One of the more frequently asked questions we get are how seamless gutters differ from regular gutters. In the presence of rain you want all of the water to go from hitting your roofline to pouring down your gutter off into drainage areas.
What are Regular Gutters?
A regular or traditional gutter system come in precut into 10 foot or 20 foot sections. They are then put together with couplings or connectors and then soldered together. Regular gutters come in a variety of materials.
Vinyl Regular Gutters
Vinyl gutters are quickly becoming popular for their affordability. They do not rust, and require no painting to maintain their looks.
There are some downsides to Vinyl gutters. Vinyl gutters wear down in the presence of the sun. If you live anywhere like Texas and have vinyl gutters, they are breaking down now. As they brittle, the joints of vinyl gutters cause leaks potentially spreading water down into the foundation and crevices where mold can build up.
Steel Regular Gutters
In the event that you need to withstand harsh weather conditions like snow, rain, and extreme temperatures, steel is a great choice. However, it does have its drawbacks like rusting when in contact with moisture and being heavy which makes installation more difficult than other materials such as vinyl.
Copper and Aluminum Gutters
With proper care, copper and aluminum gutters can last decades with proper care. Their strong and won’t rust. Copper and aluminum gutters come in various colors allowing homeowners to match the siding of their homes.
Regular Gutters Pros and Cons
There are multiple reasons to choose regular gutters over seamless gutters for your house. The benefits of having regular gutters rival seamless gutters:
Pros
- Regular gutters are less expensive and can be found at your local home improvement store.
- If you need to repair a regular gutter system you only have to replace a single gutter section.
- You can DIY on a weekend
Cons
- The best way to keep your regular gutters running smoothly and efficiently is with routine maintenance. This includes resealing joints, unclogging any debris in so water can flow freely without blockages that could lead towards higher repair costs down the road.
- More likely to leak if there is a gap or hole in the joint. If not caught soon enough water can ride down the side of your house and cause mold.
- The gutter is an important part of your home’s exterior, but you should pay attention to how many joints there are. The more joints there are in your gutter, the less appealing it is.
- With regular maintenance regular gutters can last up to 20 years.
What are Seamless Gutters?
Seamless gutters run water continuously to downspouts with no leaks at the gutter joints. Unlike sectional gutters, seamless ones stretch 50 feet without connectors. They only have joints at the corners where they wrap around the roof. However, they require special equipment to install so you will need an experienced professional to set up a seamless gutter system.
Seamless gutters come in multiple materials – copper, aluminum, steel, and zinc.
Seamless gutters also have more color choices to choose from so you’ll be able to complement the roofline and home exterior with a continuous gutter.
Seamless Gutters Pros and Cons
When it comes to your gutters, you want them done right. So why would anyone settle for anything less than the best? There are several reasons that make seamless gutter systems a better choice over regular ones:
Pros
- There are no joints that need resealing, so there is minimal maintenance needed. Downspouts and corners are the only places where there are connections.
- Because there are no seems or joints they’re less likely to leak.
- The beautiful, seamless design will make your home more appealing.
- Seamless gutters can be customized to wrap around your house perfectly.
- It’s not uncommon for seamless gutters to last for 30 years.
Cons
- Seamless gutters are more expensive than regular gutters. They require special equipment to roll form the gutters on site.
- If a gutter needs to be repaired the entire gutter system will need to be replaced, and this can get costly.
- With seamless gutters, you’ll need an expert to install.
Seamless Versus Regular Gutters
Durability
Regular or sectional gutters also have leak issues. As their name implies, the gutter systems come in sections where water can escape instead of flushing out the downspout. These rain gutters have to 10 to 20 foot sections with leakage spots at the connection points. We often see multiple points in sectional gutter systems where leaks occur. Futhermore, seams can start to develop at the bottom of the gutter, which will cause water to back up and debris to build up.
Seamless gutters don’t have these issues which make them easier to maintain and clean. Because seamless gutters are rolled from a single piece of metal they don’t have as many weakspots like joints that will cause leakage.
Appearance
Depending on what type of gutter system you choose it can add to your home’s curb appeal. Regular gutters come in multiple sections and require joints to connect them which can be unpleasant. On the other hand seamless gutters look sleeker and will match your home’s exterior much more.
Installation
When installing seamless or regular gutters there are few things to consider. Seamless gutters can come in longer sections which can be harder to place on your roof. Regular gutters come in shorter sections and require joints which will lead you to spend more time on the roof. Seamless gutters will be measured to fit your home perfectly and built by a professional so installation can be much quicker.
Repair
When your seamless gutters are damaged, it can be costly to repair them. With regular gutter systems you only need replace the section that has been compromised- this is an affordable and quick option instead of having someone come out for hours with tools in hand.
Maintenance
The best thing about seamless gutters is that they don’t require resealing. This means you can leave them alone for five years without worrying about the joints catching leaves and debris, which will have to be cleaned out every time around!
Costs
When you do a price comparison, regular gutters are cheaper, but that’s without factoring in future costs. If you have any sort of mold build-up on the side of the house or even worse the foundation, you are looking at a very big bill.
Seamless Gutters
Seamless gutters can typically range between $9 and $25 per linear foot and can cost between $1000 and $5000 depending on the size of your house.
Regular Gutters
Regular gutters can cost $3 to $20 per linear foot. The price will depend on the size of your home and how much it costs to install in your area.
What’s the Best Type of Rain Gutter for You Home?
Gutters are an important part of your home that can affect the value of your home and curb appeal. Seamless gutters last longer than regular ones, require less maintenance overall with their seamless design and are less likely to leak which could cause damage to your home. Lastly, while they cost more than regular gutters their benefits will out weight those of regular gutters in the long term.
For homeowners living in Amarillo get in touch with us today for seamless gutter installations. We’ll walk you through our gutter color options along with the best points to put the downspouts around your home so water doesn’t build up.