Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters have to be replaced about as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a good long while, but in the meantime, your gutters need to do their job with little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your gutters recently, it’s probably about time to start looking at the options. More than likely, your options have changed a lot since you last shopped for new gutters, either when building your house or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and types of materials improve a lot over a period of just a few years. This means that your next rain gutters will be 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 standout improvements in residential gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, opposed to traditional gutters which only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in most cases with a special machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.
Many gutter installation companies own their own equipment and are able to complete the whole process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in just one day!
Since they are built to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that extend over 50 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless rain gutter around 100 feet without joints. This offers homeowners the choice to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever 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 much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your home, you will want to know the benefits of them 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 only at the corners, seamless gutters have a very 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 measurements also help the curb appeal of your house without being overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Less 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 extremely happy, because it means you won’t need to clean them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, most regular gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Traditional gutters can leak at any joint if 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 house reduces the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract small animals and insects that can hide within them or build nests with the materials that are present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and are able to destroy your roof, causing hundreds of dollars’ of damage. 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 correct length without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the house. This is an eco-friendly practice that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to get rid of the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are made with the newest 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 gutters can also protect your home, including the exterior walls, windows and the soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically need professional installation due to their size and the training and machinery necessary to manufacturer them. Most homeowners don’t have own the machinery necessary to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to program these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are professionally installed, you will understand 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 gutters, speak to a gutter installer who does 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. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet 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, securing the gutter every few feet. For rain gutters that are longer, the installation team will need to start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure those sections 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. Homeowners can easily damage a seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Berwyn Gutter Cleaning is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Berwyn area. Call 708-292-6276 now for more information!