Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters have to be replaced nearly as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a good long while, and in the meantime, your gutters should do their job with little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your gutters lately, it’s probably about time to start looking at the options. More than likely, your options have changed a lot since you last shopped for new gutters, either when building your house or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and materials improve a lot over a period of only a few years. This means that your next rain gutters will be much more efficient, lighter and more attractive 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 improvements in rain gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, as opposed to traditional gutters that are only available in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in many situations with a special machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation companies own their own equipment and can complete the whole process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in just one day!
Because they are built to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that extend over 50 feet, with the maximum 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 whatever color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Traditional gutters have been popular for so long that it might be difficult to see how another option can be more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good choice for your house, you need 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:
Better Curb Appeal – With joints just at the corners, seamless gutters have a noticeably sleek look. Seamless gutter machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which have to be present every 20 to 30 feet, so 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 means there are less opportunities for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely happy, since it means you won’t need to clean them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, some regular gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Regular gutters can leak from any joint once the gutters start pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are also a problem that result in gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints across the entire length and width of your house helps reduce the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract small 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, leading to hundreds of dollars’ worth of damage. Keeping that buildup out of gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then building them on site means that your gutters will be the correct length without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the house. This is an eco-friendly process that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. Also, 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 designed with the newest technology and the best materials available. This creates less leaks, a smaller chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting rain gutters can also protect your home, including the exterior walls, windows and surrounding soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters almost always need professional installation because of their size and the training and equipment necessary to manufacturer them. Most homeowners don’t have have the machinery required to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to program these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are professionally installed, you will immediately understand their value which pays for itself because of less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions concerning the value of seamless gutters, speak to a gutter installer who provides both traditional and seamless gutter systems to decide if the price difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless gutters is not a task that a homeowner can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 35 feet by themselves, but anything longer than that will require a second person.
For 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 rain gutters any longer than that, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten those places 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 handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Burnsville Gutter Cleaning is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Burnsville area. Call 612-429-4018 now for more information!