Like many high-end home improvement items, most people associated seamless gutters with higher costs. Seamless gutters are essentially bespoke gutters, where installers cut each section to the perfect length for your home. As a result, your gutters look clean and complete without the seams common on lower-end options.
However, the custom nature of seamless gutters also means they're pricier to purchase and install. Installers require specialized equipment to cut and form the gutters, making them more costly at first. Despite this added cost, these gutters can save you money over the long run in these three unexpected ways.
1. Longer Lifespan
Seamless gutters use similar materials to traditional gutters, but there are several reasons why they can potentially last much longer. With a traditional gutter system, the seams create imperfections that can lead to turbulent water flow. Since the water doesn't flow smoothly through the gutters, it can become "caught" on the seams, where it can pool in small but meaningful amounts.
While all gutters are typically corrosion-resistant, constant exposure to moisture can lead to rust and other problems. Without seams to collect water, seamless gutters are less likely to rust, meaning that your investment will last much longer. Although you'll pay more upfront, you won't need to consider replacing your gutters anytime soon.
2. Easier Maintenance
The seams that create water flow problems also allow larger particles to become trapped in your gutters. While nothing except water would travel through gutters under ideal conditions, the real world is typically far from ideal. In practice, leaves, roofing granules, dirt, and other debris will usually end up inside your gutters.
Although seamless gutters still require cleaning, the smooth path from one end to the other makes blockages far less likely. Since small particles won't become trapped on seams, it will be much harder for large obstructions to form. Over the long run, you won't need to spend as much money maintaining your gutters since they'll be less likely to become clogged.
3. Fewer Repairs
Seams are more than just traps for water and dirt. Every seam is a connection between two panels, and connections tend to be the weakest parts of any system. Heavy wind, rain, snow, and storm debris can cause wear and tear on your gutters, and failures typically occur at the weakest point: the seams. It's not surprising that you'll often see gutters hanging off a house with a broken connection at a seam.
Without seams to act as weak points, it'll take much more intense weather or impacts to break your gutters free. This higher durability means that your gutters will last longer and you'll most likely spend less on repairs over their lifespan.
For more information about seamless gutter installation, contact a local company.
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