Benefits of Seamless Gutters

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

If you haven’t replaced your gutters recently, it’s probably about time to begin looking at 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 had to replace them.

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

Seamless gutters are one of the new 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, opposed to standard gutters that only come in sections between 10 and 20 feet. They are made on-site in many cases with a custom machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow items.

Many gutter installation companies own their own machinery and can complete the entire process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in only one day!

Since they are built to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that stretch over 40 feet, with the longest length of a seamless gutter at around 100 feet without joints. This gives 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 difficult to believe how another option can be more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a good idea for your home, you need to understand what sets them apart so you can understand why there is such a noticeable price difference between the two.

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

Better Curb Appeal – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a sleek appearance. Seamless gutter machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and perfectly sized. The custom measurements also increase the curb appeal of your house without being overstated and obvious.

Easier Care – Less joints mean there are less opportunities for debris to cling on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water flows through more smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this should make you very pleased, since it means you won’t need to clean them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, most regular 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 also a problem that can lead to gutter leaks. Eliminating joints across the entire length and width of your home reduces the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).

Discourages Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract small animals and insects that can hide within them or build nests with the materials that are present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and are able to damage your roof, causing hundreds of dollars worth of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of gutters makes them less attractive for pests.

Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then building them on site means that your gutters will be the correct length without having scrap pieces that were cut off to match the length of the house. This is an eco-friendly practice that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Also, there is no need to destroy the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.

Last Longer – Seamless gutters are made with the latest technology and the best materials on the market. This creates less leaks, less chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting gutters also protect your home, including the walls, windows and the soil.

Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional

Seamless gutters usually require professional installation due to their size and the training and machinery necessary to build them. Most homeowners don’t have the equipment needed 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 professionally installed, you will see their value which pays for itself due to less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions about the value of seamless rain gutters, talk with a gutter installer who offers both standard and seamless gutter systems to decide if the cost difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.

Installing these extra-long rain gutters is not a job that a homeowner can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 30 feet or so by themselves, but anything longer than that requires 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 rain gutters that are longer than that, the installation team will begin in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and attach 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. You can damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. WeClean Richmond Gutters is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Richmond area. Call 804-294-4233 now for more information!