Gutters are an essential part of any home and have been in common use since the early 1900s. They prevent water from pouring off the roof in a huge deluge, soaking anyone standing below” says Roof Worx. Instead the water run-off is directed into downpipes, and from there, into a drain. Fully-functioning gutters look good, add value to a home, and as long as they continue doing their job, you don’t need to give them much attention other than cleaning them out a couple of times a year. Unfortunately, traditional gutter designs are prone to cracks, splits, leaks, and blockages, which can be a real nuisance to fix. So what are seamless gutters and how are they made?
The Benefits of Seamless Guttering
Seamless guttering is different to traditional guttering in that it is constructed from a single piece of metal. Aluminum is generally the metal of choice, as it is lightweight, durable and easy to work with, but copper can also be used. Regular gutters are fitted together in short pieces, so there are lots of seams and weak spots. Seamless guttering has fewer joins and screw holes, so there are fewer hangers, connectors, and weak spots.
Making Seamless Guttering
A seamless gutter is made from a long coil of flat metal. The metal comes in different colors, so it can be color-matched to the property. Specialized machines are used to shape and cut the metal into the desired profile. The metal coil is fed into the machine, which shapes it into the chosen profile and desired length.
Once a length of seamless gutter has been shaped and cut to the right measurement, it can be fitted to the home. Pitch is very important when fitting gutters: if there is not enough pitch, water won’t flow properly and debris will build up, causing a blockage.
Hanging Seamless Guttering
A seamless gutter is usually fixed using hidden hangers – unlike older, traditional gutters that were hung on unattractive spikes and ferrules. Hangers interlock into the lengths of gutter and are invisible to the eye. You don’t need as many hangers with a seamless gutter, but it is important to space them correctly so that the gutter remains durable during the winter when there is a heavy build-up of snow and ice along the edge of the roof.
If you think a seamless gutter will enhance your property, be sure to use a reputable contractor in order to avoid problems at a later date.