Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters have to be replaced nearly as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, 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 needed to replace your home’s gutters recently, it’s probably about time to begin considering the options. More than likely, your options have changed since you last shopped for gutters, either when you built your home or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and materials improve a lot over a period of only a few years. This means your next gutters will be even more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the current ones on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the major upgrades in home gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to traditional gutters that only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in many situations with a custom machine, removing the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow materials.
Many gutter installation companies own their own equipment and can complete the whole process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in just one day!
Because they are built to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that stretch over 40 feet, with the longest length of a seamless rain gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This gives homeowners the choice to have an individual 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 choice can be much more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good choice for your home, you will want to know what sets them apart 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 only at the corners, seamless gutters have a noticeably sleek appearance. Seamless gutter machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and correctly sized. The custom measurements also improve the curb appeal of your house without being overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints means there are less chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the gutters. Water flows through smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this should make you very happy, as it means you don’t need to clean them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, some regular gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Regular gutters can leak from any joint once the gutters start to pull away from the house. Loose fasteners are another problem that cause gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the length and width of your house reduces the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that are able to 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 are able to damage your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars’ of damage. Keeping that buildup out of your rain 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 length of the house. This is an eco-friendly practice that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Also, there is no need to eliminate 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 creates less leaks, a smaller chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting rain gutters can 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. Most homeowners don’t have access t the equipment needed to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to set up these machines to make exact cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are installed, you will quickly see their value which pays for itself due to less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions about the value of seamless rain gutters, speak to a gutter installer who offers both standard and seamless gutter systems to determine if the cost difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless rain gutters is not a project that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet on their own, 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, fastening the gutter every few feet. For rain gutters longer than that, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach those places due to the length and 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. You can damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Tracy Gutter Service is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Tracy area. Call 209-219-2294 now for more information!