Reasons To Install Gutter Guards

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Experts tend to agree that gutter guards do not provide foolproof protection against all debris that can foul and clog gutters.  You should not have gutter guards installed with the intention of never cleaning your gutters again.  They don’t make your gutters invincible or magically resistant to the debris of the seasons.  Gutter guards or other names, gutter screens, helmets or covers supposedly prevent debris from entering rain gutters.

In turn, gutter guards will reduce the amount of gutter cleaning and save you money in the long run.  Gutter guards do a relatively good job of keeping debris out of gutters, saving you the chore of cleaning gutters as often.  However, gutters still need routine cleaning and maintenance.  While they can’t guarantee that you’ll never have your gutters clogged again, they can significantly reduce the number of times you need to clean your gutters and reduce the risk of damage to your home and property due to clogged gutters and standing water. 

The most common types of gutter guards include mesh screens, PVC covers, foam inserts and surface tension helmets.  Despite the material and installation costs, gutter guards have the potential to pay for themselves in time by protecting your home and minimizing the need for gutter cleanings. 

Gutter Guards Reduce the Need for Gutter Cleaning

This is the primary reason people consider getting gutter guards: By filtering or blocking leaves, twigs and other debris from getting into your gutter system, you can cut down on gutter cleanings. 

Depending on the type of gutter guard you install, you can significantly reduce the frequency at which your gutters need to be cleaned.  Mesh guards are considered the easiest gutter guards to clean because you can simply brush off the top and lift the cover to handle anything clogging the gutter.  On the other hand, you may need to call in a professional once a year to clean gutter covers that are securely installed in place.

As a good rule of thumb, homeowners with two or three stories will likely want to hire a professional for gutter guard cleaning jobs for safety reasons.  Still, if your gutter guards only need to be cleaned once a year or every other year, it will be less expensive than hiring a professional for multiple gutter cleanings every year.

Gutter Guards Protect the Home

Clogged gutters create problems for homes.  When water can’t freely flow through gutter systems and down the downspouts, there can be serious damage to the integrity of the home.

These risks include:

• Water spilling onto the roof, which can cause leaks inside the home.
• Water pooling against the fascia board, which runs between the gutter and the side of the home.  This can cause the fascia to disintegrate and cause damage to the structure.
• Water pooling at the home’s base, which can damage the foundation and cause leaking.

These are significant problems.  Avoiding these issues is exactly why gutter guards were created.  By protecting gutters and preventing the accumulation of debris that can cause clogs inside the gutter, you are also protecting yourself from these bigger, more costly emergencies.

Type of Gutter Guards

There are several types of gutter guards.  Each of them has its problems. 

Plastic Gutter Guards

Plastic might suit many things, but an outdoor gutter cover is not one.  Long-term exposure to the sun weakens plastic. The damage is even worse during winter. Tree limbs can damage the gutter screens. 

Also, as leaves and debris build up on the gutter cover, the perforated holes become weighted down and tend to collapse into the gutter.  These probably have the greatest ease of installation and are suitable for DIY jobs, but they have little to no warranty and don’t last.

Aluminum Guards

Aluminum guards are often referred to as gutter covers or gutter helmets.  Ideally, this sounds perfect for any household exterior.  It’s light, lasts longer, and is usually relatively affordable.  However, cheap subpar aluminum degrades fast and rusts easily.  They tend to damage easily in hail storms or from overhanging tree branches.

Micro-Mesh Gutter Guards

In principle, screen gutter guards offer some visibility into the gutter.  You can get nylon micro-mesh or metal micro-mesh gutter screens.

However, they tend to clog easily and are susceptible to rust, corrosion, and constant replacement.  Tree limbs can tear the gutter screens.  Nylon micro-mesh screens use surface tension to separate water from debris but often don’t work well in heavy rain.

Gutter Guards Don’t Stop All Debris

Small gaps to allow water through can become covered by larger debris, such as leaves, restricting water flow into the gutter.

They may not stop all debris from entering the main gutter trough, and the gutter guard may make it difficult to clean the gutters thoroughly should you get a blockage that needs removing.