Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters have to be replaced nearly as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your gutters need to do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your gutters recently, it’s probably about time to start looking at the options. More than likely, your options have changed a lot since you last shopped for gutters, either when building your home or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve significantly over a period of just a few years. This means that your next gutters will be even more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the current ones on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the major enhancements in residential gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, opposed to standard gutters which are only available in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in many situations with a custom machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation companies have their own equipment and are able to do the entire process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Because they are manufactured to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that stretch over 50 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless rain gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This offers homeowners the option to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Traditional gutters have been popular for so long that it might be difficult to realize how another option can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good choice for your home, you will want to understand 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:
More Attractive – With joints just at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek look. 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 – Less joints means there are fewer chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely pleased, as it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, some traditional rain gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Standard gutters can leak at any joint if the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that causes gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints along the entire length and width of your home reduces the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract animals, rodents and insects that are able to hide inside of them or build a nest with the debris that is present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and will destroy your roof, causing hundreds of dollars of damage (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of rain gutters makes them less appealing for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then manufacturing them on site means that your gutters will be the perfect length without having scrap pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the home. This is an eco-friendly practice that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Plus, there is no need to destroy the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are made with the newest technology and the best materials available. This creates less 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 walls, windows and the soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters almost always require professional installation because of their size and the experience and equipment needed to build them. Most homeowners don’t have the machinery necessary to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to program these machines to make exact cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are professionally installed, you will immediately see 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 standard and seamless gutter systems to decide if the cost difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing seamless rain gutters is not a project that a single person can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet by themselves, 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 few feet. For rain gutters longer than that, the installation team will start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach those places due to 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. Homeowners can easily damage a seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Prime Pittsburgh Gutters is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Pittsburgh area. Call 412-214-8996 now for more information!