Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Rain gutters have to be replaced nearly as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a good long while, 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 had to replace your home’s gutters lately, it’s probably about time to begin looking at the options. More than likely, your options have changed since you last shopped for gutters, either when you built your home or the last time you replaced them.

Styles and materials improve significantly over a period of only a few years. This means that your next rain gutters will be a lot 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 major enhancements in rain gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.

Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, opposed to traditional gutters which only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in most situations with a special machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.

Most gutter installation companies have their own machinery and can complete the whole process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in less than one day!

Because they are built to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that extend over 50 feet, with the longest length of a seamless gutter around 100 feet with no joints. This offers homeowners the option to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.

Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Standard gutters have been popular for so long that it can be difficult to realize how another option can be more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good choice for your home, you should know the benefits of them so you can also understand why there is such 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 noticeably sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which have to be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that 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 means there are fewer chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water flows through smoothly with fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely happy, because it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 annual cleaning. In contrast, some regular rain gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them functioning well.

Lower Chance of Leaks – Regular gutters can leak at any joint if the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can lead to gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints along the length and width of your home reduces the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).

Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals and insects that can hide within them or build a nest with the 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. Keeping that buildup out of your rain gutters makes them less attractive for pests.

Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting them on site means that your gutters will be the perfect size without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an eco-friendly practice that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to destroy the excess or see it end up in a landfill.

Last Longer – Seamless gutters are built with the latest technology and the best materials available. This leads to fewer leaks, a smaller chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your home, including the exterior walls, windows and the soil below.

Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional

Seamless gutters almost always need professional installation because of their size and the training and machinery needed to build them. Individuals don’t have access t the equipment needed to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to program these machines to make precise cuts.

Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are professionally installed, you will immediately see their value which pays for itself due to less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions concerning the value of seamless gutters, talk with a gutter installer who provides both traditional and seamless gutter systems to determine if the cost difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.

Installing these extra-long rain gutters is not a task that a homeowner 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 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 any longer than that, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten those places due to 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 mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. UC Gutter Cleaning is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Union City area. Call 201-298-7107 now for more information!