Seamless gutter installation service in Jackson, MI

When a house needs new seamless gutters

You're looking at a new system, not a repair, when you see any of these:

• There are no gutters at all on part of the house, and the ground under the eave is washed out or the siding is splashed with dirt.
• The existing gutters are sectional, with leaks at several of the joints every 10 feet.
• Rust holes in steel gutters, or splits and cracks in vinyl gutters that have gone brittle in the cold.
• Gutters that overflow even when they're clean, because they're undersized for the roof.
• You're re-roofing, adding a room or building a garage, and the gutters will come off anyway.

If only one section is damaged on an otherwise sound system, a gutter repair is usually the better value. If the whole system is failing, see gutter replacement, which covers removal of the old gutters and fascia repair in more detail.

Why seamless gutters leak less than sectional gutters

Sectional gutters come in 10 foot pieces joined with slip connectors and sealant. A 50 foot wall has 4 or 5 of those joints, and every one of them eventually leaks once the sealant dries out from sun and freeze-thaw cycles.

Seamless gutters are roll-formed at the job site to the exact measured length of each run. The only joints are the mitered corners and the outlet where the downspout drops. Those are sealed and riveted, and they're the only places to watch over time.

What our seamless gutter installation service includes

1. Measuring and layout. We measure every run and place outlets so each downspout handles a reasonable share of the roof and empties onto ground that can take the water.
2. Checking the fascia. The board the gutter screws into has to be solid. We repair soft spots first, or the new hangers will pull out.
3. Forming the gutter. A portable machine turns flat aluminum coil into a K-style gutter to the length of each wall, in the color you choose.
4. Setting the pitch. We snap the gutter to a line that slopes toward the outlet, typically about a quarter inch for every 10 feet. Too little and water sits. Too much and it looks crooked from the street.
5. Hanging it. Hidden hangers clip inside the front lip and screw through the back of the gutter into the fascia. They hold far better than the old spike and ferrule method.
6. Corners, end caps and outlets. We miter, rivet and seal the corners, then cut the outlets and attach the downspouts with elbows and straps.
7. Water testing. Running water through each run confirms the pitch and shows any drip at a corner before we leave.

Choosing between 5 inch and 6 inch seamless gutters

A 5 inch K-style gutter suits most single-story homes and smaller 2-story roofs. A 6 inch gutter carries roughly 40 percent more water and fits a larger 3x4 inch downspout. It's worth the step up when:

• The roof is steep, so water comes off fast and can shoot over a small gutter.
• Two roof valleys dump onto the same short stretch of gutter.
• The roof area draining to one wall is large and there's room for only 1 or 2 downspouts.
• Oaks, maples or pines overhang the roof. Larger downspouts clog much less often.

How Jackson snow changes the way gutters should be hung

Jackson averages about 37 inches of snow a year, and the snowy season stretches from mid-November into early April. That means a gutter here can sit full of snow and ice for weeks, and ice is heavy.

Hangers set every 3 feet, a spacing you often see on older installations, aren't enough for that load. On houses here we recommend hidden hangers no more than 24 inches apart, closer at corners and under roof valleys, and a thicker aluminum gauge that resists bending when it's iced over. That costs a little more in hardware and is the difference between a gutter that stays straight for decades and one that sags after its second winter.

What affects the price of seamless gutters

We price seamless gutter installation after measuring, and the estimate is free. The main factors are:

• Linear feet of gutter, plus the number of corners, end caps and outlets.
• Size (5 or 6 inch) and the thickness of the aluminum.
• Number and length of downspouts, and whether they're 2x3 or 3x4 inch.
• House height and access. Second and third story eaves, steep grades and decks take more setup.
• Fascia repair, if the board behind the gutter is rotted.
• Removal and disposal of existing gutters.
• Add-ons such as gutter guards or longer downspout extensions.

When new gutter work becomes urgent

New installation is usually planned work, but don't wait into winter if your basement takes water every time it rains, or if the house has no gutters over an entry where water sheets onto steps and freezes. Ice on steps under a missing or failed gutter is a real fall hazard.

If a damaged gutter is hanging after a storm, that's a repair call first. See when a gutter repair can't wait.

After the installation: what to watch

Look at the gutters during the first heavy rain. Water should leave through the downspouts with no drips from corners and no water running over the front.

Clean them at least once a year after the leaves drop, or twice if trees overhang the roof. Seamless aluminum gutters that are sized and hung correctly commonly last 20 years or more.

Seamless installation is the core of what we do. To see how it fits with downspouts, guards and repairs, start with our overview of gutter installation services in Jackson.

Seamless gutter questions

What color options do seamless gutters come in?

Aluminum gutter coil comes in a wide range of factory-painted colors, including white, several browns, grays, black and colors made to match common siding and trim. Most homeowners match the trim or the fascia so the gutter blends in.

Can seamless gutters be installed on a house without fascia boards?

Yes. Some older homes and some roof designs have no fascia board, or rafter tails instead.

In those cases the gutter is hung with roof straps fastened under the shingles or with brackets made for the situation. We look at it when measuring.

Is there a limit to how long a seamless gutter can be?

In practical terms the length is limited by how many people can carry and lift it without kinking it. Very long runs are often split at a center high point so water flows to downspouts at both ends, which also helps capacity.

Do seamless gutters need to be sealed every year?

No. Only the corners, end caps and outlets are sealed, and those typically last many years. Check them each spring, because winter ice is the most common cause of a corner starting to drip.