Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters have to be replaced almost as often as the roof on a home, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a good long while, and in the meantime, your gutters should do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t had to replace your gutters lately, it’s probably a good time to begin considering the options. More than likely, your options have changed a lot since the last time you shopped for gutters, either when you built your house or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and types of materials improve drastically over a period of only a few years. This means that your next gutters will be much more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the ones that are currently on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the major improvements in home gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, opposed to traditional gutters which only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in many cases with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation businesses own their own equipment and can complete the whole process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Since they are manufactured to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that extend over 40 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless rain gutter around 100 feet without joints. This offers homeowners the choice to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Standard gutters have been used for so long that it can be hard to realize how another option can be a lot more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your home, you will want to know the benefits of them 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:
Better Curb Appeal – With joints just at the corners, seamless gutters have a sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also help the curb appeal of your house without being overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints means there are fewer chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with fewer clogs. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely pleased, as it means you won’t need to clean them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual cleaning. In contrast, some traditional rain gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Regular gutters can leak from any joint if the gutters start to pull away from the house. Loose fasteners are also a problem that cause gutter leaks. Getting rid of 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 – Buildup in your gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that are able to hide inside of them or build nests with the materials that are present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and will destroy your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars worth of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of your gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then manufacturing them on site guarantees that your gutters will be the perfect length without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the length of the house. This is an environmentally-friendly process that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to eliminate the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) 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 fewer leaks, a smaller 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 the soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually need professional installation because of their size and the experience and machinery necessary to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have the machinery needed to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to set up these machines to make exact cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are professionally installed, you will understand their value which pays for itself because of less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions concerning the value of seamless gutters, speak to a gutter installer who does both traditional and seamless gutter systems to decide if the price difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless gutters is not a job that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 35 feet or so 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, attaching the gutter every several feet. For rain gutters longer, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure those sections because of 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. You can easily damage a seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. CIN Gutter Services is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Cincinnati area. Call 513-216-8099 now for more information!