Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters need to be replaced almost as often as the roof on a home, so roughly every 20 years. This is a good long while, and in the meantime, your home’s 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 lately, it’s probably a good time to start considering the options. Chances are, your options have changed a lot since the last time you shopped for gutters, either when you built your home or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and types of materials improve a lot over a period of just a few years. This means that your next gutters will be a lot more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the ones that are currently on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the standout improvements in home gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, opposed to standard gutters that are only available in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in many situations with a custom machine, removing the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow items.
Most gutter installation services own their own equipment and are able to complete the entire process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in only one day!
Since they are manufactured to size, it is possible 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 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 hard to see how another option can be more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your home, you need know 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 only at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek look. Seamless gutter machines 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 and obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints mean there are fewer opportunities for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water flows through smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely pleased, because it means you won’t need to clean them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, some regular gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Normal gutters can leak at any joint once the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can lead to gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints along the entire length and width of your house helps reduce the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract animals, rodents and insects that can hide inside of 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 destroy your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then manufacturing them on site guarantees that your gutters will be the perfect length without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the length of the house. This is an environmentally-friendly process that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Plus, there is no need to get rid of the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are built with the latest technology and the best materials available. This creates fewer leaks, a smaller chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your house, including the walls, windows and surrounding soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters almost always require professional installation due to their size and the training and equipment needed to build them. Most homeowners don’t have own the equipment required to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to set up these machines to make exact cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are installed, you will immediately see their value which pays for itself due to fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions about the value of seamless gutters, talk with a gutter installer who does both standard and seamless gutter systems to decide if the price difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long 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 few feet. For rain gutters that are longer, the installation team will 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. Homeowners can damage a seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Salem Gutter Service is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Salem area. Call 978-883-3700 now for more information!