What are seamless gutters? They are rain gutters that we create on-site with a gutter machine mounted to a service truck. The simple answer to the question, is they have no seams. They get custom measurements and and the installation on-site in one continuous run.
The Brothers that just do Gutters offer seamless gutters in various materials including copper, aluminum, and galvalume. We also offer them in both half-round and k-style.
Seamless Gutters VS. DIY Gutters
When we refer to DIY gutters, we are talking about sectional gutters. To manufacture a seamless gutter, you need a professional grade gutter machine. DIY gutters (sectional) differ from seamless because sectional gutters are installed in pieces and have seams. Whereas, seamless gutters are exactly what they sound like, seamless.
When comparing seamless gutters vs. DIY gutters, there are some big differences between the two in these four major categories:
Installing A Gutter System
The biggest difference is installation. Making seamless gutters are done on-site by rolling a metal sheet through a gutter forming machine. Then the installer secures it to the side of the home in a continuous run.
Sectional gutters are much more difficult and time consuming to install. Sectional gutters are most commonly made of vinyl or plastic. These types of material are not available as a seamless gutter since these materials cannot be made into a roll form. When sectional gutters are installed, they must be joined together with miters to form the gutter run. A sealing agent, such as caulk seals them together.
As a sectional gutter system is installed, each section must be mitered and sealed together making the installation process much longer. Wondering how hard a DIY gutter installation is? Find out HERE.
Security And Strengths
Seamless are typically stronger simply because they do not have miters joining pieces together. The more seams a gutter system has, the higher the potential is for leaks.
Repair Ability
Repairing a seamless system is more difficult since the entire system will typically be in need of a replacement. This tends to happen in the process of repair. However, in the event the gutter system comes off the house, a repair can address this issue.
Cost Comparison
You may assume that sectional gutters are less expensive than the cost of seamless. But, the cost is actually nearly identical because of all the the extra pieces, caulking, and tools needing to complete a sectional gutter install. Also, because sectional gutters may be less sturdy and are often a DIY installation, they are not likely to last as long as seamless do. This may mean more costs in the future.
Size Of Seamless Aluminum Gutters
A 5-inch seamless aluminum gutter is standard, however oversized 6-inch gutters are becoming increasingly more popular. Seamless aluminum gutters also come in even larger sizes, which are typically an industrial or commercial style gutter.
The difference between 5 inch and 6 inch gutters is their size, and the capacity of water they can hold. In cases where you often experience heavy rainfall and/or rain water is continually overshooting your gutter system, a 6” oversized gutter system may be the best for your home.
In addition to climate, the roof line, surface area, and pitch of your roof are important factors in determining if you should install standard or oversized gutter system. Interchanging standard gutters and oversized gutters within the same gutter job is also a possibility.
Size (standard or oversized)
Materials
Warning Signs
Overview of Seamless Gutters
Wondering how you can determine whether you will need standard 5” gutters or the 6” oversized gutters? Here are some qualifications.
Basic 5” Standard Qualifications:
- All gutter lengths under 40’ with at least 1 downspout
- Gutters over 40’ in length should have 2 downspouts
- Gutters do not overflow on regular or normal rains
- No upper roofs gutters should be draining into lower 5″ gutters
Basic 6” Oversized Qualifications
- Gutter lengths over 40’ that cannot have 2 downspouts
- Lower gutters that have upper gutters draining into them
- Long runs over 60’
- Rooflines with tremendous amounts of water concentrating to a small portion of gutter.
- Inside valleys where the water is flowing at great speed, and typically overflows during heavy rains.
If you are not sure whether you need new gutters, or a just simple repair to your current gutter system please visit the warning signs portion of our website.
