What Are Seamless Gutters?
If you’re in the market for new gutters, you’ve no doubt come across various installers advertising that they carry seamless gutters. But what are seamless gutters, exactly, and are they worth the investment?
Seamless Gutters vs. Sectional Gutters
Seamless gutters are a relatively new invention that transformed the gutter industry. They’ve been around since the early 1960s, which sounds like a long time at first, but not when you consider that rain gutters can be traced back to some point between 3000 BC and 1500 BC. Before seamless gutters were invented, everyone used sectional gutters. True to their name, sectional gutters are assembled from precut sections that are usually around 10 to 20 feet long. Once the sections are joined together, the connection is welded or otherwise sealed, forming a seam.
Seamless gutters, on the other hand, consist of one long section that’s cut on site using a roll-forming machine to match the exact length of the house where the installation is taking place. While seamless gutters have to be joined together at the corners of the house, those are the only seams that exist with this type of gutter.
The Benefits of Choosing Seamless Gutters
The main advantage offered by seamless gutters is that they’re better able to resist leaks than sectional gutters. Although the adjoining pieces in sectional gutters are sealed together, the seam is still a weak point that’s vulnerable to breaking and leakage. Of course, seamless gutters can still develop leaks, but there’s much less chance of that occurring with seamless styles than there is with sectional gutters.
Another advantage offered by seamless gutters is that they’re less likely to clog and easier to clean. That’s because leaves and other debris tend to get caught on the seams in sectional gutters, eventually leading to a blockage. With seamless gutters, there’s nothing for debris to catch on, so it’s more likely to flow freely to the downspout. Plus, thanks to the lack of seams, seamless gutters tend to be more visually appealing than sectional gutters.
In reality, the only reason why someone would choose sectional gutters over seamless gutters is the lower price. If your budget simply doesn’t allow for seamless gutters at this point in time, it’s definitely a wise choice to move forward with a sectional gutter installation, since new sectional gutters are still a huge improvement over old and poorly functioning ones. If that’s the case for you, you might want to consider having a gutter protection system installed to prevent clogs from forming and eliminate the need for cleaning.
Seamless Gutter Installations in Northeast Wisconsin
If you’re thinking about replacing the gutters on your home in Northeast Wisconsin, you can turn to ABT Foundation Solutions, Inc., to handle the installation. We install all types of gutters, including seamless gutters and sectional gutters, and we also offer state-of-the-art gutter guards that block any debris larger than half the width of a single strand of hair.
To find out more about our gutter installation services and schedule a free in-home consultation, contact ABT Foundation Solutions, Inc., today.