Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters have to be replaced about as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your home’s gutters need to do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your home’s gutters recently, it’s probably a good time to begin considering the options. More than likely, your options have changed since you last shopped for 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 only a few years. This means that your next rain gutters will be more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the current ones on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the standout improvements in residential gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to standard gutters which are only available in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in most situations with a custom machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow items.
Many gutter installation services own their own equipment and can do the entire process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in just one day!
Since they are built to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that stretch over 50 feet, with the longest length of a seamless rain gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This offers homeowners the option to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Traditional gutters have been popular for so long that it might be difficult to believe how another choice can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good idea for your house, you need understand the benefits of them 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 sleek appearance. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and correctly sized. The custom measurements also increase the curb appeal of your home 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 fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely happy, because it means you won’t need to clean them out as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, most standard gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Normal gutters can leak from any joint once the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that 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).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small 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 easy access to your attic and are able to destroy your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ worth of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of your rain gutters makes them less appealing for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then manufacturing them on site ensures that your gutters will be the perfect length without having scrap pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the home. This is an eco-friendly practice that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. Also, there is no need to destroy the excess or see it end up in a landfill.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are made with the latest technology and the best materials on the market. This results in less leaks, a smaller chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your home, including the walls, windows and the soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters almost always require professional installation because of their size and the experience and machinery necessary to build them. Most homeowners don’t have access t the equipment necessary 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 see 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 rain gutters, speak to a gutter installer who does both traditional and seamless gutter systems to decide if the cost difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless gutters is not a job that a homeowner can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 35 feet on their own, but anything longer requires 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, fastening the gutter every several feet. For gutters that are longer than that, the installation team will start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach those places 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 damage a long gutter by mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. The Columbus Gutter Company is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Columbus area. Call 706-203-3493 now for more information!