Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Gutters need to be replaced nearly as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters need to do their job with little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.

If you haven’t needed to replace your gutters lately, it’s probably about time to start looking at the options. More than likely, your options have changed a lot since you last shopped for new gutters, either when building your home or the last time you had to replace them.

Styles and materials improve drastically over a period of only a few years. This means that your next rain gutters will be much more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the ones that are currently on your home.

Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.

What are Seamless Gutters?

One of the standout upgrades in rain gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.

Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to standard gutters which only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in many cases with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow items.

Many gutter installation businesses own their own equipment and are able to complete the entire process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in only one day!

Since 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 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 used for so long that it might be hard to see how another option can be more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good idea for your home, you should understand what sets them apart so you can understand why there is such a noticeable price difference for them.

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

More Attractive – With joints just at the corners, seamless gutters have a noticeably sleek appearance. Seamless gutter machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and correctly sized. The custom measurements also increase the curb appeal of your house without being overstated or obvious.

Easier Care – Less joints mean there are fewer chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water flows through more smoothly with fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely pleased, since it means you won’t need to clean them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, most standard gutter systems must 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 to pull away from the house. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can result in gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints across the entire length and width of your house reduces the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).

Discourages Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that can hide inside of them or build nests with the debris that is present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and can damage your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ of damage. Keeping that buildup out of gutters makes them less appealing for pests.

Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then manufacturing them on site ensures that your gutters will be the correct length without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an environmentally-friendly process that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. Plus, there is no need to destroy the excess or see it end up in a landfill.

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

Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional

Seamless gutters typically require professional installation because of their size and the training and equipment necessary to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have have the equipment required 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 professionally installed, you will quickly see their value which pays for itself over time via less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have 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 a good fit for your budget and needs.

Installing these extra-long gutters is not a project that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 35 feet or so on their own, but anything longer requires a second person.

For gutters that are less than 35 feet, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, securing the gutter every several feet. For gutters any longer than that, the installation team will need to start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach those places because of 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 damage a long gutter by mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Louisville Gutters Plus is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Louisville area. Call 502-334-0624 now for more information!