Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters should be replaced almost as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a good long while, and in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters need to do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t needed to replace your gutters recently, it’s probably about time to begin 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 house or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and types of materials improve significantly over a period of only a few years. This means your next gutters will be more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the ones that are currently on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the standout improvements in residential 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 long. They are made on-site in many situations with a custom machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation services have their own equipment and can complete the whole process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in only one day!
Since they are built to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that extend over 50 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless gutter at around 100 feet without joints. This gives homeowners the option to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Standard gutters have been used for so long that it might be hard to realize how another option can be a lot more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good choice for your home, you will want to understand 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:
More Attractive – With joints just at the corners, seamless gutters have a noticeably 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 measurements also help the curb appeal of your home without being too overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are less chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water flows through more smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this should make you very pleased, since it means you won’t be cleaning them out as often. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, some regular rain gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Traditional gutters can leak at any joint once the gutters start to pull away from the house. Loose fasteners are another problem that can lead to gutter leaks. Eliminating joints throughout the length and width of your home helps reduce the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that can hide inside of them or build a nest with the debris that is present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and will damage your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ of repairs (at a minimum). 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 means 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 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 designed with the newest 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 home, including the exterior walls, windows and surrounding soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually need professional installation because of their size and the experience and equipment necessary to manufacturer them. Most homeowners don’t have have the equipment 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 immediately understand their value which pays for itself over time via less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions concerning the value of seamless gutters, speak to a gutter installer who provides 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. 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 less than 35 feet, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, fastening 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 attach 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. You can easily damage a long gutter by mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Montgomery Gutter Service is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Montgomery area. Call 334-231-5941 now for more information!