Welcome to Family Roofing

Benefits of Seamless Gutters

When you want your home to stay in great condition for years to come, outfitting your home with rain gutters is crucial for protection against water damage.  When choosing a new gutter and drainage system for your home, there is always one big decision to make: seamless gutters or sectional gutters.  Sectional gutters are formed using smaller sections of gutter joined and fastened together at the seams.  Seamless gutters are constructed using a specialized gutter machine, often formed right on site.  When attached, seamless gutters only have seams at jointed points, usually at the corners of the house.  Sectional gutters are typically purchased at the big box stores and are available in 10 ft. sections.

Sectional gutters are appealing because they are a tiny bit less expensive and easier to install.  They make for a quick DIY project even for the novice homeowner.  Seamless gutters, on the other hand, require the use of a specialized machine and often require more than one person as the sections can be too long to handle for just one person.  While seamless gutters cost a little bit more upfront and can require additional manpower, they also offer many benefits over regular gutters.

While seamless gutters still have joints around mitered corners and downspouts, they have far fewer joints than traditional sectional gutters.  This leads to a host of advantages for the homeowner.

Seamless gutters experience fewer clogs, backups, & leaks

The joints and seams of sectional gutters lead to clogs and leaks.  Every joint will require the use of fasteners and caulking.  The fasteners can protrude through the gutter and the edges of the fasteners can grab onto leaves and other debris causing blockages.  Large blockages can result in water overflow and uncontrolled runoff that damages the roof, foundation, and landscaping of your home.  The sealant, while necessary, will be a spot that impedes the water flow as the water will be forced to run over the top of the sealant.  Along with choosing seamless gutters for your home, you can also consider installing leaf guards to prevent leaves and twigs from clogging your gutters or downspouts.

Moreover, anytime a gutter has a joint where two sections meet, there is the possibility of a future leakage problem. With fewer joints, seamless gutters have a lot less chance of leaking down the road.  Seamless gutters are also typically much stronger than sectional gutters.  Seamless gutters that come from a gutter machine are usually contractor grade and available in .027” and .032” thicknesses.  The sectional gutters that are purchased from the large box stores are typically made from thinner material with a thickness of .024”.   The gutters from the box stores can be more than 20% thinner than the contractor grade gutters and thus will not hold up to the elements over time nearly as well.

Seamless gutters require less maintenance than sectional gutters

Because seamless gutters have less joints, they don’t accumulate as much debris as sectional gutters do.  This all leads to less time spent on gutter cleaning.  All of the seams in the gutters require caulk.  Even the best of sealants will not last forever and will need to be resealed over time.  Sectional gutters, with the seams every 10 ft., will have a lot more seams that need to be sealed which require a lot more maintenance over the life span of the installation.

Seamless gutters offer lasting curb appeal & enhance a home’s overall appearance

One big benefit of seamless gutters is the lasting beauty and appeal they provide to the home. Many find them more aesthetically appealing than sectional gutters. They are often constructed from aluminum but can also be made from copper and steel as well.  Most can be painted to match the home’s exterior.  Many also offer a baked-on enamel finish that lasts for years and never requires painting.

Seamless gutters offer a perfect fit every time

Seamless gutters are shaped from a coil by a seamless gutter machine, usually on site, to match the exact lengths and specifications of the house.  Because each seamless gutter system is custom-fashioned for each unique property, homeowners are guaranteed a perfect fit.  When gutters fit well, they function well.  An expertly crafted system will offer the performance you need.

Reduced chance of leakage

Due to this reason alone, seamless gutters have become the most popular type of gutter.  Since it has no seam other than its corner joints, water flow is more controlled and more likely to go to drainage areas rather than leaking through the gutter in other places, like in front of your front door!

Uniquely designed to your home

While this can be a drawback in that it always has to be done by a professional, having a gutter uniquely designed for your home is a plus.  This will lead to fewer mistakes than with gutters that snap together and do not fit into the seams of your home.

Easier Installation

Seamless gutters installation cuts out the measuring, cutting to size, and fitting together that sectional gutters have.  Seamless gutters are made to fit perfectly into your roof without having to fit them together before installing.  Seamless gutters are designed by a special cutting machine while on-site.  The seamless piece is set into place to be prepped for installation.  They are set up against the roof of your home and then screwed in.

Less costly

Initial installation of seamless gutters is going to cost you a pretty penny.  But, in the long run, they are less costly than sectional gutters.  Sectional gutters need more maintenance and need to be replaced more often than seamless gutters.

How Do You Maintain Seamless Gutters?

Maintaining your gutters is the key to having less of a hassle to ensuring the system keeps working properly.  Regular maintenance is essential, whether or not you have a seamless gutter.  The beauty of seamless gutters if you have to clean them less often than you do with traditional sectional gutters.

To maintain your gutter, you will either need to climb a ladder and do it yourself or you will need to hire a professional.  On average, you need to clean your gutters at least twice a year, but more if you have a lot of surrounding trees or storms.

How Much Do Seamless Gutters Cost?

Seamless gutters are more expensive than traditional gutters, however, the higher initial outlay will pay dividends when it comes to the maintenance costs, the value of your home, the superior protection and ventilation for your roof, and the longer lifespan of seamless gutters.

There are a number of factors that affect the cost, including:

• The size of your property or rather the amount of gutter you need.

• The season you are looking at having them installed.

• The pitch, height and slope of your roof.

• Whether or not existing gutters need to be removed before new gutters can be installed.

• The number of corners and downpipes required.

Designs

Seamless gutters come in a variety of materials and shapes.  Almost any design option you can get with regular gutters, you can also find with seamless gutters.  K-style and half-round gutters are the most popular base shape, with extra customizations available—like a crown mold or colonial style—for the outward facing side. Aluminum, zinc, steel and copper are the typical materials used for making seamless gutters, with aluminum as the most popular.  Aluminum is also easy to paint, and it is usually easy to find a gutter color that will match your home.  On the other hand, a staple material of sectional gutters—vinyl—is not a common material for seamless gutters due to its lower quality and may not even be offered by your contractor.