Despite its dirty and laborious nature, cleaning your gutters is an important task that must not be overlooked. If neglected, it can result in costly damage to both the roof and foundation of your home due to water destruction—making it a chore worth taking on!
If you’re looking to reduce the amount of time spent cleaning your gutters, then gutter guards may be just what you need. This article takes a closer look at how various types of gutter guards work and if they’re suitable for your home. Investigate further to discover which type is best for reducing maintenance costs on your home’s drainage system!
How Do Gutter Guards Work?
Gutter guards are effective at keeping your gutters clear from leaves, pine needles and other debris. By creating a barrier between the gutter system and elements in nature they ensure that water can freely pass through while larger items get filtered out. With so many different types of gutter guard options on the market it is important to do some research first because not all brands offer the same level of protection or use the same methods to block foreign objects from entering your gutters.
Despite what certain companies might promise, gutter guards can’t completely remove the need to clean your gutters. Additionally, these gutter covers must be taken out and cleaned regularly. While some are designed to endure for a lifetime, others may require periodic replacement every few years.
Gutter Guard Benefits
Gutters are a crucial element of your home, as they allow rainwater to drain away from the foundation. Unfortunately, these systems do more than just divert water; birds and other pests can use them for nesting sites, while leaves and debris invariably find their way in too – which could lead to blockages if left unchecked.
By effectively reducing or even eliminating the amount of potential clogging materials entering your gutters, gutter guards can safeguard your home from damage caused by a water backlog. This includes protecting against ice dams, rotted fascia boards and roof leaks. Plus, they provide an extra layer of protection for discouraging insects and animals from inhabiting your gutters altogether!
Gutter guards provide the best of both worlds – saving time and energy on gutter maintenance, while performing at superior levels. However, it’s essential to remember that not all guard systems are equal; some can be far more successful than others.
Types of Gutter Guards
With five distinct gutter guards available, each boasting its own set of advantages and drawbacks, you can pick the ideal option for your home.
Brush Gutter Guards
Brush gutter guards are cylindrical brushes with strong bristles that fit inside your gutters. They look like huge pipe cleaners or bottle brushes. While their bristles do a great job of keeping big debris out, pine needles and other small particles can still enter the system.
With proper maintenance, GutterBrush and Gutter Whiskers gutter guards can remain in perfect condition for five years or longer. In spite of this, you should keep in mind that debris will occasionally accumulate between the bristles and need to be removed. Both brands are well known for their quality protection from leaves and other contaminants so go ahead – make your home safer today!
Foam Gutter Guards
Foam gutter guards are designed to let water pass through, while keeping out all other debris. Available in various shapes and sizes to accommodate different types of gutters, these devices sit within your existing guttering system for maximum protection.
Foam gutter guards are known to be unreliable, necessitating replacement every one or two years. The sun’s rays can cause the foam to shrink and create openings that let in small debris. Furthermore, these products tend to attract algae growth as well as suffer from freezing conditions. Having said this, some brands like GutterStuff and GutterFoam have developed technologies for better longevity through germicide treatments combined with a UV coating system.
Screen Gutter Guards
For gutter protection, you can choose from a wide range of gutter screens that sit on the top of your gutters. They usually slide beneath the first row of shingles and come in varieties like wire fencing, mesh or metal grates crafted out of plastic, vinyl stainless steel or aluminum materials.
The more compact the openings, the stronger your screen will be at obstructing dirt. But screens with larger gaps may have a lower risk of clogging and simpler cleaning. Generally, you should anticipate to get five to 10 years out of gutter guard screens – depending on the brand name. Raptor and Amerimax are two excellent manufacturers for this product.
Reverse-Curve Gutter Guards
If you’re looking for an effective gutter guard, look no further than the reverse-curve option! This innovative model utilizes surface tension to channel water into your gutters with ease. The design consists of one side that slides beneath your roofing shingles while the other extends over the top of the gutter and curves back towards it; this allows rainwater to slide along its path and land in your gutters without any extra debris coming along with it!
With proper installation, this type of gutter guard can maintain optimal performance for a number of years. Gutter Helmet and LeafGuard are some well-known brands that specialize in reverse-curve gutter covers–and they all require professional setup.
Micro-Mesh Gutter Guards
Micro-mesh gutter guards offer a sophisticated design compared to traditional gutter screens. Its superior small hole mesh allows only water to permeate, making them one of the most efficient and reliable covers available in the market today. With its robust construction, you can expect these micro-mesh screens to last 20 years or more without needing much maintenance!
For those in search of resilience and quality, LeafGuard and HomeCraft are two renowned options that necessitate professional setup. However, if you’re looking for DIY alternatives to these brands, they can be found online or at your local home improvement store.
DIY vs. Professional Installation
As you explore gutter guards, it’s easy to see a drastic price discrepancy between the items accessible at retailers such as Lowe’s or Home Depot and professional quotes from gutter companies.
There are two reasons why there is a discrepancy in cost. To begin with, professional installation includes not just the materials but also labor which doesn’t come into play when you install gutter guards yourself. Furthermore, professionals have access to brands and models that aren’t available commercially which could potentially be more effective than what one can find in stores.
Cutting costs with a DIY gutter guard installation may seem like the right decision, however there are several other aspects to consider. It could take multiple hours and involve working on ladders which comes with its own set of risks. Additionally, if you decide on a style that slides underneath your shingles, incorrect installment can lead to voiding out any warranties associated with your roof.
Before you undertake a DIY installation, make sure to take the following into consideration:
- In order to complete the job, you’ll need a few tools: two people, gloves, a ladder and bucket, hosepipe, tin snips (optional), miter/circular saws (optional) as well as drills or screwdrivers.
- To guarantee that your gutter guards are compatible with the style and size of your gutters, you’ll need to identify them first. Additionally, make sure to clean out your gutters beforehand as well as trimming the gutter guards if necessary. Installation is consequently easy!
- The challenge ahead: Depending on the type of gutter guard you purchase, installing it may be more complicated. Installing a gutter guard will take longer if your house has two floors, an angled roof or peculiar characteristics in its structure.
Although it may cost more initially to hire an experienced professional, you will save yourself a great deal of time and effort in the long run. Professionally installed gutter guards are often more efficient and come with extended warranties for added protection. Certain products even have the benefit of a lifetime warranty!