Gutters play a very important role on your home, and it’s one that not everyone realizes. Sure, they divert water so that you’re not flooded with runoff every time it rains, but that isn’t what makes them so important. Because gutters divert rainwater as it flows down the roof, they also help to prevent that water from seeping into the eaves and causing leaks or other damage. A good set of gutters can improve the life of your roof and home exterior while also adding to the look of your home and keeping the worst of the runoff at bay.
One problem with gutters is that they can start to wear out over time. This is especially evident around gutter seams, where rust, debris, and just the weight of water over time can cause damage. This damage can result in leaks, letting water get out of the gutter right at the roofline, and potentially causing the very sort of damage that the gutters are supposed to prevent. This is a big part of the reason that so many homeowners are turning to seamless gutters; if there aren’t any seams, then the seams can’t leak.
Understanding Gutter Seams
Gutter seams aren’t inherently a bad thing; by producing gutter in sections and joining them at seams, installers can better fit the gutter to the unique size and shape of your home while still preparing gutter sections beforehand. Most gutter seams aren’t overly obvious, so it seems like an understandable concession to make in order to get the best fit for premanufactured gutters.
The problem with gutter seams is that gutters end up being under a lot of stress throughout the year. Water is heavy, leaves and other debris can get wedged in seams, and pods or seeds can actually end up in backed-up gutters and start putting down roots. This stress adds up over time, and the seams become one of the most likely points of damage aside from mounting points. Gutter screens and regular cleaning can help, but this won’t eliminate gutter stress entirely.