Benefits of Seamless Gutters
Gutters have to be replaced almost as often as the roof on a home, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your home’s gutters need to do their job with little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.
If you haven’t had to replace your gutters lately, it’s probably about time to begin considering the options. Odds are, your options have changed a lot since the last time you shopped for gutters, either when building your home or the last time you had to replace them.
Styles and types of materials improve a lot over a period of just a few years. This means that your next gutters will be much more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the current ones on your house.
Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.
What are Seamless Gutters?
One of the major enhancements in home gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.
Seamless gutters are installed in 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, eliminating the difficulties of transporting such long, narrow materials.
Most gutter installation businesses own their own machinery and are able to do the whole process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in only one day!
Because they are built to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that extend over 50 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless rain gutter at around 100 feet with no 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 might be difficult to see how another option can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your house, you should 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 just at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which must 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 or obvious.
Easier Care – Fewer 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. As a homeowner, this will likely make you very happy, because it means you won’t need to clean them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, most regular rain gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.
Lower Chance of Leaks – Normal gutters can leak from any joint as soon as the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that lead to gutter leaks. Eliminating joints throughout the length and width of your house helps reduce the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).
Prevent Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract animals, rodents and insects that will hide inside of them or build nests with the organic materials that are present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and will destroy your roof, resulting in hundreds of dollars’ of damage. Keeping that buildup out of your rain 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 perfect size without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the exact length of the home. This is an eco-friendly process that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. Also, there is no need to eliminate the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.
Last Longer – Seamless gutters are designed with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This leads to fewer leaks, a smaller chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting rain gutters can also protect your home, including the exterior walls, windows and the soil below.
Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional
Seamless gutters typically need professional installation due to their size and the experience and equipment needed to build them. Most homeowners don’t have own the equipment needed to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the training on how to program these machines to make precise cuts.
Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are installed, you will understand their value which pays for itself because of fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions about the value of seamless gutters, speak to a gutter installer who provides both traditional and seamless gutter systems to determine if the price difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.
Installing these extra-long rain gutters is not a project that a homeowner can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 35 feet or so on their own, but anything longer than that will require 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 rain gutters that are 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 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 damage a long gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Simply San Ramon Gutters is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the San Ramon area. Call 925-304-3773 now for more information!