Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters have to be replaced almost as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your rain gutters need to do their job with very little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t needed to replace your gutters lately, 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 you built your home or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve drastically over a period of just 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 biggest upgrades in home gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, opposed to standard gutters which are only available in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in most cases with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow items.
Many gutter installation companies have their own machinery and are able to complete the whole process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in only one day!
Because they are manufactured to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that extend over 40 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless gutter around 100 feet without joints. This offers homeowners the choice 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 might be hard to realize how another option can be more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your house, you will want to know what sets them apart so you can 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 machines even cut out holes for downspouts, which have to 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 or obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints means there are fewer chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water flows through more smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely pleased, since it means you don’t need to clean them out as much. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, some regular 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 if the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that results in gutter leaks. Eliminating joints across the length and width of your house helps reduce the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals and insects that will hide inside of them or build nests with the organic materials that are present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and can destroy your roof, causing hundreds of dollars worth of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of 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 additional pieces that were cut off to match the length of the house. This is an environmentally-friendly practice that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Also, there is no need to eliminate the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are designed with the latest technology and the best materials available. This results in less leaks, less 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 surrounding soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters almost always need professional installation because of their size and the training and equipment needed to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have to own the machinery needed 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 installed, you will see their value which pays for itself over time via fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions concerning the value of seamless rain gutters, speak to 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 single person can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet or so by themselves, but anything longer will require 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 gutters any longer than that, the installation team will need to begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten those sections 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. You can damage a long gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Longview Gutters & Exteriors is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Longview area. Call 360-226-7053 now for more information!