SHOULD YOU CONSIDER GUTTER GUARDS FOR YOUR GUTTERS? – FAMILY ROOFING

Posted on by David Reid

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SHOULD YOU CONSIDER GUTTER GUARDS FOR YOUR GUTTERS?

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. Here’s what you need to know.

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 won’t need to worry about bi-annual cleanings.  At least two cleanings are recommended for uncovered gutters each year.

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—plain and simple.  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.

Installing Gutter Guards Minimizes Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew are not good for your house.  They also aren’t good for your health.  That’s one reason that installing gutter guards can be a real win-win.  To break it down, the most common materials to clog gutters are leaves, dirt and other types of natural debris.  These materials can also harbor mold spores, which can flourish inside clogged gutters.

Clogged gutters don’t only cause mold and mildew to develop outside the home, either.  When there is a clog that causes water to spill over onto the roof or side of the house, the housing materials are susceptible to rot—which is an easy way for mold and mildew to take up residence within the home.  This isn’t good for any residents but can be especially dangerous for people with asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions.

Once there is mold and mildew, remediation isn’t cheap.  With gutter guards in place, you are minimizing the risk of clogs in the gutters.  In turn, that minimizes the risk of mold and mildew problems.

 Gutter Guards Help With Pest Control

In addition to preventing clogged gutters, gutter guards also help with deterring or blocking pests from setting up their homes in your gutter system.  By creating a barrier between rodents, birds and even snakes and the roomy gutter below, gutter guards are a vital first line of defense against a bigger pest problem. Without this barrier, pests living in the gutter can potentially damage the home.

Clogged gutters can also offer a fertile breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects.  Because mosquitoes hatch in standing water, clogged gutters can be the ideal spot for hundreds or thousands of baby mosquitoes—which you would surely rather avoid.  Then there’s the matter of cleaning your gutters when pests are living inside.  Not something you’ll likely want to do, right?  That means your DIY job will become a professional expense without gutter guards in place.

Gutter guards help improve water flow in gutters and prevent a variety of issues

Gutter guards greatly reduce the frequency of gutter cleanings by improving rainwater flow and are essential in preventing property damage, such as water damage and unsightly streaks on molding, flooding in basements or foundations, soil erosion in landscaping, and the occurrence of mold—including dangerous black mold.  Homeowners can ensure gutter guards’ longevity by checking for damage after storms and confirming they’re clear of any obstructions that will promote damage. Extensive water damage will cost a homeowner far more than the price of gutter guards.  Gutter guards can also help to prolong the life of one’s gutters, roofing, and siding by preventing rust and erosion.

Dry debris in gutters can cause brush fires

Depending on the home’s location, gutter guards can be essential in protecting a home against brush fires.  Dry debris is extremely flammable and essentially acts as timber on top of the home—without gutter guards preventing dry brush build-up, one spark from a wildfire or backyard fire pit that lands on a home could fuel a fire that causes severe, costly damage.

Wet, clogged gutters can foster water damage and mold growth

Homeowners can ensure gutter guards’ longevity by checking for damage after storms and confirming they’re clear of any obstructions that will promote damage. Extensive water damage will cost a homeowner far more than the price of gutter guards.

TYPES OF GUTTER GUARDS

There are different types of gutter guards to best suit a homeowner’s needs and preferences.

Many types of gutter guards are available, including:

  • Screens. Screen gutter guards are an affordable and customizable option that blocks larger debris and pests.  They are easy to install and can be cut to any size.

  • Micro-Mesh. These durable filters block buildup of debris using a porous polyurethane material, which is designed to prevent mildew, fungus, and mold growth. It’s easy to install and remove, making those infrequent gutter cleaning days easier.

  • Brush. As one of the most inexpensive and easy options to install, brush guards feature stiff wire bristles that run across the entire gutter to block debris from entering.

  • Foam Filters. Foam filters have a triangular design that sits inside the gutter and blocks larger debris while promoting water drainage and the flow of smaller debris.

  • Reverse Curve. A more expensive option, reverse curve gutter guards work with gravity to guide rainwater into the gutter while sending debris directly off the house and onto the ground below.  They are great for wooded areas, though they require expert installation.

The cost of gutter guards ranges depending on the style, material, and amount needed to sufficiently protect a home, though the long-term benefits outweigh the initial purchase price.  Installing any form of gutter guard can increase the resale value of a home, as it helps to maintain the integrity of the gutter guard system.

Homeowners can save far more money in the long term.  That’s because homeowners who don’t have guards installed need to empty their gutters roughly twice a year.