Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters need to be replaced about as often as the roof on a home, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your home’s gutters need to do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your home’s gutters recently, it’s probably about time to begin considering the options. More than likely, your options have changed since you last shopped for new gutters, either when you built your house or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and types of materials improve significantly over a period of just a few years. This means your next gutters will be even more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the ones that are currently on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the biggest improvements in rain gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, as opposed to standard gutters which are only sold in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in many situations with a custom machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting long, narrow items.
Most gutter installation services have their own machinery and can do the entire process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in only one day!
Since they are built to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that stretch over 40 feet, with the longest length of a seamless gutter at around 100 feet without 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 popular for so long that it can be difficult to realize how another choice can be a lot more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your house, you will want to understand what sets them apart 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 appearance. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for downspouts, which have to be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and perfectly sized. The measurements also improve the curb appeal of your house without being too overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are less opportunities for debris to cling on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely pleased, as it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, most traditional gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Traditional gutters can leak from any joint once the gutters start to pull away from the house. Loose fasteners are another problem that cause gutter leaks. Eliminating joints across the length and width of your home reduces the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract small animals, rodents 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’ worth of damage. Keeping that buildup out of your gutters makes them less appealing 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 exact length of the house. This is an environmentally-friendly practice that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Plus, there is no need to get rid of the excess or see it end up in a landfill.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are built 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 home. Longer lasting gutters also protect your home, including the exterior walls, windows and surrounding soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually need professional installation because of their size and the experience and equipment necessary to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have own the machinery needed to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to set up these machines to make exact cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are professionally installed, you will see their value which pays for itself due to fewer 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 standard 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 rain gutters is not a task that a homeowner can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 35 feet on their own, 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, securing the gutter every several 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 sections because of 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 mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Vacaville Gutters, Inc. is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Vacaville area. Call 707-267-2646 now for more information!