Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Gutters have to be replaced nearly as often as the roof on a home, so roughly every 20 years. This is a good long while, and in the meantime, your home’s rain gutters need to do their job with very little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.

If you haven’t needed to replace your home’s gutters lately, it’s probably a good 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 house or the last time you replaced them.

Styles and materials improve significantly over a period of just a few years. This means that your next gutters will be even more efficient, lighter and more attractive than the ones that are currently on your home.

Seamless gutters are one of the new options available.

What are Seamless Gutters?

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

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

Many gutter installation companies own their own machinery and are able to complete the entire process – measure, manufacture and install your seamless gutters – in only one day!

Since they are manufactured to size, it is not uncommon to have seamless gutters that stretch over 50 feet, with the longest length of a seamless rain gutter at around 100 feet with no joints. This gives homeowners the option 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 a lot more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a good idea for your house, you need to know the benefits of them 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 just at the corners, seamless gutters have a very sleek appearance. Seamless gutter fabrication machines even cut out holes for gutter downspouts, which must be present every 20 to 30 feet, so that they are smooth and correctly sized. The custom 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 drains through smoothly with less clogs from dirt and debris. As a homeowner, this will likely make you very happy, because it means you won’t be cleaning them out nearly as much. Seamless gutters typically only need 1 yearly cleaning. In comparison, some standard rain gutter systems have to be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year to keep them functioning well.

Lower Chance of Leaks – Regular gutters can leak at any joint if the gutters start pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are also a problem that can lead to gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints across the entire length and width of your home reduces the likelihood of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).

Discourages Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract small animals, rodents and insects that will hide inside of 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, leading to hundreds of dollars worth of damage (at a minimum). Keeping that buildup out of gutters makes them less appealing for pests.

Eliminates Waste – Measuring for seamless gutters and then building 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 home. This is an environmentally-friendly practice that reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Plus, there is no need to eliminate the excess or see it end up in a landfill.

Last Longer – Seamless gutters are designed with the latest technology and the best materials on the market. This results in less 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 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 required to manufacturer them. Most homeowners don’t have the equipment required to make 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 understand their value which pays for itself because of fewer repairs and longer time between replacements. If you have questions about the value of seamless gutters, speak to a gutter installer who offers both standard and seamless gutter systems to decide if the price difference and benefits are worth it for your budget and needs.

Installing these extra-long gutters is not a task that a homeowner can handle safely. Pros can install a section up to about 30 feet or so by themselves, but anything longer will require 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, attaching the gutter every few feet. For gutters that are longer, the installation team will need to start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and secure those places because of 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 affect the gutter’s appearance as well as its effectiveness. Better Beaverton Gutters is proud to offer seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the Beaverton area. Call 503-300-5998 now for more information!