Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters should be replaced almost as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters need to 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 about time to begin looking at the options. Chances are, your options have changed a lot since you last shopped for gutters, either when building your home or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve significantly over a period of only a few years. This means that 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 major improvements in rain gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to traditional gutters which only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in many cases with a custom machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation businesses own their own machinery and are able to complete the whole 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 stretch over 40 feet, with the longest length of a seamless rain gutter at around 100 feet without joints. This gives 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 might be difficult to believe how another choice can be a lot more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good choice for your home, you need understand the benefits of them 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 sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and correctly sized. The custom measurements also improve the curb appeal of your home without being too overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints means there are less opportunities for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this should make you very pleased, as it means you won’t be cleaning them out as much. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, some regular gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning 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 can cause gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints throughout the length and width of your house helps reduce the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals and insects that can hide within them or build a nest with the debris that is present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and can destroy your roof, leading to 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 building them on site means that your gutters will be the correct length without having scrap pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the home. This is an environmentally-friendly process that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, 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 creates fewer 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 require professional installation due to their size and the experience and machinery necessary to build them. Most homeowners don’t have access t the machinery necessary to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to set up 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 over time via less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions about the value of seamless gutters, talk with a gutter installer who provides both traditional and seamless gutter systems to decide if the price difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless rain gutters is not a task that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 35 feet or so by themselves, but anything longer requires 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, fastening the gutter every few feet. For rain gutters any longer, the installation team will need to start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten 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. Homeowners can damage a seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Cary Gutter Service is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Cary area. Call 919-646-6533 now for more information!