Tired of the unpleasant task of cleaning the gutters? Gutter Guards could be the solution for you!
Cleaning the gutters is an unpleasant task at the best of times, and a hazardous one at the worst of times. Standing on a ladder, up to 20 feet in the air while scooping heavy handfuls of leaf matter and debris out of the gutter and tossing it into a bucket is not the easiest of feats, and a chore that many would prefer to avoid all together.
That's why gutter guards are such a popular innovation on the classic gutter system. A very useful and effective gutter accessory designed to keep the worst of the leaves, seeds, twigs and random debris from collecting and creating blockages. It helps that gutter guard installation is quick and easy, compared to all the time spent cleaning the gutters the old fashioned way.
Gutter Guards: Options Aplenty
There are several variations of Gutter Guards on the market, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.
- Screen Gutter Guards--These are the most commonly purchased types of gutter guards. Screen guards come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials and are generally the most affordable gutter guard option. Compatible with all roofing types, the screen guard is a good option where leaves and large debris are concerned, but can experience difficulty if there is a large amount of pine needles or other small debris to be kept out of the gutters.
- Mesh Gutter Guards--Mesh guards are similar to screen guards, but with a much tighter weave and are always made of metal. This way, they only allow in the very smallest of debris, making it impossible for the gutters to clog up with leaves and other natural debris.
- Surface Tension or Reverse Curve Guards--This model of gutter guard is a rounded protector installed over the gutter, leaving a gap to allow the water to round the nose of the guard and seep into the gutter itself, sloughing off leaves and debris to prevent clogging. Small debris may find their way into the gutters on occasion, but with such rarity that they'd easily be swept out with the rain.
The Many Benefits of Gutter Guards
With the options laid out, let's talk about the benefits of gutter guard installation:
- Gutter Guards Block Out Unwanted Debris: With the natural cycle of the seasons and the unpredictable nature of the elements, an open gutter is bound to become clogged with leaves and other debris. It's common to find a sapling or a collection of weeds sprouting from the gutters if they've gone untended for long enough--which can lead to overflowing, rotting, ineffectual gutters.
- Gutter Guards Help Prevent Water Damage Caused By Pooling Water: When gutters clog and water overflows, it often ends up pooling around the foundation of the home, trapped by the dip in the ground. Water and foundations don't mix, and lack of care could lead to serious structural problems down the line. Installing gutter guards with a downspout system, however, can keep obstructions from forming in the gutters, diverting the risk of overflow and allowing the gutters to function properly.
- Gutter Guards Save You Time And Money On Maintenance: If you pay for someone to clean the gutters, installing gutter guards can help save you money there as well. With gutter guards installed, only the water and what small grit or random bit of debris can find its way into the gutters, there will be less frequency needed in cleaning the gutters. The process will also be much easier--no more scooping and dumping, you can brush or hose down the gutter guards to clean them.
- Gutter Guards Prevent Pests And Rodents From Living In Your Gutters: Critters like squirrels, chipmunks, mice, birds and more often use open gutters to build nests inside of. Some animals even work their way into the structure of the roof itself to create a space for themselves, creating a pest issue. However, with gutter guards, the gutters are much more difficult, if not impossible to access, eliminating at least one common entry point for pests.
Gutter guard installation can certainly offer a range of benefits. When compared to the unpleasant task of cleaning the gutters by hand, risking injury up on a ladder, the appeal becomes all the more obvious.
How to find a Gutter Company
If you're not looking forward to cleaning your gutters this year or the negative effects clogged gutter systems bring on, it may be a worthwhile investment to look into a new gutter guard system with your local gutter company. Negate the need to climb up to 20 feet or more to scoop and scrape rotting leaves, pine needles and seeds out of your gutters with a quick call to your local gutter contractor.
Find your local HomePro Match gutter company today for trusted gutter guard installation.
