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, and in the meantime, your rain gutters should do their job with very little effort on your part besides gutter cleaning and annual maintenance.

If you haven’t had to replace your gutters recently, 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 new gutters, either when building your house 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 a lot 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 standout improvements in rain gutters is the creation of seamless gutter systems.

Seamless gutters are installed in long sections, as opposed to standard gutters that only come 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 such long, narrow items.

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

Because they are manufactured to size, it is possible to have seamless gutters that stretch over 40 feet, with the maximum length of a seamless 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

Standard gutters have been used for so long that it might be difficult to believe how another choice can be much more effective. To decide if seamless gutters are a smart idea for your home, you will want to understand 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:

Better Curb Appeal – With joints only at the corners, seamless gutters have a noticeably sleek look. Seamless gutter 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 increase the curb appeal of your house without being too overstated and obvious.

Easier Care – Fewer joints means there are less opportunities for debris to cling on or get stuck within the gutters. Water drains through more smoothly with less clogs. As a homeowner, this should make you extremely happy, as it means you won’t need to clean them out as much. Seamless gutters only need 1 annual cleaning. In comparison, some traditional rain gutter systems must be cleaned 2 to 4 times a year in order to keep them working well.

Lower Chance of Leaks – Regular gutters can leak from any joint once the gutters start pulling away from the house. Loose fasteners are also a problem that cause gutter leaks. Getting rid of joints across the length and width of your house helps reduce the risk of leaks (which protects your windows, porches, and landscaping).

Discourages Pests – Buildup in your gutters will attract small animals and insects that are able to hide inside of them or build nests with the organic materials that are present. From that point, insects, birds, squirrels and chipmunks have access to your attic and can destroy your roof, causing hundreds of dollars’ worth 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 size without having scrap pieces that were cut off to match the length of the home. 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.

Longer Lifetime – Seamless gutters are built with the newest technology and the best materials on the market. This creates fewer leaks, less chance of rusting and reduced risk of the gutters pulling away from the house. Longer lasting gutters can also protect your home, including the exterior walls, windows and surrounding soil.

Seamless Gutters Installed by a Professional

Seamless gutters usually require professional installation due to their size and the experience and machinery needed to manufacturer them. Individuals don’t have have the machinery needed to produce seamless gutters, nor do they have the knowledge of how to set up these machines to make exact cuts.

Seamless gutters do cost more, but once they are installed, you will see 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, speak to a gutter installer who does both traditional and seamless gutter systems to decide if the cost difference and benefits are a good fit for your budget and needs.

Installing these extra-long gutters is not a job that a homeowner can handle safely. Professionals can install a section up to about 35 feet or so on their own, but anything longer than that 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, fastening the gutter every few feet. For gutters any longer, the installation team will start in two places (1/3 of the way from each end) and fasten 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 damage a long gutter by handling it improperly. This can damage the gutter’s appearance as well as limit its effectiveness. St. Louis Gutter Solutions is proud to provide seamless gutter installation to all homes and businesses in the St Louis area. Call 314-370-1822 now for more information!