Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters have to be replaced almost as often as the roof on a home, so roughly every 20 years. This is a good long while, but in the meantime, your home’s gutters need to do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your home’s gutters lately, it’s probably a good time to start considering the options. More than likely, your options have changed a lot since you last shopped for gutters, either when building your home or the last time you replaced 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 house.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the most revolutionary enhancements in rain gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, opposed to standard gutters that only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in many situations with a custom machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting long, narrow items.
Many gutter installation services own their own machinery and are able to complete the entire process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Since they are built to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that stretch over 50 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless gutter 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
Traditional gutters have been popular for so long that it might be difficult to see how another choice can be more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your home, you should know what sets them apart so you can understand why there is a noticeable price difference between the two.
There are many benefits of seamless gutters over traditional gutter systems:
Better Curb Appeal – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and perfectly sized. The custom measurements also help the curb appeal of your house without being overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are less opportunities for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water flows through smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely happy, because it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual 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 – Traditional gutters can leak from any joint if the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that lead to gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints throughout the length and width of your house reduces the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals and insects that are able to hide inside of them or build a nest with the organic materials that are present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and are able to damage your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars’ worth of repairs (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of rain gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting 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 house. This is an eco-friendly process 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 designed with the latest technology and the best materials on the market. This creates fewer leaks, less chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting gutters also protect your house, including the walls, windows and the soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually require professional installation due to their size and the training and machinery required to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have own the equipment required to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to program these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are professionally installed, you will see their value which pays for itself because of fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions about the value of seamless rain gutters, talk with a gutter installer who offers both standard and seamless gutter systems to determine if the price difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long gutters is not a task that a single person can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet on their own, but anything longer than that 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, attaching the gutter every few feet. For rain gutters any longer, the installation team will need to start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure those sections because of 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 easily damage a seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. High Point Gutters is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the High Point area. Call 336-360-6041 now for more information!