February 9, 2022

Gutter Protection

Gutters may seem like an optional roof accessory during the dry season. In the rainy season, gutters protect your house from structural damage. They collect and channel rainwater away from your home. Storms and wind deposit leaves, dust, and debris onto the roof, accumulating in the gutters. To ensure optimal performance, prioritize gutter protection.

How Important is Gutter Protection?

Gutters consist of drainage pipes and trough-like fixtures attached along the roof to collect and channel rainwater. Overflowing gutters increase the risk of leaks along the wall. Broken drainage pipes connected to the gutters can flood your basement instead of directing water away from your house. As a homeowner, you understand the cost and challenges of cleaning and restoring flooded basements. Stagnant water can seep through cracks and pools in the foundation, undermining structural stability. But you can avoid all these risks by adopting tried-and-tested gutter protection strategies. Efficient, high quality, professional installation gutter covers will keep unwanted pine neddles, leaves and debris out of your gutter system and can protect your home.

How to Protect Your Gutters

Prevention is always better than cure. Combine different strategies to keep your gutters in good working condition and functional at all times.

Gutter cleaning: Melting snow and rainwater wash down leverages, twigs, and dust on the rooftop and deposit in the gutters. Without regular cleaning, large debris will accumulate and clog drainage pipes. Clean your gutters at least twice a year to protect your home.

Routine inspection and maintenance: Adopt proactive gutter protection strategies to anticipate issues before they occur. The last thing you need is leaking gutters to go unnoticed for months. To avoid this risk, schedule regular gutter inspections and maintenance. You can hire a roofing company to inspect your gutters and conduct scheduled maintenance.

Repair and replace: A leaky gutter section may not seem like a big deal. However, it increases the risk of basement flooding and leaks along the walls. Repair or replace damaged gutters as soon as possible. To avoid risks, hire a reputable company for gutter repairs and replacement. Working with a professional can extend your gutters’ lifespan and save you money in the long run.

Install gutter guards: These easy-to-install fixtures prevent leaves, sticks, feathers, sand, and other debris from entering your gutters. Look for the best gutter guards on the market to improve drainage efficiency and reduce clogging and overall gutter protection costs. Also, you won’t need to clean your gutters twice a year. But they are not magic pills to all roofing problems. You’ll still need professional inspections, maintenance, and repairs for four-seasons gutter protection. The best strategy is to hire a gutter protection company that offers these services.

Types of Gutter Guards

There are five types of gutter guards made from different materials. Each option has unique features designed to sieve debris as rainwater flows into the gutters. Analyze all five guards focusing on their pros and cons.

Stainless Steel Micro-mesh gutter guards: These meshed guards have small holes that allow water to run through while blocking sand, twigs, and other debris. You can slip the guard’s edge under the roof shingles, snap it on top of your gutter, or attach it to the fascia. The top micro-mesh guards include LeafFilter, Homecraft, and All-American Gutter Protection. Clean your gutter guards with a hose sprayer and scrub brush to keep the mesh holes open.

Screen guards: These guards have wire or plastic grids that provide gutter protection from leaves. They’re easy to install and cost-effective. However, strong winds can dislodge screen guards because they’re not screwed to the gutter.

Brush gutter guards: You can make this gutter guard using a brush with polypropylene bristles. Cut the brush into the appropriate size and attach the sections inside your gutter. Brush gutter guards are cost-effective and easy to install, ideal for DIYers on a budget.

Foam gutter guards: This easy-to-install option uses a triangular foam block to prevent debris from entering the gutter. Foam guards rely on absorption to channel water. So, heavy rain can saturate the foam and undermine efficiency. But these guards can block debris of all sizes and provide four-seasons gutter protection.

Reverse-curve gutter guards: As the name suggests, these guards have curved tops with spaces on both sides. Leaves, twigs, and other debris slide off and fall to the ground as rainwater flows into the gutter.

What to Consider while Buying Gutter Guards

All gutter guards are not equal. Each type has some advantages and disadvantages. Here are a few factors to consider when choosing gutter guards for your home.

Installation process: If you opt for DIY installation, choose easy-to-install gutter guards. Slip-under gutter guards require lifting the roof shingles, voiding your roof warranty. Consult with your roofing contractor and the shingle manufacturer. To avoid issues down the line, hire an expert to install your gutter guards.

Suitability: Choose gutter guards based on your region’s climate. For example, foam guards are ineffective in areas that experience high precipitation. In this case, you can choose other types of gutter guards like screen or micro mesh.

Cost: The best micro-mesh guards like LeafFilter Gutter Protection cost more than foam guards. You can also use inexpensive DIY brush-style guards to reduce gutter protection costs.

Durability: Choose gutter guards made from metal or wire mesh instead of cheap plastics. Long-lasting materials can reduce gutter repair costs in the future.

Aesthetics: The best gutter guard should enhance aesthetics without undermining functionality.

Bottom Line

There is no one-fits-all gutter protection strategy. Combine different approaches to protect your home. Clean your gutters, repair or replace damaged sections, and use gutter guards. You can hire a roofing company like American Choice Exteriors to implement an effective gutter protection strategy.

Whether you live in Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Frederick, Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Carroll, or Harford County, you can rely on our expertise to protect your investment. Give us a call at (301) 687-2345, or schedule online to set up your Free Inspection with our experts today!

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