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 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 home’s gutters lately, it’s probably a good time to start looking at the options. More than likely, your options have changed since you last 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 just a few years. This means your next rain gutters will be a lot more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the ones that are currently on your home.
Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the most revolutionary improvements in home gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, opposed to traditional gutters that only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in most situations with a custom machine, removing the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow items.
Most gutter installation services have their own equipment and can complete the whole process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in only one day!
Since 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 with no joints. This offers homeowners the option to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Traditional gutters have been used for so long that it might be difficult to believe how another choice can be a lot more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your house, you will want to understand what sets them apart so you can also understand why there is 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 appearance. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also improve the curb appeal of your house without being overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints mean there are fewer chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water flows through more smoothly with fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely happy, as it means you don’t need to clean them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, most standard 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 from any joint once the gutters start pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can lead to gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the length and width of your house helps reduce the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract animals and insects that will hide within them or build nests with the debris that is present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and will destroy your roof, causing 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 ensures that your gutters will be the perfect length without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the house. This is an eco-friendly process that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to destroy the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are made with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This leads to fewer leaks, less chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting rain gutters can also protect your home, including the exterior walls, windows and the soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically require professional installation due to their size and the experience and equipment needed to manufacturer them. Most homeowners don’t have access t the machinery required to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to program these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are installed, you will quickly see their value which pays for itself due to less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions concerning the value of seamless gutters, talk with a gutter installer who provides both traditional and seamless gutter systems to decide if the cost difference and benefits are worth it 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 on their own, but anything longer than that 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, securing the gutter every several feet. For rain gutters that are longer than that, the installation team will start 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. Homeowners can easily damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Premiere Gutter Service is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Hoffman Estates area. Call 224-207-4888 now for more information!