Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Rain gutters should be replaced almost as often as the roof on a home, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your home’s gutters need to do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine 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 a lot since you last shopped for new gutters, either when building your house or the last time you replaced them.

Styles and materials improve drastically over a period of just a few years. This means that your next gutters will be even 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 improvements in rain gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.

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

Most gutter installation companies have their own equipment and are able to complete the entire process – measure, manufacture and install 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 maximum length of a seamless rain gutter around 100 feet without joints. This gives homeowners the choice to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever color they choose.

Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Standard gutters have been popular for so long that it might be difficult to believe how another option can be more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good choice for your home, you should know what sets them apart so you can also 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 machines cut out holes for downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and perfectly sized. The measurements also improve the curb appeal of your house without being overstated and obvious.

Easier Care – Fewer joints means there are fewer chances for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you extremely happy, as it means you won’t be cleaning them out as often. Seamless gutters only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, some standard rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.

Lower Chance of Leaks – Standard gutters can leak from any joint as soon as the gutters start pulling away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that results in gutter leaks. Eliminating joints across the length and width of your house helps reduce the chance of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).

Prevent Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that will 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 can damage your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars worth of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of rain gutters makes them less attractive 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 environmentally-friendly process that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. Plus, there is no need to destroy the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.

Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are built with the latest technology and the best materials on the market. This results in fewer leaks, a smaller 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 below.

Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional

Seamless gutters usually need professional installation due to their size and the training and equipment necessary to build them. Most homeowners don’t have 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 immediately understand their value which pays for itself because of less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions about the value of seamless rain gutters, speak to a gutter installer who does both standard and seamless gutter systems to determine if the cost difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.

Installing seamless rain gutters is not a job that a single person can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 35 feet on their own, but anything longer 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, securing the gutter every several feet. For gutters longer than that, the installation team will start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten those places 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 handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Federal Way Gutters is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Federal Way area. Call 253-242-9808 now for more information!