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Do Gutter Guards Really Work?
Twice a year, you pull out the ladder, put on your gloves and clean out your gutters to rid it of dirty, decomposing leaves and other debris. Not only is it tiring but depending on the size of your home, it can take up an entire Saturday as well. Wouldn’t it be great if there was something to eliminate this time-consuming, seasonal chore?
Well, actually there is. Gutter guards, or gutter covers depending on who you talk to, are surprisingly effective at keeping gutters and downspouts free and clear of debris. However, some are better than others, and none of them will work unless they’re properly installed.
If you’d rather head to the lake, watch football, or go shopping than climb up and down your ladder for hours on end, a gutter system with guards or covers can save the day. The right guards installed by the right home remodeling contractors will help keep your roofing intact and your gutters working as they should, saving you a whole lot of time and even more money.
Importance of Keeping Your Gutters and Downspouts Free of Debris With Leaf Guards
Whether you have an older gutter system or new seamless gutters, keeping your home’s gutters free of leaves, twigs, and other debris is a must if you want to avoid a leaky roof and costly repairs. Since they’re designed to collect rainwater from roofs and divert it down and away from homes, they help homeowners avoid a myriad of issues, including:
Water and mold damage
Foundation damage
Flooded basements
Cracked structures and the list goes on!
For these serious reasons and plenty more, your home needs the right type of leaf guard.
How Gutter Covers Work
There are a variety of gutter covers and guards, and they all attempt to do the same thing: keep leaves and debris out of your gutter system. That being said, some work better than others. Here’s the rundown on six basic types found on the market today:
Reverse curve / Helmeted guards
Reverse curve gutter guards are designed to direct the flow of water down into gutter systems via small slot in the vertical face. Leaves and debris, however, are encouraged to keep on falling or blowing down to the ground.
Mesh
A mesh gutter guard is simply a mesh sheet that attaches to the shingles of your roof and covers the gutter. The small holes sift out debris and let water flow right through. While they work well, mesh covers aren’t the most durable and often need to be replaced every other season.
Bottle brush
Bottle brush guards are essentially large pipe cleaners. They feature tons of brush-like bristles that collect debris as it falls. When the bristles are faced upright, water flows into the gutter downspout while debris gathers on top.
Vinyl Guards
Vinyl guards are designed to fit right into your gutter without the need to attach them to your roofing shingles. Water enters the guard through several recessed slots. The recessed slots tend to fill with debris over time and limit the amount of water entering the system.
Foam
A foam guard is similar to those swimming noodles you see everywhere these days. It’s essentially a long tube constructed of a plastic material that sits right inside of your gutter. While this may seem like an attractive option due to the simplicity and ease of use, sometimes water flow isn’t ideal.
Louvre
If you like the idea of seamless gutters, or better yet no gutter at all, a louvre system may be right for you. They feature thin louvres that effectively divert rain off of roofs, thus removing the need for traditional gutter systems and guards.
DIY vs. Professional Gutter Guards
Regardless of which type of leaf gutter guards you choose, you’ll still have to choose whether or not you want to tackle the project yourself or contact a professional to get the job done right.
DIY Leaf Guard Gutters & Covers