Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters have to be replaced about as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters need to do their job with little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual 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 you built your home or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve drastically over a period of only a few years. This means that your next gutters will be much more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the ones that are currently on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest 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 many situations with a special machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation businesses own their own machinery and can do the whole process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in just one day!
Since they are built to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that stretch over 50 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless gutter at around 100 feet without joints. This gives homeowners the choice to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Traditional gutters have been used for so long that it can be difficult to see how another option can be a lot more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good idea for your house, you will want to know what sets them apart so you can understand why there is such a noticeable price difference for them.
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 machines even 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 improve the curb appeal of your home without being too overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints means there are fewer 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, since it means you won’t be cleaning them out as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual cleaning. In contrast, some traditional rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order 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 home. Loose fasteners are another problem that cause gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the entire length and width of your house reduces the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent 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 damage your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ worth of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of your gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting them on site guarantees that your gutters will be the perfect length without having additional 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 destroy 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 rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting gutters also protect your home, including the exterior walls, windows and surrounding soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually require professional installation because of their size and the experience and equipment required to build them. Individuals don’t have own the equipment needed 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 quickly see their value which pays for itself over time via 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 decide if the price difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long rain gutters is not a task that a homeowner can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet by themselves, but anything longer than that requires a second person.
For 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 that are longer than that, the installation team will start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach those sections because of 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 mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. The Concord Gutter Company is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Concord area. Call 925-267-6706 now for more information!