Gutters protect your home from water damage and extend the lifespan of the siding and the foundation. When choosing a gutter system for your house, you want gutters that look good and are strong while being budget-friendly. If you’re in the market for a new gutter system, here are some things you need to know about seamless gutters.
Seamless Gutters aren’t Seamless
Seamless gutters aren’t 100% seamless. While they do have significantly fewer seams than a standard sectional gutter system, they still have seams where gutters meet in the corners and where gutter troughs are joined to the downspouts. No matter how good the quality of materials, seams eventually wear down. However, fewer seams mean the gutter system is less prone to develop leaks over time.
Not Just Aluminum
While it’s true that around 80% of seamless gutters are made of aluminum, seamless gutters can be produced from other metals including steel and copper. Typically more expensive than aluminum, seamless steel gutters and seamless copper gutters appeal to homeowners who want to give their house exterior a high-end, luxurious appearance.
Durability and Strength
The thickness of the metal used to manufacture seamless aluminum gutters determines how durable and strong the gutter system will be. The same applies to seamless steel gutters and seamless copper gutters. Quality gutter materials are the best defense against constant exposure to the effects of climate and environmental pollutants.
Not for Do-It-Yourselfers
Seamless gutter installations are done by professionals feeding coils of metal into an extruding gutter machine. A gutter contractor first takes measurements and then makes the gutters to those exact specifications. While sectional aluminum gutters are less expensive than seamless aluminum gutters, this is one of the reasons they are worth the extra expense – seamless gutters are custom-made for your home.
Appearance
There is no question that seamless gutters improve the appearance of a home’s exterior by increasing its curb appeal. There are several reasons for this. First, fewer seams mean there are fewer joints, streamlining the look the gutter system. Second, because they have fewer joints, seamless gutters are installed with less fasteners, resulting in a less cluttered gutter face. Third, seamless gutters are available in a wide variety of colours suitable for all styles of homes, including traditional and heritage.
