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 rain gutters need to do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your home’s gutters recently, 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 had to replace them.
Styles and types of materials improve drastically over a period of just a few years. This means that your next gutters will be a lot more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the current ones on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the biggest improvements in home gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to traditional gutters that are only sold in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in most cases with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.
Many gutter installation businesses have their own machinery and are able to complete the entire process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Since they are manufactured to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that stretch over 50 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless rain gutter around 100 feet with no joints. This offers homeowners the option to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Traditional gutters have been popular for so long that it can be hard to believe how another choice can be more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your home, you need know what sets them apart so you can 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 just at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek look. Seamless gutter machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which should 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 overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints means there are less chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you very pleased, because it means you won’t need to clean them out as much. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, most regular 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 if the gutters start to pull away from the house. Loose fasteners are another problem that cause gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints across the length and width of your house reduces the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that can hide within them or build a nest with the materials that are present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and are able to damage your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ of damage. Keeping that buildup out of gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then building them on site ensures that your gutters will be the correct size without having scrap pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the home. This is an eco-friendly process 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 designed with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This creates less leaks, less chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting rain gutters also protect your house, including the walls, windows and surrounding soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters almost always require professional installation because of their size and the training and machinery needed to build them. Most homeowners don’t have access t the equipment needed to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to set up these machines to make exact cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are professionally installed, you will quickly understand their value which pays for itself because of fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions concerning the value of seamless gutters, talk with a gutter installer who offers both traditional and seamless gutter systems to determine if the cost difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long gutters is not a project that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 35 feet on their own, but anything longer 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, securing the gutter every few feet. For gutters any longer than that, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure 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 mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Everett Gutter Experts is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Everett area. Call 781-257-4956 now for more information!