Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Gutters need to be replaced about as often as the roof on a home, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your rain gutters need to do their job with little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.

If you haven’t needed to replace your home’s gutters recently, it’s probably about time to begin considering the options. Odds are, your options have changed a lot since you last shopped for gutters, either when you built your house or the last time you replaced them.

Styles and types of materials improve significantly over a period of only a few years. This means your next gutters will be much 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 rain gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.

Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, opposed to traditional gutters that are only manufactured 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.

Many gutter installation businesses own their own machinery and are able to complete the entire process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in less than one day!

Because they are manufactured to size, it is possible 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 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 can be hard to realize how another option can be more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good choice for your house, you will want to know 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 noticeably sleek look. Seamless gutter machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The custom measurements also improve the curb appeal of your house without being overstated and obvious.

Easier Care – Less joints means there are fewer chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water flows through more smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this should make you very happy, since it means you don’t need to clean them out as much. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, most standard gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.

Lower Chance of Leaks – Standard gutters can leak at any joint as soon as the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can result in gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints along the length and width of your home reduces the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).

Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that will hide within them or build a nest with the materials that are present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and are able to damage your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ of repairs (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of gutters makes them less appealing for pests.

Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting them on site guarantees that your gutters will be the perfect size without having scrap pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an eco-friendly practice that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to eliminate the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.

Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are designed with the newest technology and the best materials available. This leads to fewer leaks, a smaller 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 usually need professional installation because of their size and the experience and machinery required to build them. Most homeowners don’t have access t 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 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 questions concerning the value of seamless rain 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 seamless rain gutters is not a project that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet by themselves, but anything longer will require a second person.

For gutters that are less than 35 feet, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, securing the gutter every few feet. For gutters any longer, the installation team will begin 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. You can easily damage a seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Duluth Gutter Service is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Duluth area. Call 218-217-9978 now for more information!