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BEST GUTTER GUARDS FOR HOMEOWNERS
Gutter maintenance is an important task if you want to make your gutters last. Gutters have an essential role to play. One important thing that you need to know is the types of gutter guards and its features. They preserve the structural integrity of your home by channeling away rainwater. Despite their value, we neglect cleaning it regularly until they get clogged with leaves, moss, dead animals, and other debris.
Blocked gutters no longer drain water the way they should. As a result, water pools around your foundation. This creates several problems:
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Cracks in your foundation
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Wood rot
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Landscape damage
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Water leaks
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Pest infestation
Gutter guards will help with these issues. Not all gutter guards are created equal, but it’s more complicated than simply choosing the best one. Some designs are more effective for certain debris or different climates, while others may not mesh with the aesthetics of your home.
What Are Gutter Guards?
The easiest way to prevent clogging is to install gutter guards. Gutter guards filter out debris so that only water passes through the gutters. By having these protective mechanisms installed, you save time and effort from having to clean out gutters every time. You can say goodbye to blockages and untimely gutter repairs.
Types of Gutter Guards
Not all gutter guards are created equal, but it’s more complicated than simply choosing the best one. Some designs are more effective for certain debris or different climates, while others may not mesh with the aesthetics of your home.
Mesh gutter guards
Made of metal sheets, mesh gutter guards feature tiny holes. They do an excellent job in keeping out tiny debris while drawing water in. Every square inch contains hundreds of tiny holes. What makes mesh gutter guards stand out is that you can have them installed on many types of gutters and roofs. Because of this, homeowners may find them an appealing choice.
Mesh gutter guards are also known for their durability. Other gutter materials are more likely to deteriorate over time; not with mesh. If you plan to get new gutter guards, consider mesh guards a sound investment.
Bottle brush gutter guards
Cylindrical in shape, they pretty much look like wire cleaning brushes. They’re similar to foam gutter guards in that they’re DIY friendly. If you plan to install this kind of gutter guard, make sure to clean your gutters first. Filtering out large debris such as leaves is what these gutter guards do best. The spikes allow air to circulate to help the gutters dry out. This mechanism prevents rusting. Cleaning the brushes is required once a year. All you need to do is remove the gutter guards and shake them off.
You can buy these types of gutter guards for less than $20 to $300. They save money, time, and labor – common reasons why homeowners choose them.
Screen gutter guards
Made of metal or plastic, screen gutter guards are affordable options and widely available. Contractors also find these types of gutter guards easier to install. However, when you compare between regular screen protection and fine mesh, fine mesh works best for filtering out small debris.
Because metal screen gutter guards tend to rust, they stain your home. Opt for the plastic versions instead if you want to avoid this problem. Pine needles can also get stuck in between the holes. Be careful with these materials because they also blow out in strong winds.
Foam gutter guards
These gutter guards fit inside your gutters. Their mechanism is to block all debris from entering. They contain pores to allow only water to penetrate. Foam gutter guards are made of polyether or polyurethane foam. Another benefit is that you can install foam guards by yourself.
While a lot of these gutter protection materials come in packaging that features years of warranty, such information can be unbelievable. They don’t last that long and will need replacement once every two years. You might get one at a cheap price but frequent replacements make you end up paying for more.
Reverse curve gutter guards
These types of gutter guards are over one hundred years old. Over the years, various manufacturers made changes in reverse curve gutter guards to improve their function. Unfortunately, this gutter protection system still has problems. Below are some issues related to them:
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Not all contractors are familiar with their proper installation techniques.
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Difficult to remove during cleaning and maintenance.
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Visible from the ground. You should pick a color that matches your roof.
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The curved sections accumulate debris over time.
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Promotes the formation of large icicles during winter.
Many sources claim that reverse gutters guards do not perform well in heavy rains.
Surroundings
The best gutter guards for your home depend on the climate of where you live and your surroundings. Gutter guards are not a one-size-fits-all solution, which is why the jury is out on whether they are worth installing.
Brush guards are great for stopping leaves from blocking your gutters and are ideal for areas with only a few trees. If, however, your home is surrounded by trees with leaves that coat the ground during fall, these gutter guards will likely need to be taken out and cleaned every few weeks (at least).
Superfine mesh gutter screens are the best option for homes with evergreen trees, asphalt shingles, lots of small debris, and insects. Perforated covers are one of the best gutter guards for keeping leaves out.
Guards with larger holes are a great choice for areas with heavy rainfall, though, as options with smaller holes can cause what’s called surface tension, where rain just rolls right off and not through to the gutter. This could cause foundation issues over time. Some gutter guards may prevent the water from flowing freely, so you’ll have the same problem as if they have gotten blocked from debris without guards.
Cold and snowy areas are better off without gutter guards or with removable guards that you take out at the end of fall. Snow and ice can cause dams that clog gutters, which can be made worse when gutter guards are in place, potentially even causing damage to your house. Sloped gutter guards can somewhat deal with light to medium snowfall since they allow for the ice and snow to melt quicker and fall off.
Unless you have winter-proofed your gutters by adding some kind of heating element, like heated cables or heat tape, most professionals recommend removing gutter guards in the winter. Foam and brush gutter guards are the easiest to remove.
