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 good long while, 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 had to replace your gutters recently, it’s probably a good time to start considering the options. Odds are, your options have changed since you last shopped for gutters, either when you built your home or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and types of materials improve significantly 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 house.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the biggest enhancements in home gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to standard gutters which only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in most situations with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow items.
Most gutter installation businesses have their own equipment and are able to complete 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 possible to have seamless gutters that stretch over 50 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This offers homeowners the choice 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 hard to believe how another option can be more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good choice for your house, you should understand what sets them apart so you can understand why there is such 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 noticeably sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and perfectly sized. The custom measurements also help the curb appeal of your home without being overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints mean there are fewer opportunities for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely pleased, since it means you don’t need to clean them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, most regular rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Regular gutters can leak from any joint once the gutters start to pull away from the house. Loose fasteners are another problem that can cause gutter leaks. Eliminating joints across the length and width of your home helps reduce the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that can hide within them or build nests with the materials that are present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and are able to damage your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of gutters makes them less appealing for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting them on site means that your gutters will be the correct size without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the length of the house. This is an environmentally-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 designed with the newest technology and the best materials available. This creates fewer leaks, a smaller chance of rust 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 require professional installation because of their size and the experience and machinery required to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have access t the equipment required to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to program these machines to make exact cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are installed, you will quickly see their value which pays for itself because of less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions concerning the value of seamless rain gutters, speak to a gutter installer who does both standard and seamless gutter systems to decide 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. Professionals can install a section up to about 35 feet or so on their own, but anything longer requires a second person.
For gutters that are 35 feet or less, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, securing the gutter every several feet. For rain gutters any longer, the installation team will need to begin 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. You can damage a seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Salem Gutter Specialists is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Salem area. Call 503-461-7373 now for more information!