Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters need to be replaced almost as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your rain gutters need to do their job with 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 begin considering the options. Chances are, your options have changed since you last shopped for new gutters, either when building your home or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve drastically over a period of just a few years. This means your next rain gutters will be a lot more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the current ones on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the most revolutionary enhancements in residential gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, opposed to traditional gutters that 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 machinery and can do the entire process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Since they are manufactured to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that extend over 50 feet, with the longest length of a seamless gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This offers homeowners the choice 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 hard to realize how another choice can be a lot more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good choice for your house, you should know the benefits of them 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:
More Attractive – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek appearance. Seamless gutter machines even cut out holes for downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and perfectly sized. The custom measurements also improve the curb appeal of your home without being too overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints mean there are less chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water flows through more smoothly with fewer clogs. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely happy, because it means you won’t be cleaning them out as often. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, some regular rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Normal gutters can leak at any joint as soon as the gutters start to pull away from the house. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can cause gutter leaks. Eliminating joints across the entire length and width of your home helps reduce the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that can hide inside of 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 will damage your roof, causing hundreds of dollars of damage. Keeping that buildup out of rain gutters makes them less appealing for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting them on site ensures that your gutters will be the correct size without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the house. This is an eco-friendly process that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to destroy the excess or see it end up in a landfill.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are made with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This creates fewer leaks, less chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting rain gutters also protect your house, including the walls, windows and surrounding soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically need professional installation because of their size and the experience and equipment required to build them. Individuals don’t have to own the machinery necessary to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to set up these machines to make precise 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 about the value of seamless rain gutters, talk with a gutter installer who does both traditional and seamless gutter systems to determine if the cost difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless gutters is not a task that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet or so 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 rain gutters longer than that, the installation team will need to start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten those sections due to 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 damage a long gutter by mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. EZ Everett Gutters is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Everett area. Call 425-333-1316 now for more information!