Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters need to be replaced nearly as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters should do their job with very little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your gutters lately, it’s probably about time to start looking at the options. Odds are, your options have changed since you last shopped for gutters, either when you built your house or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and materials improve significantly over a period of just a few years. This means that your next 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 standout improvements in residential gutters is the invention 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.
Many gutter installation companies have their own machinery and can do the whole process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in just 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 without joints. This gives homeowners the choice to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Traditional gutters have been popular for so long that it can be difficult to believe how another choice can be a lot more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good idea for your house, you need know what sets them apart so you can also understand why there is such a noticeable price difference for them.
There are many benefits of seamless gutters over traditional gutter systems:
More Attractive – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a noticeably sleek appearance. Seamless gutter fabrication machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that 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 less opportunities for debris to cling on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you very happy, because it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, most traditional 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 pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are also a problem that lead to gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints throughout the entire length and width of your house reduces the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract animals, rodents and insects that can hide within them or build nests with the organic materials that are present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and can destroy your roof, causing hundreds of dollars’ worth of repairs (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of your gutters makes them less appealing for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting 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 lowers your home’s carbon footprint. Plus, there is no need to eliminate 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 on the market. This results in less leaks, a smaller chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting rain gutters also protect your home, including the exterior walls, windows and surrounding soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually need professional installation due to their size and the experience and machinery needed to build them. Most homeowners don’t have access t 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 quickly understand their value which pays for itself because of less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions concerning the value of seamless gutters, speak to a gutter installer who provides both traditional and seamless gutter systems to determine if the cost difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless rain gutters is not a job that a single person can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet by themselves, but anything longer than that 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, attaching the gutter every few feet. For gutters longer, the installation team will need to begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten those places 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. You can easily damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. A+ Lawrence Gutters is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Lawrence area. Call 317-483-8220 now for more information!