Are gutter guards worth the money?
Gutter cleaning is perhaps one of those home maintenance tasks that most homeowners just hate doing. However, neglecting this annoying chore is not an option either. Clogged gutters can cause severe damage to your roof, windows, and walls.
What are gutter guards?
In the simplest of terms, gutter guards are covers for your gutters. These covers are designed to keep the debris out but allow the rain water and snow melt to go through the gutters. The best part is that they can be installed during the gutter installation or can be added at a later date.
Not all gutter guards are the same. There are four different types of gutter guards that you can choose to install.
Screen-type guards are the most straight forward gutter guards that you can install. They are made by cutting PVC or aluminum screening and placing them on top of the gutters. Just remember that these can’t keep small items such as pine needles and small leaves out.
Foam-type guards are strips of very porous foam that can be placed on top of the gutters. The foam allows water to pass through freely but traps the solids on the top.
Surface Tension gutter guards are curved plastic covers that direct the rain water and snow melt into the gutters while keeping the debris out. These are sophisticated guards that need to be installed by a professional.
Micro-mesh gutter guards have thousands of miniature holes that allow the water to pass through but prevent debris. These are the best gutter covers that you can install and block almost all type of trash from entering your gutters. If you choose to install these, you will need the help of a roofing professional.
Although installing gutter guards can significantly reduce the instance of clogged gutters, it won’t eliminate the need to clean your gutters entirely. You will need to take some time out to clean out the rubbish from the gutter guards themselves.
However, gutter guards do an excellent job of preventing water damage to your roof due to clogged gutters.
For what they do, gutter guards are an excellent investment for your property. They can efficiently prevent clogged gutters and the potential roof and wall damage that comes with it.