Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters should be replaced about as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a good long while, but in the meantime, your gutters need to do their job with very little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t needed to replace your gutters lately, it’s probably about time to start looking at the options. Chances are, your options have changed since you last shopped for gutters, either when building your house or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and types of materials improve significantly over a period of just a few years. This means that your next gutters will be even more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the ones that are currently on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the major enhancements in rain gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, opposed to standard gutters that are only available in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in many cases with a custom machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation businesses have their own equipment and can do the whole process on their own – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Since they are manufactured to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that extend over 50 feet, with the maximum 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 whatever color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Traditional gutters have been popular for so long that it might be hard to see how another choice can be much more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your home, you will want to understand what sets them apart so you can also understand why there is such 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 look. Seamless gutter machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and perfectly sized. The custom measurements also increase the curb appeal of your home without being too overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints means there are less opportunities for debris to cling 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, because it means you won’t be cleaning them out as often. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, some standard gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Normal gutters can leak from any joint once the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that can result in gutter leaks. Eliminating joints throughout the length and width of your home 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 nests with the debris that is present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and will damage your roof, causing 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 building them on site ensures that your gutters will be the correct size without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the house. This is an eco-friendly practice that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. Also, 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 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.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually need professional installation because of their size and the experience and equipment required to build them. Most homeowners don’t have access t the equipment needed to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to program these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are installed, you will immediately understand their value which pays for itself over time via fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions concerning the value of seamless gutters, speak to a gutter installer who offers both standard and seamless gutter systems to decide if the cost difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long rain gutters is not a project that a single person can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 35 feet or so by themselves, but anything longer will require 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, attaching the gutter every several feet. For rain gutters that are longer than that, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure those places because of 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. You can damage a long gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. WeClean Wilmington Gutters is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Wilmington area. Call 910-490-3722 now for more information!