Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters need to be replaced nearly as often as the roof on a home, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters need to do their job with very little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t had to replace your home’s gutters lately, it’s probably a good time to start looking at the options. More than likely, your options have changed a lot since the last time you shopped for gutters, either when you built your house or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and types of materials improve drastically over a period of just a few years. This means your next gutters will be even 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 standout improvements in residential gutters is the invention 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. They are made on-site in most cases with a custom machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow items.
Most gutter installation services own their own machinery and can complete the whole process – 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 stretch over 50 feet, with the longest length of a seamless rain gutter around 100 feet with no joints. This offers homeowners the option 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 can be hard to believe how another option can be a lot more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good choice for your house, you should know 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 even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which must 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 house without being overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints mean there are fewer chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water flows through more smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you very pleased, as it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, some regular gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Standard gutters can leak from any joint as soon as the gutters start to pull away from the house. Loose fasteners are another problem that can result in gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints throughout the entire length and width of your home reduces the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that are able to hide within them or build a nest with the materials that are present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and will destroy your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ of repairs (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of gutters makes them less appealing for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then manufacturing them on site means that your gutters will be the correct 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 or see it end up in a landfill.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are made with the newest technology and the best materials available. This results in fewer leaks, less chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your house, including the exterior walls, windows and surrounding soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically need professional installation due to their size and the experience and equipment necessary to build them. Most homeowners don’t have own the equipment needed to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to set up these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are professionally installed, you will see 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, talk with a gutter installer who does both standard 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 job that a single person can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 35 feet or so by themselves, but anything longer 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, fastening the gutter every several feet. For rain gutters any longer, the installation team will start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure those sections 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. You can easily damage a seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Santa Rosa Gutter Service is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Santa Rosa area. Call 707-267-2388 now for more information!