Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters need to be replaced almost as often as the roof on a home, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your gutters should do their job with little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your home’s gutters recently, it’s probably a good time to start considering the options. Chances are, your options have changed a lot since the last time you shopped for new gutters, either when you built your house or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and materials improve a lot over a period of just a few years. This means your next rain gutters will be much 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 major improvements in home gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, as 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 long, narrow materials.
Many gutter installation businesses have their own equipment and are able to complete the entire process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in just one day!
Since they are manufactured to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that extend over 40 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This gives homeowners the choice to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Standard gutters have been used for so long that it might be hard to believe how another option can be more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good idea for your home, you will want to know what sets them apart 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:
More Attractive – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a sleek appearance. Seamless gutter 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 measurements also help the curb appeal of your house without being overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints means there are less chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water flows through smoothly with fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely pleased, as it means you won’t need to clean them out as much. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, most regular gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Traditional gutters can leak from any joint once the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can cause gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints along the entire length and width of your home 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 will hide within 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, resulting in 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 manufacturing them on site means that your gutters will be the correct size without having scrap pieces that were cut off to match the length of the house. 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 made with the latest technology and the best materials available. This leads to less leaks, less chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting gutters also protect your home, including the walls, windows and surrounding soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually need professional installation because of their size and the experience and equipment necessary to build them. Most homeowners don’t have the machinery necessary 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 see their value which pays for itself because of fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions concerning the value of seamless rain gutters, speak to a gutter installer who provides both traditional and seamless gutter systems to determine if the price difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless gutters is not a project 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, 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 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 mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Wilkes-Barre Gutter Solutions is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Wilkes-Barre area. Call 570-260-9592 now for more information!