Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters should be replaced almost 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 rain gutters should do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your gutters lately, it’s probably about time to start looking at 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 had to replace them.
Styles and types of materials improve significantly over a period of only a few years. This means your next rain gutters will be much more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal 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 most revolutionary upgrades in residential gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to standard gutters that only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in many cases with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.
Many gutter installation businesses have their own machinery and are able to complete the whole 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 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 can be difficult to see how another choice can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your house, you need to understand the benefits of them so you can 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 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 correctly sized. The custom measurements also increase the curb appeal of your home without being overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints means there are less chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the gutters. Water flows through smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely happy, as it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, some traditional rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Normal gutters can leak at any joint once the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that result in gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints throughout the 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 animals, rodents and insects that can hide inside of them or build nests with the debris that is present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and will damage your roof, resulting in 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 guarantees that your gutters will be the correct size without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the house. This is an environmentally-friendly practice that lowers 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 designed with the latest technology and the best materials on the market. This creates fewer leaks, a smaller chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting rain gutters can also protect your house, including the exterior walls, windows and surrounding soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters almost always need professional installation because of their size and the experience and equipment necessary to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have access t the equipment required 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 quickly see their value which pays for itself over time via less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions about the value of seamless rain gutters, talk with a gutter installer who does both standard and seamless gutter systems to determine if the price difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless gutters is not a task that a single person can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 35 feet or so on their own, but anything longer than that requires a second person.
For seamless gutters that are 35 feet or less, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, fastening the gutter every few feet. For gutters any longer than that, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach 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. Homeowners can damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Choice Clarksville Gutters is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Clarksville area. Call 931-202-9698 now for more information!