Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters have to be replaced nearly as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a good long while, and in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters need to do their job with little effort 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 start considering the options. More than likely, your options have changed a lot 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 materials improve a lot over a period of just a few years. This means your next gutters will be a lot more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the ones that are currently on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the biggest enhancements in rain gutters is the creation 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 many situations with a special machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation companies own their own machinery and can complete the whole process on their own – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in just one day!
Since they are manufactured to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that extend over 40 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless gutter around 100 feet without joints. This offers homeowners the option to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Traditional gutters have been popular for so long that it can be difficult to realize how another option can be more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good idea for your house, you should understand what sets them apart so you can understand why there is a noticeable price difference for them.
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 appearance. Seamless gutter machines cut out holes for downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also improve the curb appeal of your home without being overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints mean there are fewer chances 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 will likely make you extremely happy, as it means you won’t need to clean them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, some standard 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 at any joint as soon as the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that can cause gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints throughout the length and width of your house reduces the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract animals, rodents and insects that can hide inside of them or build a nest with the debris that is present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and will damage your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of gutters makes them less appealing for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting them on site guarantees that your gutters will be the perfect length without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the home. This is an environmentally-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.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are built with the latest technology and the best materials available. This leads to fewer leaks, a smaller chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting rain gutters can also protect your house, including the walls, windows and the soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually require professional installation because of their size and the training and equipment required to build them. Individuals don’t have own the equipment needed to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to program these machines to make exact cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are professionally installed, you will quickly understand their value which pays for itself because of fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions concerning the value of seamless rain gutters, talk with a gutter installer who offers both traditional and seamless gutter systems to determine if the price difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long gutters is not a job that a homeowner can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet by themselves, but anything longer 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, securing the gutter every several feet. For gutters that are longer, the installation team will need to begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten 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 seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Euclid Gutters & Exteriors is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Euclid area. Call 440-271-8717 now for more information!