Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Gutters need to be replaced almost as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a good long while, and in the meantime, your gutters need to do their job with little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.

If you haven’t replaced your home’s gutters recently, it’s probably about time to start considering the options. More than likely, your options have changed since the last time you shopped for new gutters, either when you built your house or the last time you had to replace them.

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

Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.

What are Seamless Gutters?

One of the standout enhancements in home gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.

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

Many 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!

Because they are manufactured to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that extend 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 choice can be more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good choice for your house, you should understand the benefits of them so you can also 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 just at the corners, seamless gutters have a 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 increase the curb appeal of your home without being overstated or obvious.

Easier Care – Less joints means there are fewer opportunities for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains 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 be cleaning them out as often. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, most standard rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them working well.

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

Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals and insects that are able to hide within them or build nests with the debris that is present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and can destroy your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ worth of damage (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of rain 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 correct size without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an environmentally-friendly process that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Plus, 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 built with the newest technology and the best materials available. This creates less leaks, less chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting rain gutters can also protect your house, including the walls, windows and the soil.

Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional

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

Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are installed, you will immediately see their value which pays for itself over time via less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions about the value of seamless rain gutters, speak to a gutter installer who does both standard and seamless gutter systems to decide if the cost difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.

Installing seamless gutters is not a project that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet 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, fastening the gutter every several feet. For rain gutters longer than that, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach those sections 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 seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. DC Gutter Service is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Washington area. Call 301-701-3889 now for more information!