Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Rain gutters have to be replaced almost as often as the roof on a home, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a good long while, and in the meantime, your gutters should 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 begin considering the options. Odds are, your options have changed since the last time you shopped for gutters, either when you built your home or the last time you replaced them.
Styles and materials improve a lot over a period of only a few years. This means that your next gutters will be a lot more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the current ones on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the major enhancements in home gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, opposed to traditional gutters that are only manufactured in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in most situations with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow items.
Many gutter installation businesses own their own equipment and can do the whole process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in less than one day!
Since they are built to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that extend over 50 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This gives homeowners the option to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever color they choose.
Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Traditional gutters have been popular for so long that it might be difficult to believe how another option can be more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good idea for your house, you need understand the benefits of them so you can 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 only at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek appearance. Seamless gutter machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also help the curb appeal of your house without being too overstated and obvious.
Easier Care – Less joints means there are fewer chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you very pleased, since it means you don’t need to clean them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, some regular rain gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Traditional gutters can leak from any joint as soon as the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can result in gutter leaks. Eliminating joints across the entire length and width of your house helps reduce the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract animals, rodents and insects that can hide inside of 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 damage your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars’ worth of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of your gutters makes them less appealing for pests.
Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting them on site guarantees that your gutters will be the perfect size without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the home. This is an environmentally-friendly process 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.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are built with the latest technology and the best materials available. This results in less leaks, less chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting rain gutters also protect your house, 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 experience and machinery needed to manufacturer them. Most homeowners don’t have access t the machinery required 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 professionally installed, you will see their value which pays for itself because of fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions about the value of seamless gutters, talk with a gutter installer who offers both traditional and seamless gutter systems to determine if the price difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long gutters is not a job that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet by themselves, 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 few feet. For rain gutters any longer than that, the installation team will start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach those sections because of 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 easily damage a seamless gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. ACE Gutter Cleaning is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Tinley Park area. Call 708-304-9972 now for more information!