Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters need to be replaced about as often as the roof on a home, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your 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 gutters lately, it’s probably about time to begin looking at the options. Odds are, your options have changed since you last shopped for 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 only a few years. This means your next rain gutters will be much more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the ones that are currently on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the major improvements in rain gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, as opposed to traditional gutters that are only sold in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in most situations with a custom machine, removing the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow materials.
Many gutter installation businesses own their own machinery and can complete the entire process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in only one day!
Because they are manufactured to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that extend over 40 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless rain gutter around 100 feet without joints. This gives homeowners the choice to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Standard gutters have been popular for so long that it might be hard to see how another choice can be a lot more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your house, you need 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:
More Attractive – With joints just at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek appearance. Seamless gutter machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also improve the curb appeal of your home without being overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are fewer chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through smoothly with fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely pleased, as it means you don’t need to clean them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 annual cleaning. In contrast, most traditional gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order 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 home. Loose fasteners are another problem that can result in gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the entire length and width of your home reduces the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract animals, rodents and insects that can hide inside of them or build nests with the organic materials that are present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and are able to destroy your roof, causing hundreds of dollars’ worth of damage (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of rain gutters makes them less appealing for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then manufacturing them on site guarantees that your gutters will be the correct length without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an eco-friendly practice that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Plus, 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 results in less leaks, less 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 the soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically need professional installation because of their size and the experience and machinery necessary to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have own the equipment 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 immediately understand their value which pays for itself because of 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 job that a homeowner can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 35 feet on their own, but anything longer than that requires a second person.
For seamless gutters that are less than 35 feet, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, attaching the gutter every few feet. For gutters that are longer, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure those places 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 damage a long gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Mishawaka Gutters & More! is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Mishawaka area. Call 574-319-9533 now for more information!