Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters need to be replaced about as often as the roof on a home, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a good long while, and in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters need to do their job with little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your home’s gutters lately, it’s probably about time to begin considering the options. More than likely, your options have changed since the last time you shopped for gutters, either when you built your house or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve drastically over a period of only a few years. This means that your next rain gutters will be even more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the current ones on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the new 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 long sections, as opposed to standard gutters that are only available in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in many cases with a custom machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting long, narrow items.
Many gutter installation services own their own equipment and can do the entire process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in only one day!
Because they are manufactured to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that extend over 50 feet, with the longest length of a seamless rain gutter around 100 feet without 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 used for so long that it might be hard to realize how another choice can be a lot more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good idea for your house, you should understand what sets them apart so you can understand why there is a noticeable price difference between the two.
There are many benefits of seamless gutters over traditional gutter systems:
More Attractive – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a sleek appearance. Seamless gutter machines cut out holes for downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and perfectly sized. The measurements also increase the curb appeal of your house without being overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints mean there are less chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely happy, since it means you won’t need to clean them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, most regular gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Regular gutters can leak from any joint if the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can lead to gutter leaks. Eliminating joints throughout the entire length and width of your house helps reduce the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract animals and insects that can 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’ worth of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of rain gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then manufacturing them on site means that your gutters will be the perfect size without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an environmentally-friendly practice that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to eliminate the excess or see it end up in a landfill.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are designed with the newest technology and the best materials available. This results in fewer leaks, less chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your home, including the walls, windows and surrounding soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically require professional installation because of their size and the training and machinery needed to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have own the equipment required to make 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 immediately see their value which pays for itself due to less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions about the value of seamless rain gutters, talk with a gutter installer who offers both traditional 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 project that a homeowner can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 35 feet or so on their own, but anything longer 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 few feet. For rain gutters that are longer than that, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure those sections 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. You can damage a long gutter by mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Good Home Gutters is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Brick area. Call 732-392-7709 now for more information!