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For several decades in a
row, most gutters were manufactured the same way. Steel pieces were
soldered together using welding torches and other professional
machinery – not a project homeowners could undertake without
assistance. All that changed with the advent of aluminum gutters
that required little more than snap-on fasteners and elbow grease to
go up. The great advantage of solutions such as these is that they
could be installed without difficulty, often in the space of an
afternoon. The disadvantage, however, when was that such convenience
also brought with it a new problem: leaking.
It may seem counterintuitive to worry about gutters leaking – after
all, draining water is what they do! The problem, of course, is that
gutters are made to drain in specific ways, through their
downspouts, and not into the walls and foundation of your home.
Little leaks like these can quickly lead to major problems at the
structural level, defacing your home’s exterior and adding
significantly to the chances for rot. Even minor leaks may
eventually erode the fasteners that hold those gutters to the roof,
creating a hazard that could fall without warning on family members
or visitors. It is for this reason that the home experts unanimously
recommend regular gutter maintenance to ensure everything stays
intact.
One of the most innovative solutions to the problem of leaking
gutters has arisen only in the last couple of decades – seamless
gutters. If you've never seen these clever devices before, they work
essentially like their traditional counterparts, with one major
difference – they are cut and bent from a single piece of tubing.
That means with few exceptions, seamless gutters have no joints,
fasteners or other fissures that could let in pathogens and
ultimately give way to the ravages of time. Although seams do exist
in corners and the connections to downspouts, these can generally be
secured far better during installation than anything you could do on
your own.
Probably the greatest advantage to seamless gutters is that they
minimize the amount of maintenance you need to perform every season.
Depending on the configuration you've chosen – adding filters above
is often recommended – you may be able to get away with many months
of consistent use without any major cleaning. Many of these gutters
are also hung from your roofing far more securely than the
traditional aluminum sort, lending an additional level of security
to the home. Finally they are far less likely to allow chipmunks,
birds and other pests into the system. Many homeowners are surprised
to discover just how clean the lining remains even after years of
use.
Of course there are some reasons to think carefully about this
choice before you install. Seamless gutters are generally regarded
as too complex to install on your own, meaning you'll need to have
professionals out of the house for hours at a stretch. They also
cost more for similar reasons – seamless gutters must be cut and
assembled on site to ensure a flawless fit. What they take away in
price and convenience, however, seamless gutters tend to give back
with many years of outstanding function.
Do a little research and look into some of the major home wares
stores to ensure you're getting the proper size, great and color for
your home’s exterior. You may also want to speak with an expert
about ways to reduce your cost – sometimes using vinyl instead of
aluminum, for instance, can be a boon to your bottom line. Choose
well and you should expect nothing less than outstanding function
and a handsome appearance many years into the future. |
