Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters should be replaced nearly as often as the roof on a home, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your rain gutters need to do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t had to replace your home’s 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 gutters, either when building your house or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and materials improve significantly over a period of only a few years. This means 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 long sections, opposed to standard gutters that are only sold 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.
Most gutter installation services have their own machinery and are able to do the whole process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Since they are manufactured 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 with no joints. This gives homeowners the choice to have an individual 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 hard to realize how another option can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good idea for your house, you will want to know what sets them apart so you can also 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 noticeably sleek appearance. Seamless gutter fabrication machines 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 home without being too overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints mean there are less opportunities for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely happy, because it means you won’t be cleaning them out as much. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, most regular rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Normal gutters can leak from any joint if the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can cause gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the entire length and width of your house reduces the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract animals and insects that are able to hide within them or build nests 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, resulting in hundreds of dollars’ worth of damage (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of your gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting them on site ensures that your gutters will be the correct size without having scrap pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an environmentally-friendly process that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Also, there is no need to destroy the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are designed with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This creates less leaks, a smaller chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your house, including the exterior walls, windows and surrounding soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually require professional installation because of their size and the experience and machinery required to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have have the equipment required to produce 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 immediately see their value which pays for itself over time via less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions concerning the value of seamless rain gutters, speak to a gutter installer who provides both traditional and seamless gutter systems to determine if the cost difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless gutters is not a task that a single person can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet by themselves, 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 few feet. For gutters any longer, the installation team will need to begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten 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 damage a long gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Livonia Gutters, Inc. is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Livonia area. Call 734-215-9460 now for more information!