Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters need to be replaced nearly as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a good long while, and in the meantime, your rain gutters need to do their job with little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your gutters recently, it’s probably about time to start looking at the options. More than likely, your options have changed a lot since you last shopped for gutters, either when you built your home or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve a lot over a period of only a few years. This means that your next gutters will be a lot 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 major upgrades in rain gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to standard gutters that only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in many situations with a special machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation businesses have their own equipment and are able to complete the whole process on their own – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Since they are built to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that extend over 40 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless gutter around 100 feet without joints. This offers homeowners the choice to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Traditional gutters have been popular for so long that it might be hard to see how another choice can be a lot more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good choice for your home, you need know what sets them apart so you can also understand why there is a noticeable price difference between the two.
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 fabrication machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The custom measurements also help the curb appeal of your house without being too overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are fewer chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water flows through more smoothly with fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely pleased, because it means you won’t be cleaning them out as much. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 annual cleaning. In contrast, most regular gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Normal gutters can leak at any joint once the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that can lead to gutter leaks. Eliminating joints across the entire length and width of your home reduces the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals and insects that are able to hide inside of them or build nests with the organic materials that are present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and can damage your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars’ worth of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of 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 size without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the house. This is an eco-friendly practice that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Also, there is no need to destroy the excess or see it end up in a landfill.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are made with the latest technology and the best materials available. This results in less leaks, a smaller chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your home, including the walls, windows and the soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually need professional installation due to their size and the experience and machinery needed to build them. Most homeowners don’t have access t the equipment required to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to program these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are installed, you will quickly understand their value which pays for itself over time via fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions concerning the value of seamless rain gutters, speak to a gutter installer who provides both standard 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 single person can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 35 feet or so by themselves, but anything longer requires a second person.
For seamless gutters that are less than 35 feet, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, fastening the gutter every several feet. For gutters that are longer than that, the installation team will need to start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach those places 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 damage a seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. East Lansing Gutter Experts is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the East Lansing area. Call 517-296-6114 now for more information!