Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters need to be replaced nearly as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your 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 home’s gutters recently, it’s probably a good time to begin looking at the options. More than likely, your options have changed since you last shopped for new gutters, either when you built your home or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and materials improve a lot over a period of only a few years. This means that your next rain gutters will be 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 standout improvements in home gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, opposed to traditional gutters that are only available in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in many situations with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation services have their own machinery and can complete the whole process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Because they are manufactured to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that stretch over 40 feet, with the longest length of a seamless gutter at around 100 feet without joints. This offers homeowners the option 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 might be difficult to realize how another option can be a lot more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your home, you should know the benefits of them 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:
Better Curb Appeal – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a noticeably sleek appearance. Seamless gutter machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The custom measurements also improve the curb appeal of your home without being too overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are less chances 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, because it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, most regular rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Standard gutters can leak at any joint as soon as the gutters start pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are another problem that lead to gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the entire length and width of your house helps reduce the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that can hide within them or build nests with the organic materials that are present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and will damage your roof, resulting in 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 means that your gutters will be the perfect size without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an eco-friendly process that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to eliminate the excess or see it end up in a landfill.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are built with the latest technology and the best materials on the market. This results in fewer leaks, less chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting gutters also protect your house, including the exterior walls, windows and surrounding soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically require professional installation due to their size and the training and machinery necessary to build them. Most homeowners don’t have own the equipment necessary to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to set up these machines to make exact cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are professionally 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 concerning the value of seamless gutters, speak to a gutter installer who offers both standard and seamless gutter systems to determine if the cost difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless gutters is not a task that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 35 feet or so by themselves, but anything longer than that will require a second person.
For gutters that are 35 feet or less, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, securing the gutter every several feet. For gutters any longer than that, the installation team will need to start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten 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. Homeowners can damage a long gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Absolute Gutters, Inc. is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Pontiac area. Call 248-422-0152 now for more information!