Rain gutters are a necessity for any type of building. They are attached to the edge of the roof of commercial and residential buildings and feature vertical downspouts that transport rainwater to the ground. The average home will need at least 150 feet of gutter space. A downspout, meanwhile, is attached every 35-40 feet. Of course, the downspout should be directed away from your house to avoid flooding the basement or weakening your foundations.
There are two types of gutters:
1. Sectional gutters. These are the types of gutters that you can buy off the shelf. They are pre-fabricated at a standard length of 8 feet or 10 feet.
2. Seamless gutters. The seamless gutters, meanwhile, are customized to fit your home or commercial building. Since they are measured to fit the dimensions of your roof, you won’t find any seams in between.
Regardless of what style you choose—seamless or sectional—cleaning your gutters regularly will extend its lifespan. Debris, leaves, and snow are the main culprits why gutters sustain damage. Making it a habit to check your roof by hiring specialists will save you money in the long run.
According to the survey, the gutter is one of the most common house repairs that blows a family’s budget. Most households do not anticipate a damaged roof. As such, the average cost of replacement is between $1,000 and $4,500.
Gutter Sizes
Most gutters in the market have two sizes – 5 inches and 6 inches. You have a choice of galvanized steel, aluminum, and copper. A 6-inch gutter is typically paired with a 3×4 inch downspout. A 5-inch gutter comes with a 2×3 inch downspout.
In terms of capacity, a 5-inch sized gutter can carry 1.2 gallons of water. If you opt for a bigger size, your rain gutter can hold as much as 2 gallons of water.
Is the Seamless Gutter Expensive?
As you might imagine, seamless gutters are more costly compared to sectional gutters because it takes extra work for manufacturers to custom make them for your home.
The most popular type is the seamless aluminum roofing solution. All the downspouts are located at the corners of your home. Since they are custom-fabricated, you would not be to handle the installation process yourself like you could with sectional gutters. Installers need special equipment to make sure the material will stay in place. It is very costly to fix because you need to replace the whole thing.
For both the manufacturing and installation process, the average cost of the seamless gutter is about $14 per linear foot. In comparison, you may spend between $6 and $12 per linear foot for sectional gutters.
Are Seamless Gutters Worth It?
Seamless gutters are much more effective at preventing clogs, which allows for continuous water flow down to the spout. They are also better at protecting your home’s exterior walls from sustaining damage due to water spots. Sectional gutters develop leaks at the joints over time. The water will then slide along your exterior walls and wash away the paint or rot the wood.
Lastly, seamless gutters help avoid basement flooding. Since they don’t have seams, they are stronger compared to sectional gutters, which will help save you money in the long run.
