![]() ![]() Seamless Gutters vs Standard Gutters: What’s the Difference? However, seamless gutters do not come in vinyl. ![]() They are available in aluminum, copper, or painted steel. Seamless gutters are made from most of the same materials as traditional gutters. These seams must be sealed with silicone adhesive or soldered together to prevent water from leaking through them. Traditional gutters come in 20-foot and 10-foot sections pieced together couplings and connectors. Seamless gutters are rolled from a single piece of metal and cut using a machine mounted to a truck on site. This means they only have seams at corners and downspouts. Seamless gutters are custom cut to fit a home’s eaves. They can also dry out and crack due to exposure to extreme cold and the UV rays of the run. They tend to warp and sag if they become clogged. The downside of vinyl gutters is their durability. They’re also lightweight, which makes them easy to install, and the least expensive gutter type. Unlike metal gutters, vinyl gutters won’t rust or corrode. Painted steel gutters are also available. Steel gutters are typically galvanized, which gives them the same durability as aluminum, but a more industrial look. Steel is significantly heavier than other gutters and is therefore typically only found on larger industrial structures. Steel gutters can handle the increased load without bending or warping, even when you fall behind on your gutter cleaning maintenance schedule. Aluminum, which has a life of about 20 years, isn’t as strong as steel and will bend or warp under the stress of debris. Copper does require constant treatment to maintain its copper color or it will turn blue-green, which may or may not be appealing depending on your tastes.Īluminum is perhaps the most common gutter material on the market due to its cheap cost and weather-resistant characteristics. Copper is about five times more expensive than aluminum! So it’s usually reserved for higher-end homes that want the aesthetics of copper gutters.Ĭopper is superior when it comes to durability, lasting an average of 60 years. ![]() What Are Traditional Gutters Made Of?īoth copper and aluminum have a natural resistance to rust and they’re lightweight metals, making them ideal for use as gutters. The headache of maintaining gutters pales compared to the problems rainwater can cause if it’s allowed to flow freely around your home. Without gutters to guide the rainwater, a downpour could cause water to pool or stream in the yard, causing erosion. This could result in leaks in the basement or damage to the foundation. Water that’s allowed to drain directly from the roof onto the ground will erode the soil near the base of the home, which is not good for the foundation. ![]() They also may not be necessary if your roof has large overhangs that extend away from the walls of the home and deposit water onto a steep slope.Īside from these exceptions, gutters are a necessity. If your home is surrounded by concrete that directs rainwater to a drain, then gutters aren’t really necessary. In some cases, the answer to that question is yes. With all the headaches that gutters cause, wouldn’t it just be easier not to have them at all? Even when you do maintain them, many will eventually leak. Out of the gutter while teetering on a ladder.Īnd, if you don’t clean them, that added weight will cause them to get bent out of shape, preventing them from working properly. They get clogged with leaves and other debris, requiring one to shovel mucky dirt, debris, and occasionally dead animals. Not all homes have gutters attached to them, which begs the question, are they even necessary? Gutters can be a real pain. Significantly cheaper if you do the installation Numerous seams must be maintained to prevent leaking Seams create weak points that negatively impact durability Is it worth it to invest in seamless gutters over cheaper traditional gutters? That comes down to several factors, including material, installation, durability, leakage, and cost. Seamless Gutters vs Regular Gutters: Key Points
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