Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters have to be replaced almost as often as the roof on a home, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a good long while, and in the meantime, your home’s gutters should do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t had to replace your gutters recently, it’s probably a good time to start considering the options. More than likely, your options have changed since the last time you shopped for new gutters, either when building your house or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and types of materials improve a lot over a period of only a few years. This means your next rain gutters will be much more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the current ones on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the most revolutionary upgrades in rain gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to standard gutters that only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in most cases with a special machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow materials.
Many gutter installation businesses have their own machinery and can do 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 50 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless gutter around 100 feet without joints. This gives homeowners the choice to have an individual 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 believe how another option can be more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good 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 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 appearance. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and perfectly sized. The custom measurements also help the curb appeal of your home without being overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints means there are fewer opportunities for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this should make you very happy, since it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual cleaning. In contrast, most standard rain gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Regular gutters can leak from any joint as soon as the gutters start to pull away from the house. Loose fasteners are another problem that can lead to gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints across the entire length and width of your home reduces the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals and insects that are able to hide inside of them or build a nest with the debris that is present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and can destroy your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars worth of damage (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of your 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 perfect size without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the house. This is an eco-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 on the market. This creates fewer leaks, less chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting rain gutters also protect your house, including the exterior walls, windows and the soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually require professional installation due to their size and the training and machinery necessary to build them. Most homeowners don’t have the machinery necessary to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to set up these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are installed, you will immediately understand their value which pays for itself over time via fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any 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 worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long rain gutters is not a task that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet or so on their own, but anything longer requires 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 that are longer, the installation team will start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach those places 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 easily damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Canton Gutters, Inc. is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Canton area. Call 330-222-3806 now for more information!