Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Rain gutters have to be replaced almost as often as the roof on a home, so roughly every 20 years. This is a long time, and in the meantime, your gutters need to do their job with very little work on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.

If you haven’t replaced your gutters lately, it’s probably a good time to begin looking at the options. More than likely, your options have changed since the last time you shopped for gutters, either when you built your house or the last time you replaced them.

Styles and materials improve drastically over a period of just a few years. This means your next gutters will be much more efficient, lighter and more attractive 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 residential gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.

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

Most gutter installation businesses own their own machinery and can do the whole process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in only 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 around 100 feet without joints. This gives homeowners the option to have an individual piece of lightweight aluminum in whatever color they choose.

Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Standard gutters have been used for so long that it might be difficult to believe how another choice can be more effective. To determine if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your home, you need know what sets them apart so you can also 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 very sleek look. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even 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 overstated or obvious.

Easier Care – Less joints means there are fewer opportunities for debris to cling on or get stuck within the rain gutters. Water drains through smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this will likely make you very pleased, since it means you won’t be cleaning them out as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, some traditional gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them functioning well.

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

Prevent 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 easy access to your attic and will damage your roof, leading to 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 manufacturing them on site ensures that your gutters will be the correct length without having extra pieces that were cut off to match the length of the house. This is an eco-friendly practice that lowers your home’s carbon footprint. In addition, there is no need to destroy the excess or see it end up in a landfill.

Last Longer – Seamless gutters are built with the latest technology and the best materials on the market. This results in less leaks, less chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the home. Longer lasting rain gutters also protect your house, including the exterior walls, windows and the soil below.

Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional

Seamless gutters almost always require professional installation because of their size and the experience and machinery required to manufacturer them. Most homeowners don’t have access t 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 professionally installed, you will understand their value which pays for itself over time via fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have any 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 job that a single person can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet on their own, 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, attaching the gutter every several feet. For 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 places due to 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. Homeowners can damage a long gutter by handling it improperly. This can affect the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. St. Paul Gutter Solutions is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the St Paul area. Call 651-349-6288 now for more information!