Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters should be replaced almost as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a good long while, but 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 about time to begin looking at the options. Chances are, your options have changed 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 only a few years. This means your next gutters will be even more efficient, lighter and more attractive 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 most revolutionary enhancements in residential gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, as opposed to standard gutters that only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in most situations with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow items.
Most gutter installation businesses have their own machinery and can complete the whole process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in just one day!
Because they are built to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that stretch over 50 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless rain gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This gives 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 hard to believe how another option can be a lot more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your house, you need understand what sets them apart 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:
Better Curb Appeal – With joints just at the corners, seamless gutters have a sleek appearance. Seamless gutter fabrication machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which have to be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and perfectly sized. The measurements also help the curb appeal of your home without being too overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are less opportunities for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely pleased, since it means you won’t be cleaning them out as much. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, some regular rain gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Normal gutters can leak at any joint if the gutters start pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are another problem that can lead to gutter leaks. Eliminating joints throughout the length and width of your house reduces the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract small animals and insects that can hide within them or build nests with the debris that is present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and are able to damage your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ of repairs (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of your 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 extra pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the house. This is an eco-friendly practice that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. Plus, there is no need to destroy the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are made with the latest 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 house. Longer lasting rain gutters also protect your house, including the walls, windows and the soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters almost always need professional installation due to their size and the experience and machinery needed to build them. Most homeowners don’t have access t the machinery required to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to set up these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are installed, you will immediately see their value which pays for itself over time via less 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 standard and seamless gutter systems to decide if the price difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless rain gutters is not a job that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet on their own, but anything longer than that requires a second person.
For 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 that are longer, the installation team will start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten those sections 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 easily damage a long gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. A+ Gutters of O’Fallon is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the O’Fallon area. Call 636-202-4099 now for more information!