Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Rain gutters have 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 rain gutters should do their job with very little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.

If you haven’t replaced your gutters lately, 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 gutters, either when building your house or the last time you replaced them.

Styles and 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 upgrades in rain gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.

Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to standard gutters that are only sold in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in most cases with a special machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.

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

Because they are built to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that stretch 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 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 might be hard to realize how another choice can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good choice for your home, you need understand the benefits of them so you can understand why there is a noticeable price difference for them.

There are many benefits of seamless gutters over traditional gutter systems:

More Attractive – With joints just at the corners, seamless gutters have a 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 overstated and obvious.

Easier Care – Fewer joints mean there are fewer opportunities for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you very happy, since it means you won’t need to clean them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, most traditional rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them working well.

Lower Chance of Leaks – Regular gutters can leak at any joint once the gutters start pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are another problem that lead to gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints throughout the length and width of your home helps reduce the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).

Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals and insects that will hide within them or build a nest with the organic materials that are present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and can destroy your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ 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 building them on site guarantees that your gutters will be the correct length without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the house. This is an environmentally-friendly practice that lowers 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 made with the latest technology and the best materials available. This results in fewer leaks, less chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting gutters also protect your home, including the exterior walls, windows and the soil.

Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional

Seamless gutters usually need professional installation because of their size and the training and machinery necessary to manufacturer them. Most homeowners don’t have own the equipment required to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to program these machines to make exact cuts.

Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are professionally installed, you will immediately see their value which pays for itself due to less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions concerning the value of seamless 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 homeowner can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 35 feet on their own, but anything longer than that requires a second person.

For 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, 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 easily damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Champaign Gutters is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Champaign area. Call 217-216-1966 now for more information!