Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters have to be replaced almost as often as the roof on a home, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters should do their job with very little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t needed to replace your home’s gutters lately, it’s probably about time to begin looking at the options. Odds are, your options have changed since you last shopped for new gutters, either when you built 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 your next rain gutters will be more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the ones that are currently on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest 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 very long sections, as opposed to standard gutters which only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in most cases with a special machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow materials.
Many gutter installation services own their own machinery and are able to do the entire process on their own – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in only one day!
Since they are manufactured to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that stretch over 50 feet, with the longest 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 any color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Standard gutters have been used for so long that it can be hard to believe how another choice can be a lot more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your home, 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:
Better Curb Appeal – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a sleek appearance. Seamless gutter machines even cut out holes for downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The custom measurements also increase the curb appeal of your house without being too overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints mean there are fewer opportunities for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through smoothly with fewer clogs. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely happy, as it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, some standard rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Regular gutters can leak from any joint if the gutters start to pull away from the house. Loose fasteners are also a problem that result in gutter leaks. Eliminating joints across the length and width of your house helps reduce the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract animals, rodents and insects that will hide inside of them or build nests with the organic materials that are present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and will destroy your roof, leading to 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 building them on site means that your gutters will be the perfect length without having scrap pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an eco-friendly process that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. Plus, there is no need to get rid of 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 creates fewer leaks, a smaller 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 surrounding soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically need professional installation because of their size and the training and equipment needed to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have have the machinery necessary to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to program these machines to make precise 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 does both traditional and seamless gutter systems to determine if the cost difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless gutters is not a job that a homeowner can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 35 feet on their own, but anything longer requires a second person.
For seamless gutters that are 35 feet or less, 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 begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten those places 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 mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Superior Gutter Cleaning is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Pittsfield area. Call 413-213-3522 now for more information!