Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters need to be replaced about as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your rain gutters need to do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your gutters recently, it’s probably a good time to begin looking at the options. Odds are, your options have changed since you last shopped for new gutters, either when building your house or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve significantly over a period of just a few years. This means that your next rain gutters will be much more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the current ones on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the major improvements in home gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, as opposed to traditional gutters which only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in most cases with a custom machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.
Many gutter installation businesses have their own equipment and can do the entire process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Because they are built to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that extend over 40 feet, with the longest length of a seamless 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 can be difficult to see how another choice can be a lot more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your home, you need understand the benefits of them so you can understand why there is 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 noticeably sleek appearance. Seamless gutter machines even cut out holes for downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and perfectly sized. The measurements also increase the curb appeal of your home without being overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are fewer opportunities for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with fewer clogs. As a homeowner, this will likely make you very happy, since it means you don’t need to clean them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, most regular gutter systems have to 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 pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are another problem that lead to gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the entire length and width of your home helps reduce the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that will hide within them or build a nest with the organic materials that are present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and will damage your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars’ worth of damage. Keeping that buildup out of gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then manufacturing them on site ensures that your gutters will be the perfect size without having scrap pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the home. This is an eco-friendly practice that lowers 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 made with the latest 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 home. 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 due to their size and the experience and equipment required to manufacturer them. Most homeowners don’t have access t the equipment required to make 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 understand their value which pays for itself because of less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions concerning the value of seamless rain gutters, speak to a gutter installer who provides both traditional 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 task that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 35 feet on their own, but anything longer than that requires a second person.
For 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 longer than that, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten 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 long gutter by mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Quality Quincy Gutters is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Quincy area. Call 781-253-8753 now for more information!