Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters have to be replaced nearly as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters should do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t needed to replace your gutters lately, it’s probably about time to begin looking at the options. Chances are, your options have changed 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 only a few years. This means your next gutters will be even more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the current ones on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the most revolutionary enhancements in home gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, opposed to standard gutters that only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in most cases with a custom machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting long, narrow items.
Most gutter installation companies own their own machinery and are able to do the whole process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Since they are manufactured to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that extend over 40 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless rain gutter around 100 feet without joints. This gives homeowners the choice to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Standard gutters have been popular for so long that it might be hard to believe how another choice can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your home, you will want to understand 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 noticeably sleek look. Seamless gutter machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which have to be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also help the curb appeal of your house without being too overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints mean there are less opportunities 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 should make you extremely pleased, as it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, most standard gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Regular gutters can leak from any joint once the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that can result in gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the length and width of your house reduces the chance 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 a nest with the organic materials that are present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and can 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 building them on site ensures that your gutters will be the perfect length without having scrap pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the house. This is an environmentally-friendly process that lowers 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 made with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This results in fewer leaks, a smaller chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting rain gutters can also protect your house, including the walls, windows and the soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically need professional installation because of their size and the training and equipment required to manufacturer 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 quickly see their value which pays for itself because of fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions concerning the value of seamless rain gutters, speak to a gutter installer who offers 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 job that a single person can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet or so 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, fastening the gutter every several feet. For rain gutters longer, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure those sections because of 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 seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Select Gutter Service is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the New Brunswick area. Call 732-334-3240 now for more information!