Short Answer: The advantages of seamless gutters are less wasted time and material for you, fewer leaks, and a better-looking gutter.
You need a new gutter and you’re thinking about doing it yourself. We get it. DIY means you save a little money. However, if you’re about to purchase and install pre-cut sectional gutters from your local hardware store, you should stop and consider seamless gutters. There are several advantages to seamless gutters, and only a couple minor disadvantages.
Advantages to Seamless Gutters
No Seams
The first and obvious advantage of seamless gutters is that they are seamless. They have no seams between the end caps. Why is having no seams an advantage? Because a seam is a weak point in the gutter. A seam could create a low point in your gutter system, if it’s not properly supported. A low point is where debris can collect and where water can pool. Pooling water can be a problem in the Winter. When water freezes and thaws repeatedly at a joint or seam, it can weaken the joint which can create a leak. A seam is also an opportunity for leaks. The more seams, the more opportunities for leaks.
Low Maintenance
Wind, rain, hail, sun, hot and cold temperatures will cause the sealant used at the seams to move, swell, shrink, and crack. With seamless gutters, because there are fewer seams and sealant, there are fewer opportunities for leaks. As a result, they are lower maintenance.
Strength
Strength is another big advantage to seamless gutters. Gutters have a tendency to sag at joints or seams. Pre-cut sectional gutters are often 10′ lengths. Therefore, every 10′ is a joint or seam. Seamless gutters have no seams, therefore, they’re stronger.
Clean
Not only are seamless gutters a cleaner look, but they also allow water, snow melt, leaves, debris, etc. to flow better through them. In a pre-cut sectional gutter system, there will be little speed bumps where a joint or sealant is. These little bumps will create an area where twigs, dirt, etc. can build-up and may cause a dam. A clean look is a big advantage to seamless gutters.
Speed
Because there are fewer sections, seamless gutters are often faster to install. This is another advantage to seamless gutters. Fewer sections means less time handling, sealing, etc. We also have a tool we use to punch the hole in the gutter for the downspout to attach to. Without this expensive pro tool, you’re going to have to either purchase a gutter drop outlet or cut the hole yourself, which doesn’t look pretty.
Custom Fit
Because seamless gutters are cut and formed at your location, we can cut and form them for a perfect fit, and this includes downspouts. At Home Depot, for example, you can only get 75º downspout elbows. We can make any angle we need. We typically include prefabricated inside/outside corners, and A/B elbows and downspouts.
No Waste
When seamless gutters are cut to an exact length, there’s no waste, for you or for us. As opposed to pre-cut sectional gutters, which come in 10′ lengths. If you need 14′ of gutter, and you purchase 2 10′ pre-cut sectional gutters from Home Depot, you’re going to have 6′ of gutter lying around your yard.
Less Material
With pre-cut gutters, there’s overlap and sealant at the seams. At every joint, there’s sealant and screws. Often a lot of sealant. With seamless gutters, because there are fewer seams, there’s simply less gutter material, screws and sealant. When we measure for your seamless gutters, we measure for an exact length and fit. There’s simply less waste with seamless gutters.
Disadvantages to Seamless Gutters
Price
Seamless gutters are more expensive than the pre-cut sectional gutters. A 10′ section of K-style aluminum gutter alone from Lowe’s costs just over $1/ft. Our seamless gutters cost about $3.25/linear foot. This does not include installation. This is ‘chop and drop’. We form and cut it, and you install it. We form it, cut it, and drop it off. However, don’t forget that when you opt for pre-cut sectional gutters, you will need more than just the gutter. You will need end caps, a drop section, perhaps connectors, gutter sealant. There’s more to a gutter system than just the gutter. For an installation estimate, please contact us.
Do-It-Yourself
Depending upon the length of a seamless gutter, it can be difficult to handle if you’re working by yourself. Working by yourself, a 12 to 14 feet length is probably the longest you’d want to handle. When we install seamless gutters, we have enough guys on our crew to handle installation.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, the advantages of seamless gutters greatly out weigh the few disadvantages. We offer steel and aluminum seamless gutters. Steel and aluminum are much more resistant to hail than vinyl. We form, cut, and install the seamless gutter, downspout, and extension for you. Or, if you prefer to install some or all of this yourself, that’s cool, too. We offer ‘chop and drop’ seamless gutters. Contact us for a free estimate.