Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Rain gutters should be replaced almost as often as the roof on a home, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your gutters need to do their job with little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.

If you haven’t replaced your gutters recently, it’s probably about time to start considering the options. Chances are, your options have changed 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 a lot over a period of only a few years. This means your next gutters will be a lot more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the current ones on your house.

Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.

What are Seamless Gutters?

One of the most revolutionary improvements in home gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.

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

Most gutter installation companies own their own equipment and can complete the whole process on their own – measure, manufacture and installing 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 rain gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This gives homeowners the choice to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.

Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Traditional gutters have been used for so long that it might be hard to see how another choice can be more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your home, you will want to understand what sets them apart so you can understand why there is a noticeable price difference for them.

There are many benefits of seamless gutters over traditional gutter systems:

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

Easier Care – Less joints means there are fewer chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through smoothly with fewer clogs. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely happy, since it means you won’t be cleaning them out as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, most standard rain 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 from any joint if the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that results in gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints throughout the 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 animals and insects that will hide inside of them or build nests with the organic materials that are present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and are able to damage your roof, leading to 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 ensures that your gutters will be the perfect length without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the home. This is an environmentally-friendly practice that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to eliminate the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.

Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are built with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This creates fewer leaks, less chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting rain gutters also protect your house, including the exterior walls, windows and the soil below.

Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional

Seamless gutters typically require professional installation because of their size and the training and machinery necessary to build them. Most homeowners don’t have the machinery necessary to make 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 installed, you will immediately understand their value which pays for itself because of less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions about the value of seamless gutters, speak to 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 gutters is not a job that a single person can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 35 feet by themselves, but anything longer than that 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 several feet. For rain gutters longer than that, the installation team will need to begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten those places 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 damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Norfolk Gutters Plus is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Norfolk area. Call 757-210-5441 now for more information!