Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters need to be replaced about as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters should do their job with little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t needed to replace your home’s gutters recently, it’s probably a good time to start looking at the options. More than likely, your options have changed a lot since you last shopped for new gutters, either when you built 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 rain gutters will be more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the current ones on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the biggest enhancements in rain gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to standard gutters which are only manufactured in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in most situations with a custom machine, removing the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation companies own their own machinery and are able to do the whole process on their own – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in just one day!
Since they are built to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that extend over 50 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless gutter around 100 feet with no joints. This offers homeowners the choice to have a single 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 difficult to realize how another choice can be more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good idea for your home, 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:
Better Curb Appeal – With joints just at the corners, seamless gutters have a sleek appearance. Seamless gutter fabrication machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which have to be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and perfectly sized. The measurements also help the curb appeal of your house without being too overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints mean there are fewer chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely pleased, because it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, most standard rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Normal gutters can leak at any joint if the gutters start pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are also a problem that result in gutter leaks. Eliminating joints throughout the length and width of your home reduces 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 will hide inside of them or build nests with the debris that is present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and can destroy your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ of damage (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of gutters makes them less appealing for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then manufacturing 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.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are designed with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This leads to fewer leaks, a smaller chance of rust 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 usually need professional installation because of their size and the training and machinery necessary to build them. Individuals don’t have own the equipment needed to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to set up these machines to make precise 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 any questions concerning the value of seamless gutters, speak to a gutter installer who does both traditional and seamless gutter systems to determine 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 single person can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 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 several feet. For rain gutters longer, the installation team will 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 easily damage a long gutter by mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. South Bend Gutters is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the South Bend area. Call 574-319-9596 now for more information!