Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters need 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 gutters need to do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your gutters lately, it’s probably about time to start looking at the options. More than likely, your options have changed since the last time you shopped for new gutters, either when building your home or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and types of materials improve drastically 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 standout improvements in home gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to traditional gutters which only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in most cases with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow materials.
Many gutter installation businesses own their own machinery and are able to complete the entire process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in just one day!
Since they are manufactured to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that stretch over 40 feet, with the longest length of a seamless gutter around 100 feet without joints. This gives homeowners the option 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 might be difficult to realize how another option can be more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your home, you need know what sets them apart so you can also 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 only at the corners, seamless gutters have a sleek appearance. Seamless gutter machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which have to be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and perfectly sized. The custom measurements also improve the curb appeal of your house without being too overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints mean there are less opportunities for debris to cling on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely happy, as it means you won’t need to clean them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, most traditional rain gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Standard gutters can leak at any joint as soon as the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can result in gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints across the entire length and width of your home reduces the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that will hide within them or build nests with the debris that is present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and will destroy your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars’ of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of rain gutters makes them less appealing 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 extra 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.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are built with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This leads to fewer leaks, a smaller chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your house, including the walls, windows and the soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually need professional installation due to their size and the experience and equipment required to build them. Most homeowners don’t have have the equipment needed to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to set up these machines to make precise 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 any questions about the value of seamless gutters, talk with a gutter installer who does 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 homeowner 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 several feet. For gutters that are 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 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 mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Just Gutters Inc. is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Edina area. Call 612-421-0225 now for more information!