Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters have to be replaced about as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a good long while, but in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters need to do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t needed to replace your home’s gutters lately, it’s probably about time to start looking at the options. Chances are, your options have changed since the last time you shopped for gutters, either when building your home or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve a lot over a period of just a few years. This means that your next rain gutters will be more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the ones that are currently on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the standout enhancements in home gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, as opposed to traditional gutters that only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in many situations with a custom machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow items.
Most gutter installation companies own their own equipment and can complete the entire process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in just one day!
Because they are built to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that stretch over 40 feet, with the longest length of a seamless gutter around 100 feet without joints. This gives homeowners the choice to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Traditional gutters have been used for so long that it can be hard to believe how another choice can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your house, 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 only at the corners, seamless gutters have a noticeably sleek appearance. Seamless gutter machines even cut out holes for downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also improve the curb appeal of your house without being too overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are less opportunities for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely happy, since it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual cleaning. In contrast, most regular gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Standard gutters can leak at any joint as soon as the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that cause gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints throughout the length and width of your home helps reduce the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract small animals and insects that are able to hide within them or build a nest with the debris that is present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and can destroy your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars’ worth of damage. Keeping that buildup out of 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 length without having scrap pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the house. This is an eco-friendly process that lowers 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.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are made with the latest technology and the best materials on the market. This leads to less leaks, a smaller chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting rain gutters also protect your home, including the exterior walls, windows and the soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually require professional installation because of their size and the experience and machinery required to build them. Most homeowners don’t have have the equipment 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 see their value which pays for itself over time via less 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 seamless rain gutters is not a job that a single person can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet or so by themselves, but anything longer than that will require a second person.
For 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, the installation team will 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. Homeowners can damage a long gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Plymouth Gutters Plus is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Plymouth area. Call 508-593-0511 now for more information!