Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters should be replaced nearly as often as the roof on a home, so roughly every 20 years. This is a good long while, but in the meantime, your gutters need to do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your home’s gutters lately, it’s probably about time to start looking at the options. Odds are, your options have changed a lot since you last shopped for gutters, either when you built your home or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and types of materials improve a lot over a period of just a few years. This means that your next rain gutters will be much more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the current ones on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the most revolutionary improvements in residential gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, opposed to traditional gutters which are only manufactured in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in most cases with a special machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.
Many gutter installation services have their own equipment and are able to complete the entire process on their own – measure, manufacture and installing 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 at around 100 feet with no joints. This gives homeowners the option to have an individual 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 believe how another option can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good choice for your house, you should know 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 only at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek look. Seamless gutter machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also improve the curb appeal of your home without being overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints means there are fewer chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water flows through more smoothly with fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you very pleased, because it means you won’t need to clean them out as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, some regular gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Standard gutters can leak from any joint if the gutters start pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can result in gutter leaks. Eliminating joints throughout the length and width of your house reduces the likelihood 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 a nest with the materials that are present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and are able to destroy your roof, resulting in 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 building them on site means that your gutters will be the correct length without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an eco-friendly practice that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Also, there is no need to destroy the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are designed with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This creates less leaks, a smaller chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. 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 need professional installation because of their size and the experience and equipment necessary to build them. Most homeowners don’t have access t the equipment needed to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to set up these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are professionally installed, you will immediately understand their value which pays for itself because of fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions about the value of seamless rain 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 job that a homeowner 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, securing the gutter every few feet. For gutters any longer, the installation team will need to begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure 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. Homeowners can damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Action Gutter Cleaning is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Romeoville area. Call 773-364-1772 now for more information!