Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters need to be replaced about as often as the roof on a home, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a good long while, but in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters should do their job with little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t had to replace your gutters recently, it’s probably about time to begin looking at the options. More than likely, your options have changed a lot since the last time you shopped for new gutters, either when building your home or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and materials improve significantly over a period of just a few years. This means your next rain gutters will be more efficient, lighter and more attractive 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 biggest upgrades in residential gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, opposed to traditional gutters which only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in most cases with a custom machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow items.
Most gutter installation businesses have their own machinery and can complete the whole process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in just one day!
Because they are built to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that extend over 50 feet, with the longest length of a seamless rain gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This gives homeowners the option 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 difficult to see how another option can be more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your home, you should understand 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:
Better Curb Appeal – With joints just at the corners, seamless gutters have a noticeably sleek look. 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 increase the curb appeal of your home without being too overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints means there are less chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely pleased, as it means you don’t need to clean them out as often. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual cleaning. In contrast, some traditional rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Normal gutters can leak from any joint as soon as the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can result in gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the length and width of your house helps reduce the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract animals and insects that are able to 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, resulting in hundreds of dollars’ of repairs (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of 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 exact length of the home. This is an environmentally-friendly practice that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. Also, there is no need to destroy the excess or see it end up in a landfill.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are made with the newest technology and the best materials available. This results in less leaks, a smaller chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting gutters also protect your house, including the exterior walls, windows and the soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually need professional installation due to their size and the training and machinery needed to build them. Most homeowners don’t have own the machinery needed to produce 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 immediately see 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, speak to a gutter installer who offers both traditional and seamless gutter systems to decide if the cost difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long rain gutters is not a task that a single person can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet on their own, 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, fastening the gutter every several feet. For rain gutters any longer, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten 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. You can easily damage a seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Pristine Gutters is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Portage area. Call 269-215-5757 now for more information!