Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters have to be replaced almost as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your gutters need to do their job with very little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your home’s gutters lately, it’s probably about time to begin looking at the options. Odds are, your options have changed since you last shopped for gutters, either when you built your house or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve drastically over a period of just a few years. This means your next rain gutters will be a lot more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the ones that are currently on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest 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, opposed to standard gutters which only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in most situations with a custom machine, eliminating the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation companies have their own equipment and can complete the whole process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in only one day!
Since they are manufactured to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that stretch over 40 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless gutter at around 100 feet without joints. This offers homeowners the choice 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 might be hard to realize how another choice can be a lot more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your home, you should 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:
Better Curb Appeal – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even 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 help 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 rain gutters. Water flows through more smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this will likely make you very happy, because it means you won’t be cleaning them out as often. Seamless gutters only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, some standard gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Standard gutters can leak at any joint once the gutters start pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can cause gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints along the entire length and width of your house reduces the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract small animals and insects that will hide within them or build nests with the materials that are present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and will destroy your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars worth of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of gutters makes them less appealing for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then manufacturing them on site guarantees that your gutters will be the perfect length without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an eco-friendly process that lowers 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 built with the latest technology and the best materials available. This leads to fewer leaks, less chance of rust 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 due to their size and the experience and machinery necessary to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have the machinery required to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to set up these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are professionally installed, you will quickly understand 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, speak to a gutter installer who offers both standard and seamless gutter systems to determine 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 homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet or so by themselves, 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, securing the gutter every few feet. For gutters any longer, the installation team will start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure those places 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 damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Better Bellevue Gutters is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Bellevue area. Call 425-243-0017 now for more information!