Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters should be replaced about as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a good long while, and in the meantime, your rain gutters should do their job with little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t had to replace your gutters lately, it’s probably a good time to begin looking at the options. Chances are, your options have changed a lot since you last shopped for gutters, either when building your house or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve a lot over a period of just a few years. This means your next rain gutters will be even more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the current ones on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the most revolutionary upgrades in rain gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to traditional gutters that 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 businesses have their own machinery and can complete the whole process on their own – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in just one day!
Because they are manufactured to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that extend over 40 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This offers homeowners the option 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 hard to realize how another option can be a lot more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good idea for your home, you should understand the benefits of them so you can also 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 noticeably sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which have to be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also improve the curb appeal of your home without being overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints means there are fewer chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely pleased, since it means you won’t need to clean them out as often. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, most standard 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 once the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can result in gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints along the entire length and width of your home helps reduce the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that can hide within them or build nests with the debris that is present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and are able to destroy your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars’ of repairs (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of rain gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting them on site means that your gutters will be the correct length without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the house. This is an environmentally-friendly practice that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to get rid of the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are built with the newest technology and the best materials available. This results in fewer leaks, a smaller chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting gutters also protect your house, including the walls, windows and the soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically require professional installation because of their size and the experience and equipment needed to manufacturer them. Most homeowners don’t have have 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 installed, you will immediately understand their value which pays for itself because of 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 offers both traditional 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 rain gutters is not a project that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 35 feet on their own, but anything longer than that 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, fastening the gutter every few feet. For gutters that are longer, the installation team will start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure 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 seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Beverly Gutter Cleaning is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Beverly area. Call 978-350-0886 now for more information!