Benefits of Seamless Gutters

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

If you haven’t replaced your home’s gutters recently, it’s probably a good time to start looking at the options. Chances are, your options have changed since you last shopped for gutters, either when you built your house or the last time you replaced them.

Styles and types of materials improve a lot over a period of only a few years. This means your next rain gutters will be much more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the current ones on your house.

Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.

What are Seamless Gutters?

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

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

Many gutter installation services own their own machinery and are able to complete the whole process on their own – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in only 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 at around 100 feet without joints. This gives homeowners the choice to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.

Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Standard gutters have been used 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 good idea for your house, you need understand 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 sleek appearance. Seamless gutter machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and perfectly sized. The custom measurements also improve the curb appeal of your house without being too overstated and obvious.

Easier Care – Fewer joints means there are less 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 should make you very pleased, as it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 annual cleaning. In contrast, most traditional rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them functioning well.

Lower Chance of Leaks – Standard gutters can leak from any joint once the gutters start pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are another problem that result in gutter leaks. Eliminating joints along the entire length and width of your home reduces the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).

Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract animals and insects that will hide within them or build nests with the organic materials that are present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and are able to destroy your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars’ worth of damage (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of rain 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 scrap pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the home. This is an eco-friendly practice that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to eliminate 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 creates 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 home, including the exterior walls, windows and the soil below.

Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional

Seamless gutters almost always require professional installation because of their size and the experience and equipment necessary to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have have the machinery required to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to set up these machines to make exact 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 questions concerning the value of seamless rain gutters, speak to a gutter installer who does both traditional and seamless gutter systems to decide if the price difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.

Installing seamless gutters is not a project that a homeowner can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet on their own, but anything longer than that requires a second person.

For seamless gutters that are 35 feet or less, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, attaching the gutter every few feet. For gutters longer than that, the installation team will need to begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach those sections because of 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. Detroit Gutter Defense is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Detroit area. Call 313-251-9199 now for more information!