Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters should be replaced about as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your rain gutters should do their job with very little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your gutters recently, it’s probably about time to begin considering the options. Odds are, your options have changed a lot since the last time you shopped for new gutters, either when building your home or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and types of materials improve drastically over a period of just a few years. This means your next 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 residential 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 long. They are made on-site in most cases with a special machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.
Many gutter installation services own their own machinery and are able to complete the entire process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in only one day!
Since they are built to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that extend over 50 feet, with the longest length of a seamless rain gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This gives homeowners the option to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Traditional gutters have been used for so long that it can be hard to realize how another choice can be more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good idea for your house, you will want to know what sets them apart so you can understand why there is such a noticeable price difference for them.
There are many benefits of seamless gutters over traditional gutter systems:
More Attractive – With joints just at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for downspouts, which have to be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also help the curb appeal of your house without being too overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are less chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you very happy, because it means you won’t need to clean them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, some traditional gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Normal gutters can leak from any joint if the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can lead to gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the length and width of your home reduces the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract animals, rodents and insects that will hide inside of 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 damage your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars of repairs (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of your rain 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 perfect size without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an eco-friendly practice that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. Plus, there is no need to eliminate the excess or see it end up in a landfill.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are designed with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This creates less leaks, less chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your house, including the walls, windows and the soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually require professional installation because of their size and the experience and machinery needed to build them. Most homeowners don’t have access t the equipment required to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to program these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are professionally installed, you will immediately understand their value which pays for itself over time via fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions concerning the value of seamless gutters, speak to a gutter installer who does both standard and seamless gutter systems to determine if the price difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long gutters is not a project that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 35 feet by themselves, but anything longer than that will require a second person.
For gutters that are less than 35 feet, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, fastening the gutter every several feet. For gutters longer than that, the installation team will need to begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach those places due to 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 seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Chesapeake Gutter Solutions is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Chesapeake area. Call 757-231-3448 now for more information!