Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Gutters have to be replaced about as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a good long while, but in the meantime, your gutters need to do their job with little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.

If you haven’t replaced your home’s gutters lately, it’s probably about time to begin considering the options. More than likely, your options have changed a lot since the last time you shopped for gutters, either when building 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 even more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the current ones on your home.

Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.

What are Seamless Gutters?

One of the biggest improvements in residential gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.

Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, opposed to traditional gutters which are only manufactured in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in most cases with a custom machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow items.

Most gutter installation businesses own their own equipment and can do 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 extend over 40 feet, with the longest length of a seamless rain gutter at around 100 feet without joints. This offers homeowners the choice to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.

Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Standard gutters have been popular for so long that it might be hard to realize how another choice can be more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your home, you will want to understand what sets them apart so you can 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 noticeably sleek look. Seamless gutter machines cut out holes for downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also improve the curb appeal of your home without being too overstated and obvious.

Easier Care – Less joints mean there are less chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through smoothly with fewer clogs. As a homeowner, this will likely make you very happy, since it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, most traditional gutter systems have to 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 lead to gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the entire length and width of your house reduces the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).

Discourages Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract animals, rodents and insects that are able to hide inside of 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’ of repairs (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of gutters makes them less attractive for pests.

Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting them on site ensures that your gutters will be the correct length without having scrap 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. Plus, 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 latest technology and the best materials on the market. This creates less leaks, a smaller chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting rain gutters also protect your house, including the walls, windows and the soil below.

Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional

Seamless gutters usually need professional installation due to their size and the training and machinery needed to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have access t the machinery necessary to make 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 installed, you will see their value which pays for itself over time via fewer 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 a good fit for your budget and needs.

Installing these extra-long rain gutters is not a project that a single person can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet or so by themselves, but anything longer than that 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 few feet. For gutters longer, the installation team will need to begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten 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 long gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Carmel Gutter Specialists is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Carmel area. Call 317-483-8033 now for more information!