Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Gutters need to be replaced about as often as the roof, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters should 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 recently, it’s probably a good time to start looking at the options. Chances are, your options have changed since the last time you shopped for new gutters, either when building your home 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 home.

Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.

What are Seamless Gutters?

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

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

Many gutter installation services own their own equipment and are able to do the entire process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in just one day!

Because they are built to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that stretch over 50 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless rain gutter around 100 feet without joints. This gives homeowners the option to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever color they choose.

Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Standard gutters have been used for so long that it can be difficult to realize how another choice can be a lot more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good idea for your house, you need to know what sets them apart 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:

More Attractive – With joints just at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which must 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 or obvious.

Easier Care – Fewer joints means there are less chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water flows through smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely pleased, since it means you don’t need to clean them out as often. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual cleaning. In contrast, most regular rain gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.

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

Discourages Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that are able to hide inside of them or build a nest with the organic materials that are present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and can destroy your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars worth of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of your rain gutters makes them less appealing for pests.

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

Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are designed 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 house. Longer lasting rain gutters also protect your house, including the walls, windows and the soil below.

Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional

Seamless gutters usually need professional installation due to their size and the experience and equipment necessary to build them. Individuals don’t have own the machinery needed to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to program these machines to make exact cuts.

Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are installed, you will understand their value which pays for itself due to fewer 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 traditional and seamless gutter systems to determine if the cost difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.

Installing these extra-long gutters is not a task that a homeowner can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet or so by themselves, but anything longer than that requires 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, attaching the gutter every several feet. For gutters longer than that, the installation team will start 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. You can damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Charleston Gutter Solutions is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Charleston area. Call 843-396-3518 now for more information!