Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters need to be replaced almost as often as the roof on a home, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a good long while, but 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 had to replace your home’s gutters lately, 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 new gutters, either when you built your house or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve drastically 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 house.
Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the major improvements in rain gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in 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 situations with a special machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow items.
Many gutter installation companies have their own machinery and can do the whole process – 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 gutter at around 100 feet without joints. This offers homeowners the option to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Standard gutters have been used for so long that it might be difficult to see how another choice can be a lot more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your home, you need understand what sets them apart 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:
Better Curb Appeal – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines cut out holes for downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and perfectly sized. The custom measurements also help the curb appeal of your home without being too overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints means there are fewer chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you very pleased, as it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, some standard 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 pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can result in gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the entire length and width of your home helps reduce the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract animals, rodents and insects that can hide within them or build nests with the debris that is present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and are able to damage your roof, causing hundreds of dollars’ of damage. Keeping that buildup out of rain gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then manufacturing them on site guarantees that your gutters will be the perfect length without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the home. This is an eco-friendly process that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Also, 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 designed with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This leads to less leaks, less chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting rain gutters 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 training and equipment required to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have own the equipment required to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to set up these machines to make exact cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are professionally installed, you will quickly understand their value which pays for itself due to less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions concerning the value of seamless gutters, speak to a gutter installer who provides both traditional and seamless gutter systems to decide if the price difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long gutters is not a task that a single person can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet by themselves, but anything longer requires 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 gutters longer, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach 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. Homeowners can easily damage a long gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Kokomo Gutter Service is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Kokomo area. Call 765-217-4434 now for more information!