Most houses were constructed with standard, seamed gutters. They are easy for construction companies to modify and install on properties with slightly different dimensions and roofing orientations. But they were chosen for the company’s convenience, not your own. Gutters can only do their job if they have clear downspouts and open space, and traditional gutters will make you do double the work to keep them that way. They will also cause these three problems:
The seams will start to break down.
Each length of gutter is connected to the next point with small joints and screws. They may even have some amount of adhesive. But, over time, these rivets and seams will start to corrode. They also have small dips that let trace amounts of water pool and exposed edges that will provide shelter for growing deposits of mildew and muck. All of these factors turn even reinforced seams into potential weak points that can start to crack and leak.
Leaves will clog more frequently.
The rough the interior surface of your gutter system is, the more likely leaves are to get caught before they make their way to the downspouts. The problem quickly becomes self-perpetuating, because the leaves create even more rough edges and pinch points for leaves to gather. Even if you clean out your gutters regularly, they will start to refill almost immediately along seams.
The gutters will start to twist.
Clogs don’t just encourage pests and put the bottom of your roof at risk. The extra weight damages the gutters. Eventually, the supports holding the gutters flush against the edge of your roof will start to loosen. The gutters will sag outwards and bend where the weight is concentrated. Once gutters are twisted, it can be impossible to straighten them out again and resecure them against the roof.
If you had to clear out your gutters too many times last fall, don’t let this year be a repeat. Contact Longhorn to find seamless gutters that need less maintenance and fewer repairs.