Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters should be replaced nearly as often as the roof on a home, so roughly every 20 years. This is a good long while, and in the meantime, your gutters need to do their job with little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your home’s gutters recently, it’s probably about time to begin looking at the options. More than likely, your options have changed a lot since the last time you shopped for gutters, either when you built your home or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve a lot 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 house.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the major enhancements in rain gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, as opposed to standard gutters which only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in many cases with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting such 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 just one day!
Because they are built to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that stretch over 40 feet, with the longest length of a seamless gutter around 100 feet without joints. This gives homeowners the option 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 might be difficult to believe how another choice can be more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good idea for your house, you will want to know the benefits of them so you can also understand why there is a noticeable price difference between the two.
There are many benefits of seamless gutters over traditional gutter systems:
More Attractive – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek appearance. Seamless gutter fabrication machines cut out holes for downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and perfectly sized. The measurements also help the curb appeal of your house without being too overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are less opportunities for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with fewer clogs. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely happy, because it means you don’t need to clean them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, most standard rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Normal gutters can leak at any joint if the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that result in gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints along the entire length and width of your home reduces the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals and insects that will hide within them or build a nest with the debris that is present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and will destroy your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ of repairs (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of your rain gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then building them on site guarantees that your gutters will be the perfect length without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an eco-friendly practice that lowers 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 built with the newest technology and the best materials available. This creates less leaks, less chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your house, including the walls, windows and surrounding soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters almost always need professional installation because of their size and the training and machinery required to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have the equipment required to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to program these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are professionally installed, you will immediately understand their value which pays for itself because of fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions about the value of seamless gutters, speak to a gutter installer who offers both traditional and seamless gutter systems to decide if the price difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless rain gutters is not a job that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 35 feet on their own, but anything longer 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, attaching the gutter every several feet. For rain gutters that are longer, the installation team will need to begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure those places 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 damage a seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Elyria Gutter Experts is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Elyria area. Call 440-271-3629 now for more information!