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Types of Gutter Guards

Even the biggest, best, newest  gutter can’t do its job if it’s not kept clean.  Pine needles, leaves, seeds, and other types of debris can and will clog your gutter system.  Leaky basements, rotten wood, frozen walkways, and annoying gutter drips are only a few of the problems you could potentially face if your gutters become clogged.

Simply put, getting your gutters cleaned is a much easier solutions.  At the very minimum, you should have your gutters professionally cleaned at least two times a year.  Those that live in wooded areas with mature trees typically need to clean out their gutters more often.

The better solution for some homeowners is to install the types of gutter guards or gutter protection that best suits their needs.  When they work as advertised, gutter guards offer several benefits, such as significantly reducing the number of required gutter cleanings and providing a superior peace of mind.

However, it’s important to understand, not all types of gutter guards work the same way and not all gutter protection is equally effective.

1. Gutter Brush

A gutter brush, also known as bottle brush, is one of the easiest to install and most inexpensive types of gutter guard.  It looks like a big upright bristle brush inserted inside the gutter that works by preventing leaves and other debris from accumulating.  As a result, water from rain and thawed snow flows freely inside the gutter and away from your home.  Lightweight debris, such as leaves, that are trapped atop the gutter brush will be easily blown away by wind or eventually washed away without clogging the gutter.

For some people, they do.  Many homeowners have complaints, though, and consider them a waste of money.  For example, because it is not fastened down, a gutter guard brush can simply blow away in high winds.  This makes it a complete waste of money and time.

While large leaves are deflected and blow past the brush – smaller leaves, twigs, dirt, and seeds get caught in the gutter guard brush and will create an immovable clog.  That is until you get up and clean your gutters out. Until then, this sort of damming up will cause the rainwater to spill right over the gutter and onto the porches or sidewalks of your home.  As well, when helicopter seeds from maple trees get stuck in the bristles, the gutter is a perfect place for them to start growing.

2. Foam

Foam-filler gutter guards are made from porous polyurethane substance and they fit perfectly into the gutter.  They work by blocking all materials, except liquids, from entering and collecting in the gutter.  This type of guard also helps minimize the development of mildew, fungus, and molds in the gutter.

Because the top of the foam collects the leaves and debris along the top, this will need to be cleaned a few times a year.  You can take out the foam pieces and wipe them down so that the holes don’t get filled with dirt and stop the guard from collecting water.

3. Screen or Mesh

Gutter Screens Are Proven to Work

One of the most popular types of gutter guards are gutter screens.  These types of gutter guards have been around for a very long time.  In addition to milled gutter screens, there are several different types of gutter screens for different types of gutter systems.

Screen or mesh guards are usually fitted under the roofing shingles.  The super fine mesh or screen is made of stainless steel and attached to an aluminum frame for easy installation and durability.  Screen or mesh guards are designed to prevent almost all types of debris, including small grains of sand, from getting into the gutter.  This is ideal for homeowners who use and collect rainwater.  But even if this type of gutter guard is designed to minimize the need of cleaning the gutter, it is still a good idea to regularly check and clean the screen or mesh to prevent clogging.

4. Reverse Curve

Reverse curve guards work because they don’t capture debris; they simply allow it to move off the gutter and onto the ground.  They’re focused on moving water easily into the gutter rather than keeping debris on top of the gutter.  While reverse curve gutter guards need to be professionally installed and are therefore more expensive than other guards, they are also more effective.

First, the curve quickly gets dirty.  Look at any home with a curve on it.  You’ll notice the top is perfectly clean, but the front and underside of the curve is dark and dirty.  When rainwater falls, it pounds into the top of the curve, cleaning its upper surface.  But the main source of water comes off your roof.  It contains oils from your shingles and dirt from your roof.

This dirty, oily water wraps round the curve and coats it.  Without that rain pounding, this where reverse curve guards wind up failing.  Once the curve is coated, you can’t rely on surface tension to pull water around the curve.  As it hits this dirty residue, it drops off of the system before it flows into your gutters.  N ow you’ve got landscaping damage occurring or water getting down near your foundation.

Secondly, most curves have no way of slowing down the water coming off your roof.  If these systems are pitched in line with the roof, water has a greater chance of overshooting the gutter.  Many require that the system be installed like a shelf over the gutter.  This helps stop the forward momentum of the water.

Lastly, reverse curve gutter guards let in debris, the very stuff you’re tired of cleaning from your gutters.  If you have one of these systems, you’re likely thinking they’re keeping out everything, but they actually are doing their poorest job at protecting your home when you expect they’ll be working–in the rain.  What reverse curve gutter guards will never show you is wet debris, flexible and adhering by suction to the edge of the roof and the curve.