Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters have to be replaced almost as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your rain gutters should do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t had to replace your gutters recently, it’s probably about time to begin looking at the options. Chances are, 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 just a few years. This means your next rain gutters will be more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal 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 rain gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to standard gutters which only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in most cases with a special machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow items.
Most gutter installation businesses have their own equipment and are able to do the whole process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in just one day!
Because they are manufactured to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that stretch over 50 feet, with the longest length of a seamless gutter around 100 feet without joints. This offers homeowners the choice to have a single 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 see how another choice can be much more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good choice for your home, you will want to understand the benefits of them 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 just at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines cut out holes for downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The custom measurements also help 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 rain gutters. Water flows through more smoothly with less 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 as much. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, some standard rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Standard gutters can leak from any joint if the gutters start pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can result in gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints throughout the length and width of your house reduces the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals and insects that are able to 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 can destroy your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ of damage (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of your 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 correct size without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the home. This is an environmentally-friendly process that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to destroy 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 fewer leaks, less chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your house, including the walls, windows and surrounding soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually need professional installation because of their size and the training and equipment necessary to build them. Most homeowners don’t have own the equipment necessary to make 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 professionally 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 concerning the value of seamless rain gutters, speak to a gutter installer who offers both traditional and seamless gutter systems to decide if the price difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless rain gutters is not a job that a single person can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 35 feet on their own, but anything longer than that 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 rain gutters any longer, the installation team will need to begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure 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 seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Novi Gutter Cleaning is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Novi area. Call 248-422-0460 now for more information!