Welcome to Family Roofing

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At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.

 

TYPES OF GUTTER GUARDS

A well-functioning gutter system is a property’s essential element that any responsible homeowner should not neglect.  It helps protect the roof, foundation, structure, and landscape of a house.  It does so by allowing rainwater to flow appropriately through the pipes without causing any damage.  You are probably already familiar with how gutters work and why your house needs such protection.  However, you might not know that your gutters also require protection.  Indeed, it would help if you shield your gutters to prolong your gutters’ life and prevent overflowing, which can damage your property.  More clearly, gutters are not only exposed to rainwater.  Sometimes, leaves, debris, and even animal nests block the gutter system and prevent efficient water flow.  This blockage can cause several problems you need to deal with.  For instance, your gutters may start to sag and pull away from the roof, inviting not only water damage but also accident risks.  Moreover, the blocked gutters may end up causing mold growth, structural and foundational damage, and leaking or overflowing of rainwater. Hence, the maintenance of a gutter system is a must for many critical reasons.

Although regular gutter cleaning helps you maintain your gutters to prevent any harm, there is another essential you should start considering: purchasing a gutter guard system for your gutters.  Basically, gutter guards work as a gutter cover that keeps debris and leaves away from your gutters to ensure efficient water flow through the pipes.

TYPES OF GUTTER GUARDS

Not all gutter guards are created equal – or even with the same materials.  Gutter styles have their own distinct features and benefits.

• Brush gutter guards are ideal for internal gutters and downpipes.

• Foam guards allow for a customized fit.

• Gutter mesh and screen gutter guards offer full or partial coverage.

• Reverse curve gutter guards

BRUSH GUTTER GUARDS

A bristle gutter guard looks like a large circular brush.  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.

Further factors to note:

• They are used in houses that have downpipes to prevent ascending rats

• A bristle gutter guard is suited to homes with roof valleys and junctions

• Comes in standard lengths that can be cut into specific sizes

• Can be bent to any angle desired, which is convenient

• Easy to install and simple to take out for occasional maintenance

• They are great for new homeowners and DIYers on a tight budget

FOAM GUTTER GUARDS

Foam gutter guards are made from UV-protected filter foam inserts that slide into the gutter and rest in its curve.  Water can easily penetrate the foam cells while debris is blown away by the wind.  Some of its features include:

• Easy installation by new homeowners

• Fits in snugly with no messy screws or glues

• Ideally suited to homes with round gutters

• Highly affordable for those on a budget

• Long-lasting and durable which makes it cost-effective

• Can be cut to fit any custom size

• Very low overall maintenance

GUTTER SCREENS

Gutter screens can be made from plastic or metal and are either bent to fit inside the top of the gutter or designed to clip onto standard gutters.  They are useful, but they do come with both pros and cons:

• Gutter guard mesh screens are good at keeping out leaves – but not seeds or pine needles

• These screens require occasional cleaning, which may prove difficult with some of the installation types

• The plastic versions can become brittle over time and need replacing

• One style, known as reverse curve gutter guards, protrudes in a curve over the gutter

• This makes them vulnerable to damage from the elements

MICRO MESH GUTTER GUARDS

Micro mesh gutter guards are similar to gutter screens but are usually manufactured from either steel or aluminum, with only some models sporting plastic frames.  You should opt for the aluminum frames since the plastic gutter screens warp over time.

Some notable features:

• A very fine grid size will keep out most small debris and offer great gutter protection

• Considered one of the best types of gutter guards

• They usually come with a warranty

• They are typically professionally installed

• Gutter guard prices may cost more than DIY options

• Size variations protect from every type of clogging

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:

• Not all contractors are familiar with their proper installation techniques.

• Difficult to remove during cleaning and maintenance.

• Visible from the ground. You should pick a color that matches your roof.

• The curved sections accumulate debris over time.

• Promotes the formation of large icicles during winter.

Many sources claim that reverse gutters guards do not perform well in heavy rains.

CONCLUSION

 it’s up to you to make the final choice.  Despite these differences in gutter guards, understand that there is no such thing as a perfect gutter protection.  Some gutter guards have powerful features but tend to cost more. Some are cheap but need to be replaced soon.  Pick gutter guards that strike a balance between price and usability.