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 rain gutters should do their job with very little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.
If you haven’t replaced your gutters recently, it’s probably about time to start considering the options. More than likely, your options have changed a lot since you last shopped for new 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 that your next rain gutters will be much more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the current ones on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the major improvements in residential gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, opposed to traditional gutters that 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 such long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation businesses have their own machinery and can do the whole process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Since they are manufactured to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that extend over 40 feet, with the longest length of a seamless rain gutter around 100 feet with no joints. This gives 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 might be difficult to believe how another choice can be a lot more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good choice for your home, you should understand what sets them apart so you can also understand why there is such a noticeable price difference for them.
There are many benefits of seamless gutters over traditional gutter systems:
Better Curb Appeal – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek appearance. Seamless gutter machines even cut out holes for downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The custom measurements also help the curb appeal of your house without being too overstated or obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints mean there are less opportunities for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you very pleased, since it means you won’t need to clean them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, some standard rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them working well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Normal gutters can leak at any joint as soon as the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can cause gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the 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 animals and insects that can hide within them or build nests with the debris that is present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and will destroy your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars’ worth of repairs (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of your gutters makes them less appealing for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting them on site means that your gutters will be the perfect length without having scrap pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the house. This is an environmentally-friendly process that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. Also, there is no need to get rid of the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) 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 rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting rain gutters also protect your home, including the walls, windows and surrounding soil.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically require professional installation due to their size and the experience and machinery required to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have have the machinery required to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to program these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are professionally installed, you will immediately see their value which pays for itself due to fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions concerning the value of seamless gutters, talk with a gutter installer who does both standard 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 task that a single person can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 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, attaching the gutter every few feet. For gutters longer than that, the installation team will start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach 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. You can easily damage a long gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. MCC Gutter Cleaning is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Marlborough area. Call 774-208-0833 now for more information!