Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters should be replaced nearly as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters need to do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your gutters recently, it’s probably a good time to begin considering the options. More than likely, 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 types of materials improve significantly over a period of only a few years. This means that your next rain gutters will be even more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the ones that are currently on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the standout improvements in rain gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, opposed to traditional gutters that only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in most situations with a custom machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow materials.
Many gutter installation services own their own equipment and are able to do the whole process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in just one day!
Since they are built to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that stretch over 50 feet, with the longest length of a seamless gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This gives homeowners the choice 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 hard to believe how another choice can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good idea for your home, you should understand what sets them apart so you can also understand why there is a noticeable price difference for them.
There are many benefits of seamless gutters over traditional gutter systems:
Better Curb Appeal – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a noticeably sleek appearance. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also improve the curb appeal of your home without being too overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints means there are less chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with fewer clogs. As a homeowner, this should make you very happy, as it means you won’t need to clean them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, most standard 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 can result in gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints across the entire length and width of your home helps reduce the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals and insects that are able to hide within them or build nests with the organic materials that are present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and can destroy your roof, causing hundreds of dollars of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of rain gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then manufacturing them on site guarantees that your gutters will be the correct size without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the home. This is an eco-friendly process that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Also, there is no need to eliminate the excess or see it end up in a landfill.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are made with the latest technology and the best materials on the market. This creates fewer leaks, a smaller chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting rain gutters also protect your house, including the exterior walls, windows and the soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically require professional installation because of their size and the experience and equipment required to build them. Most homeowners don’t have the equipment necessary to produce 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 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 price difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long gutters is not a job that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet or so on their own, but anything longer requires a second person.
For gutters that are less than 35 feet, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, attaching the gutter every several feet. For 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 sections 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. Homeowners can damage a seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Kent Gutter Cleaning is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Kent area. Call 206-593-4335 now for more information!