Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters should be replaced almost as often as the roof on a home, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters should do their job with very little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t needed to replace your gutters lately, it’s probably about time to start looking at the options. More than likely, your options have changed since you last shopped for gutters, either when you built your house or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve a lot over a period of just a few years. This means your next rain gutters will be much more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the current ones on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the major upgrades in home gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as 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, eliminating the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation businesses own their own equipment and are able to complete the whole 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 40 feet, with the longest length of a seamless rain gutter at around 100 feet without joints. This gives homeowners the option to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Traditional gutters have been popular for so long that it might be hard to see how another choice can be a lot more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your home, you will want to understand the benefits of them so you can also understand why there is such 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 look. Seamless gutter machines cut out holes for downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and perfectly sized. The measurements also improve 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 drains through more smoothly with fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely pleased, since it means you don’t need to clean them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, most standard gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Standard gutters can leak at any joint if the gutters start pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are another problem that result in gutter leaks. Eliminating joints across the entire length and width of your house helps reduce the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that will hide inside of them or build a nest with the materials that are present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and are able to damage your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ worth of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of gutters makes them less appealing for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then building them on site ensures that your gutters will be the perfect size without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the home. This is an eco-friendly practice 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.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are designed with the latest 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 home. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your home, including the exterior walls, windows and the soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters almost always require professional installation due to their size and the experience and machinery necessary to manufacturer them. Most homeowners don’t have access t 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 immediately 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, speak to a gutter installer who does both traditional and seamless gutter systems to decide if the cost difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long gutters is not a project that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet by themselves, but anything longer than that 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, securing the gutter every few feet. For gutters that are longer than that, the installation team will need to 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 damage a long gutter by mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Dearborn Gutter Solutions is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Dearborn area. Call 313-246-9831 now for more information!