Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters have to be replaced almost as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a good long while, but in the meantime, your home’s rain 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 a good time to begin looking at the options. Chances are, your options have changed since you last shopped for gutters, either when you built your home or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve drastically over a period of just a few years. This means your next gutters will be much more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the current ones on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the most revolutionary enhancements in home gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, opposed to standard gutters which are only sold in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in most cases with a custom machine, removing the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow items.
Many gutter installation businesses have their own machinery and are able to do the entire process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in only one day!
Since they are built to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that extend over 50 feet, with the longest length of a seamless rain gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This offers 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 can be difficult to realize how another choice can be more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your home, you should understand what sets them apart so you can also understand why there is such 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 sleek appearance. Seamless gutter machines cut out holes for downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and perfectly sized. The custom measurements also help the curb appeal of your home without being overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints mean there are fewer opportunities for debris to cling on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water flows through more smoothly with fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely pleased, since it means you don’t need to clean them out as often. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, some traditional 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 as soon as the gutters start to pull away from the house. Loose fasteners are another problem that can lead to gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the length and width of your home reduces the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract animals, rodents and insects that will 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, causing hundreds of dollars worth of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of your rain gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then building them on site ensures that your gutters will be the perfect length without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the house. This is an eco-friendly practice that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Also, there is no need to get rid of the excess or see it end up in a landfill.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are made with the latest technology and the best materials available. This results in less leaks, less chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting gutters also protect your house, including the walls, windows and the soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters almost always require professional installation because of their size and the experience and equipment needed to build them. Most homeowners don’t have access t the machinery required to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to set up these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are professionally installed, you will quickly see their value which pays for itself due to fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions about the value of seamless rain 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 these extra-long rain gutters is not a job 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 seamless 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 need to start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach those places because of 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. Homeowners can easily damage a long gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Providence Gutters Plus is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Providence area. Call 401-208-2980 now for more information!