Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters need to be replaced nearly as often as the roof on a home, 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 needed to replace your gutters lately, it’s probably about time to begin considering the options. Odds are, your options have changed a lot since the last time you shopped for new gutters, either when building your home or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and materials improve drastically over a period of just a few years. This means that your next rain gutters will be 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 upgrades in residential gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, opposed to standard gutters that are only available in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in many situations with a special machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation services have their own equipment and are able to complete the whole process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Because 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 gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This offers homeowners the choice to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Traditional gutters have been popular for so long that it might be hard to see how another choice can be more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good 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:
More Attractive – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a sleek look. Seamless gutter machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and perfectly sized. The custom measurements also improve the curb appeal of your home without being overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are fewer opportunities for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you very pleased, because it means you don’t need to clean them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual cleaning. In contrast, most standard rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Traditional gutters can leak at any joint once the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that cause gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints throughout the entire length and width of your house reduces the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract animals, rodents and insects that will hide inside of them or build nests with the materials that are present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and are able to destroy your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars’ worth of damage (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of your rain gutters makes them less attractive for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then building them on site means that your gutters will be the correct length without having scrap 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. Plus, there is no need to eliminate the excess or see it end up in a landfill.
Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are built with the latest technology and the best materials available. 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 exterior walls, windows and surrounding soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters usually need professional installation due to their size and the experience and machinery necessary to build them. Most homeowners don’t have own 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 understand their value which pays for itself due to fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions about 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 job that a single person can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 35 feet or so on their own, but anything longer will require a second person.
For seamless gutters that are 35 feet or less, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, fastening the gutter every few feet. For rain gutters any longer, the installation team will start 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 mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. A+ Augusta Gutters is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Augusta area. Call 706-203-4442 now for more information!