Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Gutters have to be replaced about as often as the roof on a home, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters need to do their job with little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.

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

Styles and types of materials improve significantly over a period of just a few years. This means that your next gutters will be even 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 biggest enhancements in rain gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.

Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to standard gutters that are only manufactured in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in most cases with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.

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

Since they are manufactured to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that stretch over 50 feet, with the longest length of a seamless rain gutter around 100 feet without joints. This gives homeowners the option 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 can be hard to see how another choice can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your home, you need know the benefits of them 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:

Better Curb Appeal – With joints just at the corners, seamless gutters have a sleek look. Seamless gutter machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also help the curb appeal of your home without being overstated or obvious.

Easier Care – Less joints mean there are fewer opportunities for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely pleased, because it means you won’t need to clean them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, most traditional gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them working well.

Lower Chance of Leaks – Traditional gutters can leak from any joint once the gutters start pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can result in gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints throughout the entire length and width of your house helps reduce the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).

Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that will hide inside of them or build a nest with the debris that is present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and are able to destroy your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars’ worth of damage. 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 environmentally-friendly process that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Plus, there is no need to get rid of the excess or see it end up in a landfill.

Last Longer – Seamless gutters are made 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 house. Longer lasting gutters also protect your house, including the exterior walls, windows and the soil below.

Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional

Seamless gutters almost always require professional installation due to their size and the experience and equipment needed to manufacturer them. Most homeowners don’t have access t the equipment required to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to program these machines to make precise cuts.

Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are installed, you will immediately see their value which pays for itself because of less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions concerning the value of seamless gutters, speak to a gutter installer who offers both traditional and seamless gutter systems to determine if the price difference and benefits are a good fit 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 35 feet or so on their own, but anything longer requires a second person.

For gutters that are 35 feet or less, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, securing the gutter every few feet. For rain gutters that are longer, the installation team will start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten 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. You can damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Rochester Gutter Service is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Rochester area. Call 585-382-1794 now for more information!