Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters need to be replaced nearly 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 need to do their job with little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t had to replace your home’s gutters recently, it’s probably about time to begin considering the options. Chances are, your options have changed a lot since the last time you shopped for new gutters, either when you built your home or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve a lot over a period of only a few years. This means your next gutters will be more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the ones that are currently on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the standout improvements in rain gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to traditional gutters which only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in most situations with a special machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation companies own their own machinery and are able to do the entire process on their own – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in only one day!
Because they are built to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that stretch over 40 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless gutter 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 see how another option can be more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your house, you need understand what sets them apart so you can also understand why there is such a noticeable price difference between the two.
There are many benefits of seamless gutters over traditional gutter systems:
More Attractive – With joints just at the corners, seamless gutters have a sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which have to be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and perfectly sized. The measurements also increase the curb appeal of your home without being too overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints mean there are fewer chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the gutters. Water flows through smoothly with fewer clogs. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely pleased, since it means you won’t need to clean them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, most traditional gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Normal gutters can leak from any joint if the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that can result in gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints across the 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 animals, rodents and insects that can hide within them or build a nest with the debris that is present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and are able to damage your roof, causing hundreds of dollars worth of repairs (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of 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 size without having scrap pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an environmentally-friendly practice that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to get rid of the excess or see it end up in a landfill.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are built with the newest technology and the best materials available. This results in fewer leaks, a smaller chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting rain gutters can also protect your home, including the walls, windows and the soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually need professional installation due to their size and the experience and equipment needed to manufacturer them. Most homeowners don’t have access t the equipment needed to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to program these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, 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 any questions about the value of seamless gutters, talk with a gutter installer who offers both standard and seamless gutter systems to determine 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. Pros can install a section up to about 35 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, attaching the gutter every few feet. For gutters that are longer than that, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure those places 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 damage a long gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Cleveland Heights Gutter Cleaning is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Cleveland Heights area. Call 216-238-0448 now for more information!