Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters have to be replaced almost as often as the roof on a home, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your rain gutters should do their job with little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your gutters recently, it’s probably a good time to begin looking at the options. Odds are, 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 types of materials improve significantly over a period of only a few years. This means your next gutters will be more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the current ones on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the standout upgrades in residential gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to traditional gutters that only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in many situations with a custom machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation businesses have their own equipment and can complete the entire process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Because 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 rain 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 used for so long that it can be difficult to realize how another choice can be much more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good choice for your home, you should understand the benefits of them so you can 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 appearance. Seamless gutter fabrication machines cut out holes for downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and perfectly sized. The custom measurements also improve the curb appeal of your home without being overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are less chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through smoothly with fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you very pleased, since it means you don’t need to clean them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, some traditional rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Regular gutters can leak at any joint once the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that can lead to gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints along the entire length and width of your house helps reduce the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract animals and insects that can hide within 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 can damage your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars worth of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of your rain gutters makes them less appealing for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting them on site ensures that your gutters will be the perfect size without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the length of the house. This is an environmentally-friendly process that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. Plus, 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 available. This creates fewer leaks, less chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your home, 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 training and machinery required to build them. Most homeowners don’t have access t the equipment needed to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to set up these machines to make exact cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are installed, you will immediately 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 cost difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless gutters is not a task that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet on their own, but anything longer than that will require a second person.
For gutters that are less than 35 feet, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, securing the gutter every few feet. For rain gutters longer than that, the installation team will need to start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten those sections 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. You can easily damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Sammamish Gutters is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Sammamish area. Call 425-225-3416 now for more information!