Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Gutters have to be replaced almost as often as the roof on a home, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your home’s gutters need to do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.

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

Styles and materials improve significantly over a period of only a few years. This means your next gutters will be even more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the current ones on your house.

Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.

What are Seamless Gutters?

One of the most revolutionary improvements in home gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.

Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, opposed to standard gutters that are only manufactured 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 materials.

Most gutter installation businesses have their own equipment and are able to do the whole process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in just one day!

Since they are built to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that stretch over 40 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless gutter around 100 feet without joints. This gives homeowners the option to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.

Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Standard gutters have been used for so long that it can be hard to see how another option can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good idea for your home, you need know what sets them apart 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:

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

Easier Care – Fewer joints means there are fewer chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the gutters. Water flows through smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely pleased, since it means you won’t be cleaning them out as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, some regular rain gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them functioning well.

Lower Chance of Leaks – Standard gutters can leak from any joint if the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that lead to gutter leaks. Eliminating joints throughout the length and width of your home 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 that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and can destroy your roof, causing hundreds of dollars’ 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 manufacturing them on site means that your gutters will be the correct size without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the length of the house. This is an environmentally-friendly practice that reduces 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.

Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are designed with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This results in fewer leaks, less chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your house, including the exterior walls, windows and the soil below.

Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional

Seamless gutters almost always require professional installation due to their size and the experience and equipment required to build them. Individuals don’t have access t the equipment needed to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to program these machines to make precise cuts.

Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are professionally installed, you will understand their value which pays for itself due to fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions about the value of seamless rain gutters, talk with a gutter installer who offers both traditional and seamless gutter systems to decide if the price difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.

Installing seamless rain gutters is not a project that a single person can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet on their own, but anything longer 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, 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 secure 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. Homeowners can damage a seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Wilmington Gutter Solutions is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Wilmington area. Call 302-204-2166 now for more information!