Benefits of Seamless Gutters

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

If you haven’t had to replace your gutters recently, it’s probably a good time to begin considering the options. More than likely, 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 had to replace them.

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

Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.

What are Seamless Gutters?

One of the biggest improvements in rain gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.

Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, as opposed to standard gutters which are only sold 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 such long, narrow materials.

Most gutter installation businesses have their own machinery and are able to complete the whole process on their own – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in less than one day!

Since they are manufactured to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that stretch over 50 feet, with the longest length of a seamless gutter at around 100 feet without joints. This offers homeowners the option to have an individual 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 difficult to see how another choice can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your home, you need to 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 noticeably sleek appearance. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The measurements also increase the curb appeal of your house without being overstated or obvious.

Easier Care – Less joints mean there are less 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 will likely make you extremely pleased, as it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual 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 – Normal gutters can leak at any joint once the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that can cause gutter leaks. Eliminating joints throughout the entire length and width of your house reduces the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).

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

Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting 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 home. This is an environmentally-friendly practice that reduces 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 latest technology and the best materials on the market. This creates fewer leaks, less chance of rusting 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 surrounding soil below.

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. Most homeowners don’t have access t the equipment necessary to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to set up these machines to make exact cuts.

Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are installed, you will understand 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, speak to a gutter installer who provides both traditional and seamless gutter systems to decide if the cost difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.

Installing seamless rain gutters is not a task that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet on their own, but anything longer 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, securing the gutter every several feet. For gutters that are longer than that, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure those sections due to 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. Homeowners can damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. AllClean Arlington Gutters is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Arlington area. Call 817-241-3330 now for more information!