Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters should be replaced about as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your home’s gutters should do their job with little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your gutters lately, it’s probably about time to start considering the options. Chances are, 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 a lot over a period of only a few years. This means your next rain gutters will be 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 most revolutionary improvements in rain gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to standard gutters which only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in most cases with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.
Many gutter installation businesses have their own equipment and can complete the entire process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Because they are built to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that stretch over 50 feet, with the longest length of a seamless gutter around 100 feet without joints. This offers 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 a lot more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your home, you will want to know the benefits of them 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 just at the corners, seamless gutters have a sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines cut out holes for downspouts, which should 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 or obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are fewer opportunities for debris to cling on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water flows through smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely pleased, as it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, most regular gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Traditional gutters can leak at any joint as soon as the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that can result in gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints along the length and width of your house reduces the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract animals 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 easy access to your attic and can damage your roof, causing hundreds of dollars’ of repairs (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of your gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then manufacturing them on site ensures that your gutters will be the perfect size without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the length of the house. This is an eco-friendly practice that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to destroy the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are built with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This creates less leaks, less chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting gutters also protect your house, including the exterior walls, windows and surrounding soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters almost always need professional installation due to their size and the experience and equipment necessary to build them. Individuals don’t have have the machinery necessary to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to set up these machines to make exact cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are professionally installed, you will understand their value which pays for itself because of fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions about the value of seamless gutters, speak to a gutter installer who offers both standard and seamless gutter systems to determine if the price difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long rain 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 will require a second person.
For seamless gutters that are 35 feet or less, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, attaching 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 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 mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Barnstable Gutters & More! is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Barnstable area. Call 508-466-4660 now for more information!