Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Rain gutters need to be replaced nearly as often as the roof, 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 annual maintenance.

If you haven’t needed to replace your home’s gutters lately, it’s probably about time to start considering the options. More than likely, your options have changed since the last time you shopped for gutters, either when building your home 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 gutters will be even more efficient, lighter and offer better curb appeal than the ones that are currently on your home.

Seamless gutters are one of the newest options available.

What are Seamless Gutters?

One of the most revolutionary enhancements in residential gutters is the invention of seamless gutter systems.

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

Many gutter installation businesses 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 50 feet, with the longest length of a seamless gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This gives homeowners the option to have a single piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever color they choose.

Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Standard gutters have been popular for so long that it can be hard to see how another choice can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your house, you should know 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 noticeably sleek look. Seamless gutter machines cut out holes for downspouts, which should be present every 20 to 30 feet, so they are smooth and perfectly sized. The measurements also help 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 smoothly with fewer clogs. As a homeowner, this should make you very pleased, since it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as often. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 yearly cleaning. In contrast, most traditional rain gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them working well.

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

Prevent Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract animals, rodents and insects that are able to hide within them or build a nest with the debris that is present. From there, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and will damage your roof, causing hundreds of dollars’ of damage. Keeping that buildup out of your gutters makes them less attractive for pests.

Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then manufacturing them on site guarantees that your gutters will be the correct length without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. This is an environmentally-friendly process that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to eliminate the excess (which can result in harmful chemicals) or see it end up in a landfill.

Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are made with the latest technology and the best materials available. This results in less leaks, a smaller chance of rust and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting rain gutters can also protect your house, including the exterior walls, windows and surrounding soil below.

Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional

Seamless gutters typically require professional installation due to their size and the experience and equipment required to manufacturer them. Individuals 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 professionally installed, you will quickly see their value which pays for itself due to less repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any questions concerning the value of seamless rain gutters, speak to a gutter installer who does both traditional and seamless gutter systems to determine if the cost difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.

Installing seamless gutters is not a project that a single person can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 35 feet by themselves, but anything longer than that requires a second person.

For gutters that are less than 35 feet, they will start in the middle and work their way to each end, attaching the gutter every several feet. For rain gutters longer, the installation team will start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure 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 easily damage a long gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. Minneapolis Gutter Solutions is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Minneapolis area. Call 612-429-4449 now for more information!