Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Rain gutters have to be replaced about as often as the roof, so somewhere around 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters need to do their job with very little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and routine maintenance.

If you haven’t replaced your gutters recently, it’s probably a good time to start considering the options. Odds are, your options have changed since you last shopped for new gutters, either when you built your house or the last time you had to replace them.

Styles and materials improve a lot over a period of just a few years. This means your next rain gutters will be more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal 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 most revolutionary improvements in rain gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.

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

Many gutter installation companies own their own equipment and can do the whole process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in less than one day!

Since they are manufactured to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that extend over 40 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless 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 can be difficult to see how another choice can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good idea for your house, you need to understand what sets them apart so you can also understand why there is a noticeable price difference between the two.

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

Better Curb Appeal – With joints just at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which have to be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The custom measurements also increase the curb appeal of your home without being too overstated or obvious.

Easier Care – Less joints means 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 pleased, as it means you don’t need to clean them out as much. Seamless gutters usually only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, some traditional gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them working well.

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

Prevent Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals and insects that are able to hide inside of them or build nests with the debris that is present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and are able to damage your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ of damage (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of your rain gutters makes them less attractive for pests.

Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting them on site guarantees that your gutters will be the perfect length without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the length of the house. This is an environmentally-friendly process 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 newest 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 home, including the walls, windows and surrounding soil below.

Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional

Seamless gutters typically need professional installation due to their size and the experience and machinery needed to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have to own the machinery necessary to make seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to set up these machines to make precise cuts.

Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are installed, you will quickly understand their value which pays for itself over time via fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions about the value of seamless rain gutters, speak to a gutter installer who provides both standard and seamless gutter systems to determine if the price difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.

Installing seamless rain gutters is not a project that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet or so by themselves, but anything longer 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, securing the gutter every several feet. For gutters longer than that, the installation team will need to start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure those sections because of the length and the 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 easily damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Knoxville Gutters Plus is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Knoxville area. Call 865-217-2511 now for more information!