You’re likely already familiar with rain gutters. But did you know you can choose from several kinds of gutters for your home? One of them is seamless gutters. So, how are seamless gutters made, and what differentiates them from other gutters?
Seamless gutters are custom-made on-site to fit a home’s roof and fascia boards. Seamless gutters don’t have joints except when the gutter changes direction.
We’ll describe how seamless gutters are made and how gutter crews install them. We’ll provide a quick overview of the main steps in making seamless gutters: measuring, cutting, forming, and installing them with the correct pitch.
Step 1: Measuring the Length of the Gutter Run
The first step in measuring for seamless gutters is determining the length of the gutter run. The gutter run is the sections of gutter that will direct and channel rainwater towards downspouts. Accounting for the entire gutter run will the ensure accuracy and efficiency of your gutter system.
One way to determine this is by measuring the fascia board, located between the edge of the roof material and the soffits.
If the fascia board is one straight section and does not make any turns, simply measure the length of the fascia board and add one inch. The extra inch will extend past the roof’s edge and help catch any overflows.
Here are a few more helpful tips to measure for seamless gutters:
- Be aware of your surroundings and ensure a firm footing anytime you measure or work at heights.
- Use a tape measure and a helper to measure the fascia board. Avoid sags in the tape by applying extra pulling force. Accurate measuring helps reduce waste and functionality.
- After you’ve measured for length, subtract the width of any corners or downspouts from the total measurement. Both inside and outside corners will overlap the gutter slightly, so allow for the overlap in your calculations.
- Add 10% to 15% to the total to allow for the 1” overhang, any overlaps, or errors in cutting.
- Record the measurements and calculations on paper or your smartphone, and compare them to an estimate you receive from the seamless gutter company.
Step 2: Cutting the Gutter Coil to Size
In most cases, a gutter is formed from a roll of aluminum called a gutter coil. The spools are about 24” wide and often a hundred feet long. This gutter coil is fed into a forming machine, which bends the gutter coil into the shape of the gutter you chose.
Quality forming and installation are essential to the function of seamless guttering, so usually, an experienced supervisor will manage a crew of two laborers.
Here are a few more tips for cutting seamless gutter coil to size:
- Choose the right type of metal for your seamless gutters, such as aluminum, copper, or steel. Aluminum gutters are less expensive than either copper or steel gutters.
- Choose the right thickness and width (gauge) of metal for your seamless gutters, depending on your gutter size and style. Some homeowners opt for oversized gutters and downspouts, as these are more likely to allow passage of a large tree leaf instead of becoming clogged.
- Feed the gutter coil into the gutter machine and set the desired length. Support is needed every ten feet or so when lifting the gutter into position, so most gutter crews consist of at least three members.
- Cut the coil with metal shears or a utility knife when it reaches the desired length.
Step 3: Forming the Gutter Shape with a Gutter Machine
Seamless gutters are primarily formed in the K-style or shape, which maximizes how much water the gutter can contain per linear foot. For 5” seamless gutters, this equals just over one gallon, while 6” K-style gutters can hold closer to two gallons per foot.
Here’s the typical process the pros use for forming the gutters with a gutter machine:
- Choose the right type of gutter machine for your seamless gutters, such as K-style, box-style, or half-round.
- Select the right size of gutter machine for your seamless gutters, depending on your gutter size and style. Five-inch wide gutters use a different machine than 6” wide gutters, so expect to pay about 50% more if you upgrade to the larger size.
- Adjust the settings and rollers of the gutter machine according to your measurements. Run a short test piece before forming a long section to reduce waste if necessary.
- Run the gutter coil through the gutter machine and monitor the results. Gutter coil can’t be reused once formed, as this fatigues the metal. If the gutter is misshapen after it exits the machine, it must be discarded.
Step 4: Installing the Seamless Gutters on Your Home
Quality installation is the backbone of seamless gutter performance. Seamless gutters must be pitched correctly and adequately supported for best results.
Here are a few tips for successfully installing seamless gutters:
- Mark and attach the hangers or brackets along the fascia board at a constant slope. Avoid sags, twists, and bends, as these will negatively affect the performance.
- Fasten (also known as hanging) the seamless gutters onto the hangers or brackets provided by the manufacturer. Most seamless gutter installations use a hidden hanger, which remains unseen from the ground.
- Join and seal any corners or joints with connectors and gutter sealant. Most pros opt for a petroleum-based sealer instead of a water-based one. Clean-up is more involved, but the sealant is more flexible. Often, this prevents the sealant from cracking over time.
- Attach and direct any downspouts or extensions away from your foundation. Most pros use Schedule 20 PVC pipe for draining runoff from a foundation, but corrugated pipe can also be used.
- When burying a drain pipe, avoid turns sharper than 45 degrees to prevent backups during heavy rain.
- Ensure you use the appropriate tools for installing your seamless gutters, like a cordless drill, pop rivet gun, level, and a stable ladder.
If you’re uncomfortable or inexperienced with DIY projects, hiring a professional guttering company is probably best. They’ll have the labor, tools, and experience to make minor adjustments that extend the life and performance of your seamless gutter system.
Contact Our Gutter Professionals To Install Seamless Gutters on Your Home
So now you know how seamless gutters are made. While it may seem straightforward, there’s a science to making and installing seamless gutters that’s often best left to experienced professionals. Seasoned gutter installers understand how to make seamless gutters that will outperform any other gutter solution.
It is crucial to follow the correct steps, measuring accurately, making clean cuts, using the appropriate gutter-forming machine, and installing them for maximum performance and durability.
Seamless gutters ensure proper drainage around your home, enhance its appearance and increase value.
Contact our local seamless guttering company. Our professionals also offer roofing and siding services. We’d love to add you to our list of satisfied customers.
