Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters need to be replaced nearly as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters need to do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your gutters lately, it’s probably about time to start considering the options. More than likely, 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 replaced them.
Styles and types of materials improve a lot over a period of only a few years. This means that your next 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 upgrades in home gutters is the invention 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 many cases with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.
Many gutter installation services have their own machinery and are able to do 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 extend over 50 feet, with the longest length of a seamless gutter 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
Standard gutters have been used for so long that it might be difficult to realize how another option can be much more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your home, you need to understand the benefits of them so you can also understand why there is such a noticeable price difference between the two.
There are many benefits of seamless gutters over traditional gutter systems:
Better Curb Appeal – With joints just at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek appearance. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The custom measurements also improve the curb appeal of your house without being overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are fewer opportunities for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the gutters. Water flows through more smoothly with fewer clogs. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely pleased, since it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, some standard gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Traditional gutters can leak from any joint once the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can lead to 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).
Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract animals, rodents and insects that are able to hide within them or build nests with the debris that is present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and are able to damage your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars of damage (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of 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 size without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the home. This is an environmentally-friendly practice that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to eliminate the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are designed with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This leads to fewer leaks, less chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting rain gutters also protect your home, including the walls, windows and surrounding soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically require professional installation because of their size and the experience and equipment required to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have to own the machinery necessary 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 professionally installed, you will quickly see their value which pays for itself due to less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions about the value of seamless gutters, talk with a gutter installer who provides 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 rain gutters is not a project that a homeowner can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet or so on their own, but anything longer than that 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, 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 secure 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 easily damage a seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Dublin Gutter Service is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Dublin area. Call 614-363-2398 now for more information!