that are 35 feet or less, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, securing the gutter every few feet. For rain gutters longer, the installation team will need to start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach those sections 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. You can easily damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Greenwood Gutters is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Greenwood area. Call 317-483-8331 now for more information!