Benefits of Seamless Gutters
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 home’s rain gutters should do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t needed to replace your home’s gutters lately, it’s probably about time to begin 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 significantly over a period of only a few years. This means that your next rain gutters will be more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the current ones on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the biggest upgrades in rain gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, opposed to traditional gutters which only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in many cases with a special machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow items.
Many gutter installation services have their own machinery and are able to complete the whole process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in only one day!
Because they are manufactured to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that extend over 50 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless rain gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This offers homeowners the option to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Standard gutters have been popular for so long that it can be difficult to believe how another option can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good choice for your home, you will want to know what sets them apart so you can also understand why there is such a noticeable price difference between the two.
There are many benefits of seamless gutters over traditional gutter systems:
More Attractive – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which have to be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and perfectly sized. The custom measurements also improve the curb appeal of your house without being overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints mean there are fewer chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through smoothly with fewer clogs. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely happy, because it means you don’t need to clean them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 annual cleaning. In contrast, some traditional rain gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Standard gutters can leak from any joint once the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can cause gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints across the entire length and width of your home helps reduce the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that will hide inside of them or build a nest with the debris that is present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and are able to destroy your roof, causing hundreds of dollars’ worth of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of your 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 correct length without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the length of the house. This is an eco-friendly process 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 built with the latest technology and the best materials on the market. This results in less leaks, a smaller chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting rain gutters also protect your home, including the walls, windows and surrounding soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically require professional installation due to their size and the training and machinery needed to build them. Individuals don’t have have the machinery necessary to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to set up these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are installed, you will quickly see their value which pays for itself due to fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions about the value of seamless rain gutters, talk with a gutter installer who does both standard and seamless gutter systems to determine if the price difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long gutters is not a task that a homeowner can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet or so on their own, but anything longer 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, securing the gutter every several feet. For rain gutters any longer, the installation team will start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten those sections 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 mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Lawrence Gutter Service is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Lawrence area. Call 785-310-3022 now for more information!