Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters need to be replaced almost as often as the roof on a home, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your gutters should do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your home’s gutters recently, it’s probably a good time to start considering the options. More than likely, your options have changed since the last time you shopped for gutters, either when you built your home or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and types of materials improve a lot over a period of just a few years. This means your next 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 upgrades in home gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, opposed to traditional gutters which are only available in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in many cases with a custom machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation companies have their own equipment and are able to do the entire process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in just one day!
Since they are built to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that extend over 50 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This offers homeowners the option to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Standard gutters have been used for so long that it might be hard to see how another option can be much more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your home, you will want to know the benefits of them so you can understand why there is a noticeable price difference for them.
There are many benefits of seamless gutters over traditional gutter systems:
Better Curb Appeal – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a noticeably sleek appearance. Seamless gutter machines even cut out holes for downspouts, which have to be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also help the curb appeal of your home without being too overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints means there are less chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water flows through smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely pleased, since it means you won’t be cleaning them out as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, some standard 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 from any joint if the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can lead to gutter leaks. Eliminating joints throughout the length and width of your home helps reduce the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract animals, rodents and insects that will hide inside of them or build a nest with the organic materials that are present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and can destroy your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars’ worth of damage (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then building them on site guarantees that your gutters will be the perfect size without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the length of the house. This is an eco-friendly practice that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. Also, there is no need to destroy the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are made with the latest technology and the best materials on the market. This creates less leaks, less chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting gutters also protect your house, including the exterior 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 equipment required to manufacturer them. Most homeowners don’t have own the machinery needed to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to program these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are installed, you will see their value which pays for itself because of fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions concerning the value of seamless gutters, speak to a gutter installer who provides both traditional and seamless gutter systems to determine if the cost difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long rain gutters is not a task that a single person can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet on their own, but anything longer than that requires 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, securing the gutter every few feet. For gutters longer, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach 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. Homeowners can easily damage a long gutter by mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Dearborn Heights Gutters is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Dearborn Heights area. Call 313-254-6871 now for more information!