Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters have to be replaced about as often as the roof on a home, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters need to do their job with little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your gutters recently, it’s probably about time to start considering the options. More than likely, your options have changed a lot since you last shopped for gutters, either when building your home or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve a lot over a period of just a few years. This means your next gutters will be more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the current ones on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the major enhancements in home gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, opposed to traditional gutters which are only sold 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.
Many gutter installation companies own their own equipment and are able to do the whole process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in only one day!
Because they are built to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that stretch over 40 feet, with the longest length of a seamless gutter 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 used for so long that it can be difficult to realize how another option can be more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good idea for your house, you need understand 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:
Better Curb Appeal – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a noticeably sleek appearance. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for downspouts, which have to be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also increase the curb appeal of your house without being overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints means there are fewer chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water flows through more smoothly with fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely happy, since it means you won’t need to clean them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, some traditional gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Traditional gutters can leak from any joint if the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that cause gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the entire length and width of your home helps reduce the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract animals and insects that are able to hide inside of them or build nests with the debris that is present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and can destroy your roof, causing hundreds of dollars’ of damage. Keeping that buildup out of rain gutters makes them less appealing for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then building them on site ensures that your gutters will be the correct length 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. Also, there is no need to eliminate the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are designed with the latest technology and the best materials available. This results in fewer leaks, less chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting rain gutters can also protect your house, including the exterior walls, windows and surrounding soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically need professional installation due to their size and the experience and equipment needed to build them. Most homeowners don’t have own the equipment required to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on 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 less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have 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 a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long gutters is not a task that a single person can handle safely. Pros 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 less than 35 feet, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, fastening the gutter every few 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 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 handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. All Pro Gutters is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Leominster area. Call 508-286-7933 now for more information!