If there's one thing any eavestrough setup should do well, it is to channel water away from the home while keeping clear of debris and not leaking. Sadly, this is rarely what we find during our service calls in the Sudbury area.
There are considerations to be made when it comes to choosing a gutter system that will be maintenance-free in northern climates.
When it comes to gutters, seamless roll-formed aluminum is the preferred option. Aluminum has a high strength to weight ratio and does not rust like steel.
But how is it attached to the home? For many years, standard hanger brackets have been the only option on the market, typically spaced 12-16" apart during installation (pictured below).
These hangers have shown their limitations in the North, though. Between the hanger spacing, ice expansion has the potential to bulge out the gutter, break open corner joints and crack downpipes. The weight of snow coupled with expansion of ice can make short work of destroying an otherwise functional gutter, not to mention block the flow of water. In our experience, ice even has the potential to force the gutter to pull away from the home, creating a space in behind and allowing water to drip down onto walkways, near the foundation, etc.
More and more, we're moving toward the use of a continuous hanger system. It's really quite as magical as it sounds. The hanger runs the complete length of the eavestrough itself and is installed during fabrication, meaning there is no spacing, no bulging and no gutter falling away from the home. It's a sturdy, clog-free, leak-free gutter system.
Perhaps what's even better - the continuous hanger acts as both a UV shade to protect sealants and a high-quality debris guard, ensuring snow and ice stay on top and not inside the gutter where it will cause damage and obstruct flow. Of course, leaves and other types of debris are no issue either.
With a lifetime sturdiness warranty and a 40-year clog-free warranty, the continuous hanger system is designed to perform in our northern climate.
Continuous hangers come in a couple different forms:
T-Rex (most popular and suitable for all applications)
DoublePro (microfiltration - performs exceptionally well with pine needles)
Have a look at the short clips below to gain a better understanding of the design and function of the continuous hanger system:
Learn more about the T-REX continuous hanger
See it in action
Pine needles? No problem for the DoublePro Microfiltration Continous Hanger
DoublePro™ is the most advanced gutter system available, performing especially well in areas that accumulate pine needles.
A unique design, it features two ingeniously perforated layers of industrial-grade aluminum that keeps fine debris out of the gutter, allowing rainwater to flow freely away from your home.
We hope this information is helpful in considering the advantages of a continuous hanger system for your home. If you're interested in any of our gutter solutions, feel free to request a quote from us online and we'll take it from there.
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