Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters should be replaced nearly as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your gutters need to do their job with very little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your gutters lately, it’s probably a good time to start considering the options. More than likely, your options have changed a lot since the last time you shopped for new gutters, either when building your home or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and types of materials improve significantly over a period of only a few years. This means that your next gutters will be a lot more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the ones that are currently on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the most revolutionary improvements in home gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, opposed to traditional gutters which are only sold in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in many cases with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow items.
Most gutter installation companies own their own machinery and are able to do the entire process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in only one day!
Since they are manufactured to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that extend over 40 feet, with the longest length of a seamless rain gutter at around 100 feet without joints. This gives homeowners the option to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Traditional gutters have been popular for so long that it might be difficult to believe how another choice can be more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good choice for your house, you should know 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 just at the corners, seamless gutters have a sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which must 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 – Fewer joints mean there are fewer opportunities for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water flows through more smoothly with fewer clogs. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely pleased, since it means you won’t be cleaning them out as often. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, some traditional gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Normal gutters can leak at any joint as soon as the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that causes gutter leaks. Eliminating joints across the entire length and width of your home reduces the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract animals and insects that can hide within them or build a nest with the debris that is present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and are able to damage your roof, causing hundreds of dollars worth of damage (at a minimum). 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 guarantees that your gutters will be the perfect length without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an eco-friendly practice 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.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are made with the latest technology and the best materials available. This results in fewer leaks, a smaller chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your house, including the exterior walls, windows and surrounding soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically require professional installation because of their size and the experience and machinery needed to manufacturer them. Most homeowners don’t have the machinery required to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to set up these machines to make exact cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are professionally installed, you will quickly understand their value which pays for itself due to 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 does both standard and seamless gutter systems to decide if the price difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless gutters is not a project that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 35 feet by themselves, but anything longer will require 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 several feet. For rain gutters any longer, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure 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 damage a seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Lakewood Gutter Cleaning is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Lakewood area. Call 253-215-8338 now for more information!