Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Gutters need to be replaced about as often as the roof on a home, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, but in the meantime, your rain 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 home’s gutters recently, it’s probably about time to begin considering the options. More than likely, your options have changed a lot since the last time you shopped for new gutters, either when you built your home or the last time you had to replace them.

Styles and types of materials improve significantly over a period of only a few years. This means that your next rain gutters will be even more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the current ones on your house.

Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.

What are Seamless Gutters?

One of the most revolutionary improvements in home gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.

Seamless gutters are installed in very long sections, as opposed to standard gutters which are only manufactured in sections between 10 and 20 feet long. They are made on-site in most cases with a custom machine, removing the difficulties of transporting long, narrow materials.

Most gutter installation companies have their own equipment and are able to do the entire process – measure, manufacture and installing your seamless gutters – in just one day!

Since they are manufactured to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that extend over 40 feet, with the longest length of a seamless rain gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This offers homeowners the option to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in any color they choose.

Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Traditional gutters have been popular for so long that it might be hard to realize how another choice can be more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a smart choice for your house, you will want to understand the benefits of them so you can understand why there is a noticeable price difference for them.

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

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

Easier Care – Less joints mean there are fewer chances for debris to get hung on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through smoothly with fewer clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you very happy, since it means you won’t be cleaning them out as much. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, most traditional rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them working well.

Lower Chance of Leaks – Standard gutters can leak at any joint if the gutters start to pull away from the home. Loose fasteners are another problem that can cause gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints throughout the entire length and width of your house reduces the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).

Discourages Pests – Clogged gutters will attract small animals and insects that can hide within them or build nests with the organic materials that are present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to your attic and can damage your roof, leading to hundreds of dollars’ of repairs. Keeping that buildup out of rain gutters makes them less appealing for pests.

Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then cutting them on site means that your gutters will be the perfect size without having additional pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an eco-friendly practice that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. Plus, there is no need to get rid of 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 less leaks, less chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting rain gutters also protect your house, including the walls, windows and surrounding soil below.

Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional

Seamless gutters almost always require professional installation due to their size and the experience and equipment necessary to build them. Most homeowners don’t have access t the equipment necessary to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to program these machines to make precise cuts.

Seamless gutters are more expensive, but once they are installed, you will quickly understand 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 traditional and seamless gutter systems to determine if the price difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.

Installing these extra-long rain gutters is not a task that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet by themselves, 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 few feet. For rain gutters longer than that, the installation team will start 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 easily damage a seamless gutter by mishandling it. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Chicago Gutters Plus is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Chicago area. Call 773-694-2808 now for more information!