Benefits of Seamless Gutters

Gutters may not be the most glamorous, or even the most expensive purchase you will make for your home, but they are certainly one of the most valuable when it comes to maintaining your property.

Good quality gutters not only improve the look of your property but they also protect your home from problems that may be far more expensive to deal with than keeping your gutters in good condition. It’s not just your roof that is affected by your gutters, most basement water issues are gutter related and they also protect the sides of your home.

Even with good maintenance, you must replace gutters every 20 years or so with new gutters. If you are replacing or installing gutters on a property in McKinney, one of the decisions you need to make is whether you choose traditional gutters, often referred to as sectional gutters, or seamless gutters.

What Are Seamless Gutters?

Both styles of gutter have their appeal. Traditional gutters come in small sections that can be adapted to fit almost any home. They are easy to get hold of, less expensive and relatively easy to install so a good choice if you are on a budget and want to install them yourselves or new to DIY.

Seamless gutters, on the other hand, are made in long sections that join only at the corners. This means they are made to measure making them more expensive and more difficult to install. They are often made using a machine that makes them on-site and installed by professionals.

Seams or joins might not seem like they would be an issue however each seam increases the possibility of leaks, cracks, clogs and other issues as the gutter material expands and contracts or debris accumulates in the gutter.

Seamless Gutters vs Traditional Gutters

When it comes time to make the decision here are a few benefits of seamless gutters and reasons why you may want to choose them over traditional gutters.

Seamless Gutters Look Better

There’s little argument that seamless gutters are more visually appealing. Fewer seams or joins means fewer obvious brackets and a more streamlined and sophisticated look for your property.

Maintenance Levels

Seamless gutters generally last longer and require less maintenance than sectional gutters. The lack of joins allows for a smoother flow of water and any debris. This means less potential for clogging.

Less Chance of Leaks

If sectional gutters get clogged or when there is snow or ice the seams can pop causing leaks that can damage your home.

Less Chance of Pests

Because seamless gutters are less likely to get clogged up they not only require less maintenance but they are less likely to attract pests which can have major implications for your property.

A build-up of debris and standing water can attract all sorts of pests such as mosquitoes, rodents, birds and other insects which can damage your gutters and make their way into your property.

A Perfect Fit Every Time

Because every home is different seamless gutters have to be bespoke. They are expertly crafted by professionals to be the perfect fit for your home, which not only makes them look better but means they perform better as well.

Stronger and Longer Lasting

Seamless gutters also tend to last longer than traditional gutters and come with longer warranties. So although you may pay more upfront you can be safe in the knowledge that this is one job you won’t have to do again for a long time.

It is often the joints or seams where gutters end up leaking or being damaged and this can, in turn, lead to damage to your home, not just at the roofline and fascia but also at the basement and foundation level. So maintenance is crucial or the costs of repair can add up really quickly.

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.

Plus of course you need to be able to find a local contractor in the first place.

Installing Seamless Gutters

Installing seamless gutters can be done on your own however most people opt to leave it to the professionals.

One reason for this is that seamless guttering, by its very nature comes in much longer lengths and so even if you do opt to do it yourself you’ll still need to get a couple of friends or neighbors over to help out. However, because the pieces are all made exactly to your specification they are easier to fit together than traditional gutters which can turn into one of those impossible puzzles.

Also because you cannot buy seamless guttering off the shelf, you will already be dealing with a contractor and will often find that labour costs are a relatively small percentage of the overall costs. After all, they do this all the time so have all the required equipment, skills and experience to do it in a fraction of the time you would.

If you are set on installing your own gutters then traditional sectional gutters may be a better option.