Which Gutter System Meets Your Gold Standard?

Mar 20, 2025

While not the most glamorous part of your house, your gutters are your home’s unsung heroes. Especially in Wisconsin, where moisture like snow and rain are a part of every season, gutters work hard to bear the weight of water. They channel water away from your home to prevent damage and preserve your roof’s lifespan, safeguarding your yard from erosion due to water runoff.

“The gutter system you choose to protect your home can make a difference,” said Wendy Cline, co-owner of J&B Construction. “J&B Construction’s custom gutters — our built-in gutters and seamless gutters — are built to fit your needs, resulting in better protection from water damage and a more attractive appearance.”

Built-in gutters are just that—built into your roof. These gutters are often pieced together from standard lengths of material cut to fit the roof’s dimension. The sections of the gutter system are connected with couplings and display multiple seams. The gutters are normally installed during a re-roofing or a roof installation.

Seamless gutters, which have a lifespan of about 20 years, are made from one piece of material without seams and can be cut on-site to match your home’s dimensions. The system uses connectors only at the corners, where the gutters wrap around the side of the home. These gutters can be installed at any time.

The following are a few factors to consider when choosing between built-in and seamless gutters.

Look

“If you are particular about the look of your exterior, there is a clear difference between built-in and seamless gutters,” Wendy said. “Both come in various materials and colors, but the seams can make or break the gutter’s curb appeal.”

Because seamless gutters are custom cut and are just one piece, they create a sleek, polished look. Built-in gutters with gaps between sections have seams that can disrupt the otherwise clean lines of your home’s exterior.

Maintenance

While both built-in and seamless gutters need regular maintenance like cleaning and checking for leaks and cracks, the upkeep of seamless gutters requires less effort.

Built-in gutters need a frequent inspection of the joints and seams, as well as the removal of debris, to prevent blockage of water pathways and leaks. In addition, if the gutters are not cut precisely to the roof line, water can overflow.

“Seamless gutters are automatically easier to maintain due to fewer connection points,” Wendy said. “Their design reduces the accumulation of debris, which makes regular cleaning easier.”

Longevity & Durability

“When it comes to durability, seamless gutters are typically the best choice,” said Wendy. “The low number of joints of seamless gutters make them more resistant to water damage and gives water a smooth pathway, while the sectional nature of built-in gutters makes them more prone to leaks and wear and tear.”

However, repairs of seamless gutters can be difficult. While built-in gutters may need more frequent repair, they can be repaired in sections, which is quicker and more cost-effective. Seamless gutters have to be replaced entirely if they need some TLC.

Cost

“If you are a homeowner with a smaller budget who can afford to repair and fix gutters over time, a built-in gutter system is for you,” Wendy said.

The upfront costs of materials and installation are lower for built-in gutter systems, while seamless gutters have a higher upfront cost.

“J & B Construction’s gutter systems are custom fabricated in our metal shop, so we can personally guarantee the quality of the products our team installs,” said Wendy.

To learn more about our gutter systems and for questions regarding the system right for you, contact us today.

# # # # #

Enjoy Peace Of Mind

The only complaint I have is when I have J&B do my roof in another 30 years or so, is Dave their sales man (a great guy) would not guaranty I could get the same great crew I had this time. They did a fantastic job. Much better than the last roofing company did. A nice bunch of guys. Did a very nice job cleaning up. I'd give them 10 stars but 5 is the limit. If you need a roof done this is the company you want to do it. One more point I need to make. The guys that did the chimney flashing are artists. I went up on the roof when they were done and was very pleased with not only the roofing job but the sculptured sheet metal work. It's kind of a shame it's on the roof and not hanging on the family room wall :). You get the point. Hire em. You'll like em.

Dave H

We live in a historic designated neighborhood and recently had our 30 year wood shingle roof replaced with another wood roof and new gutters. From Day 1 of the project to the final day, the entire team was responsive, professional, and very competent. When some minor changes were proposed by us they quickly and effortlessly complied. After going through this experience with J&B, I would highly recommend them to anyone considering a roof and gutter replacement, whether it be a simple or complicated project.

John Lamb

J & B did an amazing job from start to finish. The initial meeting at my home took place exactly at the time that was agreed upon and Scott was thorough in his explanations and transparent about costs. When the time came to begin the project, the team that showed up was friendly, professional and timely in getting the project done. The cleanup afterward was such that it looked like they hadn't been there at all. The roof looks great, there were no surprises and Scott came by to inspect the work and explain the warranty upon job completion. I would highly recommend them.

Kenneth Simons

My neighbor had their roof replaced and I was really impressed with the speed, carefulness and quality of the work I saw. Asked her for her experience and she told me she would highly recommend J & B. I called Scott to set an appointment. He showed up on time and was very thorough in his assessment, also letting me know about some other issues and advise on where to get help. J & B is a fantastic company to deal with - their people are incredibly careful about the work they do, clean up and leave the property in the same condition as when they started, were careful about plants and the house, and work very efficiently. The office staff is great about following up, checking in and very responsive to anything that comes up. I was happy with the price charged. If you are looking to replace your roof, you should be calling J & B to get the job done.

David W.

We had work done by the J&B team at a commercial property and were very pleased with the whole process. Their estimator met us onsite and communicated with us every step of the way. They went over the scope in detail and the work performed exceeded what we were expecting. They found some additional concerns during the installation that were quickly addressed and communicated to us and to our surprise, there was not an additional charge. Our tenants reached out to share how respectful the employees were during the installation and how clean everything was left afterwards. As the project was wrapped up, we were walked through the completion paperwork and provided the warranty information. Very impressed with the professionalism of this company and would not hesitate to refer their services or use them again in the future.

Jessie C.