Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters should be replaced nearly as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters need to do their job with very little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t needed to replace your gutters recently, it’s probably a good time to begin considering the options. More than likely, your options have changed a lot since you last shopped for gutters, either when you built your house or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and materials improve significantly over a period of just a few years. This means that your next rain gutters will be even more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the current ones on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the most revolutionary enhancements in home gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, opposed to traditional gutters that are only sold in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in many situations with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow items.
Most gutter installation companies have their own equipment and are able to do the whole process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Since they are manufactured to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that extend over 40 feet, with the longest length of a seamless rain gutter around 100 feet without joints. This gives homeowners the choice to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Traditional gutters have been used for so long that it might be hard to see how another option can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your house, you will want to understand what sets them apart 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 only at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek look. Seamless gutter machines even cut out holes for downspouts, which have to be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also increase the curb appeal of your home without being overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are fewer opportunities for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through smoothly with fewer clogs. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely happy, because it means you won’t need to clean them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, most traditional gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Traditional gutters can leak at any joint if the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that result in gutter leaks. Eliminating joints across the length and width of your house reduces the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that can hide within 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 will damage your roof, causing hundreds of dollars’ of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of your gutters makes them less appealing for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting them on site means that your gutters will be the perfect length without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an eco-friendly process that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to destroy the excess or see it end up in a landfill.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are designed with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This leads to fewer leaks, a smaller chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your house, including the exterior walls, windows and the soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically need professional installation due to their size and the experience and machinery required to manufacturer them. Most homeowners don’t have access t the machinery necessary to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to program these machines to make exact cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are professionally installed, you will quickly see 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 gutters, speak to a gutter installer who offers both standard and seamless gutter systems to decide if the cost difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long rain gutters is not a job that a single person can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 35 feet or so by themselves, but anything longer than that will require a second person.
For gutters that are less than 35 feet, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, attaching the gutter every few feet. For gutters that are longer, the installation team will need to start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach 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. Homeowners can easily damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Folsom Gutter Service is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Folsom area. Call 916-252-1635 now for more information!