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What Are
Seamless Gutters?
Seamless Gutters?
The term “seamless gutters” refers to a process of custom making aluminum gutters on site, which contain few, if any joints, or “seams”. Seamless gutters are superior to most other forms gutters can take, because seamless gutters solve the most problems. Traditional gutters designed before the mid-1970s were usually made from galvanized steel or plastic. Both materials required joining individual segments together, which provided numerous points of failure. Ground erosion was often the result of under maintained gutters, so a solution was separately needed.
By the mid-1970s, portable, truck-mounted gutter molding machines became widely available allowing custom, seamless gutters to be installed quickly and cost-effectively. As a result, most structures built in the last three decades incorporate some form of seamless gutters into the design.
Why Would I Want Seamless Gutters?
Before the invention of seamless gutter molding machines, gutters were traditionally made in a metal factory and taken to the job site. Of course, this meant gutter segments had to be modified on site to fit the structure. The problem was that gutters were easy to make in a factory, but difficult to modify in the field without serious side effects.
More often than not, each segment of metal (or plastic) gutter was a maximum of 16 feet long, yet many homes and businesses were much longer. This meant endless joints, elbows, downspouts, and other potential causes of leaks. Seamless gutters eliminate all but a handful of joints, and sometimes, all of them. Fewer points of failure means fewer problems later.
What Are the Signs
I Need New Gutters?
Generally, you probably need new gutters if your gutters are leaking, sagging, or detached from the home. Debris from trees, animals, and even your roof can quickly cause problems in a poorly functioning gutter system. Next are the typical signs your gutters need attention. Your gutters need to be inspected
if they are:
When gutters leak, it is usually at a joint where sections meet, the gutter changes direction, or a downspout is added. Seamless gutters reduce the number of joints, which helps prevent sags and leaking. Hidden brackets give the gutters a clean appearance without the unsightly, and often rusted, spikes showing. This also better distributes the weight of the gutter system, preventing sagging.
Can I Buy Seamless Gutters In Different Sizes?
PRG® offers seamless gutters in primarily two sizes, 5” and 6”, although custom sizes are available. This number indicates the width of the gutter, so a 6” gutter can handle more water volume than a 5” gutter. In the industry, 5” gutters are used on small residential homes and 6” gutters are used on larger homes with steep roofs and commercial buildings.
Another popular upgrade is to install oversized downspouts, especially if you find yourself constantly cleaning your gutters. Typically, residential downspouts are a 2” x 3” rectangle, but in modern construction, they are often replaced with a commercial 3” x 4” rectangular downspout.
Not only will a larger downspout handle more volume, it is also more likely to pass a large obstacle like a pine cone or maple leaf, that might otherwise clog your gutter. PRG® also offers other downspout designs to match your home’s architecture, like round downspouts. If your home is surrounded by trees, ProCraft Restoration Group® offers gutters guards to help mitigate debris buildup in your gutters.
What Is the Installation Process For Seamless Gutters?
The process for ordering seamless gutters is pretty simple. We make it easy to book an appointment. We know your time is valuable, so we let you book an appointment online, after which a technician will come to your home to give you a no obligation estimate. You won’t need to be there, but if you can be, it’s a great time to ask questions.
The technician will measure your home precisely, and make design changes if needed to correct any issues. Once we come to an agreement, we will schedule your project around the weather as best we can.
When the weather cooperates, we’ll send a team of technicians to install your new seamless gutters.
Our technicians will use a special machine to form your new gutters to the precise length and size your home needs. Then they will set up ladders, walkboards, or other tools to safely install your seamless gutters to a precise angle. This ensures your new seamless gutters drain just fast enough to not overflow, yet slowly enough to wash away most debris.
Our technicians will also replace or relocate your downspouts as needed and connect them to any drainage pipe you may have installed. The best part is ProCraft Restoration Group® offers other construction services, like roofing, insurance restoration, gutter guards, exterior paint, eShield®, and Sol-R-Skin®.
Will Seamless Gutters Work On Any House?
Generally, there is a seamless gutter available for any architectural style of home. Other components, like adjustable support brackets, allow for almost infinite customization. For example, some homes have very steep roof pitches, while others are quite shallow. Some roof designs, like A-frames, require gutters that can be adjusted to meet a severe roof pitch to work effectively.
Seamless gutter technology has advanced so far in recent years that many manufacturers offer accessories to make nearly any seamless gutter project possible. Using an A-frame as an example, brackets are available that mount behind the gutter, placing the gutter at just the correct angle. Without these inexpensive brackets, carpentry would likely be required.
Do Seamless Gutters Come In Different Colors?
Another huge advantage seamless gutters have over old style “stick” gutters is color variety. In the past, gutters were usually painted, which added yet another line on a homeowner’s to-do list. PRG® offers a variety of gutter colors options to maximize curb appeal. Our seamless gutters never need to be repainted, so once they are installed, you can put away your ladder.
What Are the Pros and Cons Of Seamless Gutters?
There are very few elements of a construction project where a single invention solves nearly every existing problem at once. However, the design of seamless gutters essentially solved most of the problems homeowners experienced, like leaks, water damage, and ground erosion.
Just like a pipe, gutters need to be in the correct place and the correct size to control water effectively. This means it should be easy to assemble, easy to install, and not leak.
Seamless gutters check all three boxes because since the sections are usually longer, they install faster, require fewer joints, and have fewer places for a leak to form.
Seamless Gutters: Pros
Custom Made For the Home On-Site
Fewer Joints Equals Fewer Leaks
Aluminum Has a Very Strong
Strength-to-Weight Ratio
Installs In a Matter Of Hours
Most Carry a Very Long Warranty
Easily Customizable
Cost Effective to Install and Own
Recyclable
Seamless Gutters: Cons
There really aren’t any cons to using seamless gutters. Some DIYers have assumed purchasing the materials at Home Depot and installing it themselves would ultimately save them a few dollars. However, when the labor, tools, quality, speed, and warranty come into consideration, hiring a seamless gutter installation company will actually save you money.
How Do I Find a Seamless Gutter Installer Near Me?
Generally, the best way to shop for a seamless guttering installation company is to look for a local company online. The best ones usually have a website that clearly answers most of your questions and lets you book an appointment online, like ProCraft Restoration Group®, if you are in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill (Research Triangle) or Atlanta area.
When searching for a seamless gutter installer in your town, you’ll want the best value, not necessarily the lowest price. Seamless gutters are very important to the overall health of your house, so poorly installed gutters can actually make your water problem worse.
The best advice is to hire a seamless gutter installation company with a good customer service reputation and a broad range of services, like ProCraft Restoration Group®, and begin a lifelong partnership with a company you can trust.
225 Reformation Pkwy, Suite 200 Canton, GA 30114
3131 RDU Center Drive, Suite 115 Morrisville, NC 27560
