Benefits of Seamless Gutters

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

If you haven’t replaced your gutters recently, it’s probably about time to start considering the options. Chances are, your options have changed a lot since the last time you shopped for new gutters, either when building your home or the last time you replaced them.

Styles and types of materials improve significantly over a period of just a few years. This means that your next gutters will be a lot more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal 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 enhancements in rain gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.

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

Many gutter installation services own their own equipment and can complete the whole process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in only one day!

Because they are built to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that stretch over 40 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless rain gutter around 100 feet without joints. This offers 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 can be hard to see how another option can be much more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your home, you need know 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 only at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which have to be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and perfectly 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 fewer opportunities for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely happy, as it means you won’t need to clean them out as often. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, most traditional rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.

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

Prevent Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract animals, rodents and insects that are able to hide within them or build a nest with the materials that are present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and are able to damage your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ of damage (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of your rain gutters makes them less appealing for pests.

Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then building them on site ensures that your gutters will be the correct size without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the length of the house. This is an eco-friendly practice that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Also, there is no need to get rid of the excess or see it end up in a landfill.

Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are designed with the latest technology and the best materials on the market. This creates less leaks, a smaller chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. 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 usually require professional installation because of their size and the training and machinery needed to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have access t the equipment needed to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to set up these machines to make precise cuts.

Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are installed, you will see their value which pays for itself over time via less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions concerning the value of seamless rain gutters, talk with a gutter installer who offers 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 by themselves, but anything longer than that 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 several feet. For gutters longer than that, the installation team will need to start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten 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 damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Chapel Hill Gutters is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Chapel Hill area. Call 919-705-0339 now for more information!