Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters need to be replaced almost as often as the roof on a home, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your gutters need to do their job with little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your home’s gutters lately, it’s probably about time to begin looking at the options. Odds are, your options have changed since you last shopped for gutters, either when building your home or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and types of materials improve a lot over a period of only a few years. This means your next gutters will be even more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the current ones on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the major enhancements in home gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, opposed to traditional gutters that 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.
Many gutter installation services own their own equipment and can do 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 40 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless 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 hard to realize how another choice can be much more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good idea for your home, you will want to understand what sets them apart so you can understand why there is such 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 noticeably sleek look. Seamless gutter machines 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 increase the curb appeal of your home 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 more smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely pleased, as it means you won’t need to clean them out as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, some traditional rain gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Standard gutters can leak from any joint as soon as the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that lead to gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the entire length and width of your home helps reduce the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract animals and insects that will hide within them or build nests with the materials that are present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and can destroy your roof, causing hundreds of dollars’ of repairs (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of your gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting them on site ensures that your gutters will be the perfect length without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an eco-friendly process that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Also, there is no need to destroy the excess or see it end up in a landfill.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are made with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This results in less leaks, less chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting gutters also protect your home, including the exterior walls, windows and surrounding soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually require professional installation because of their size and the training and machinery needed to manufacturer them. Most homeowners don’t have access t the machinery necessary to make 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 understand their value which pays for itself due to fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions concerning the value of seamless rain gutters, speak to a gutter installer who offers both standard and seamless gutter systems to determine if the price difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless gutters is not a project that a single person can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet on their own, but anything longer requires a second person.
For gutters that are 35 feet or less, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, fastening the gutter every few feet. For gutters that are longer, the installation team will start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach those places 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 long gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. TLC Gutters Inc. is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Lakewood area. Call 216-232-9375 now for more information!