Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters need to be replaced about as often as the roof on a home, so somewhere around 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 gutters lately, it’s probably about time to begin considering the options. Chances are, your options have changed a lot since the last time you shopped for new gutters, either when you built your home or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and materials improve a lot over a period of only a few years. This means that your next rain gutters will be even 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 major upgrades in residential gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to standard gutters which are only available in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in most situations with a custom machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow items.
Many gutter installation services own their own machinery and are able to do the whole process – 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 stretch over 50 feet, with the longest length of a seamless gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This gives homeowners the option to have an individual 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 option can be more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your home, you should know the benefits of them 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 sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines cut out holes for downspouts, which have to be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also increase the curb appeal of your home without being too overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints means there are less chances for debris to cling 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 often. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, most standard gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Standard gutters can leak at any joint if the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that results in gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints across the length and width of your house helps reduce the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that will hide inside of them or build nests with the organic materials that are present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and will destroy your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars worth of repairs (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of gutters makes them less appealing for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then building them on site guarantees that your gutters will be the perfect size without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the house. This is an eco-friendly process that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to eliminate the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are built with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This leads to less leaks, a smaller 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 typically need professional installation because of their size and the experience and machinery required to manufacturer them. Most homeowners don’t have to own the equipment required to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to program these machines to make exact cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are installed, you will understand 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 decide if the price difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long rain gutters is not a task that a single person can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 35 feet on their own, but anything longer will require a second person.
For seamless 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 places due to 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 damage a long gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Rock Hill Gutter Service is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Rock Hill area. Call 803-310-2454 now for more information!