Changing Your Home And GardenChanging Your Home And Garden

Installing gutter guards on your home's rain gutter system is a fantastic way to protect your home while eliminating the need to clean the rain guard gutters manually.

The Purpose of Rain Gutter Guards

All gutter guards serve the same purpose. Gutter guards keep leaves, twigs, and blown debris out of your rain gutters to allow water to flow safely down the downspouts. 

While all gutter guard systems require yearly maintenance and inspections, installing gutter covers dramatically reduces the amount of cleaning you will need to do. 

Cleaning rain gutters is an unpleasant task and can be very dangerous, especially on second-story roofs. The gutters must be hosed off yearly to remove any debris stuck on their surface. By installing gutter covers, you essentially eliminate the need for manually cleaning out the gutters. 

There Are Many Different Types of Gutter Covers to Fit Any Budget

Many different types of rain gutter guards are available on the market today. There are less-expensive DIY options and high-end professionally installed gutter guards requiring professional installation because they are permanently attached to the rain gutters.

DIY Rain Gutter Cover Options

Some DIY options include bottle brush guards, foam guards, and vinyl gutter covers.

While each gutter guard is effective, most will last only a few seasons. In addition, these inexpensive gutter guard options are prone to trapping vegetative materials and water. Trapped water will lead to mold growth and provides a favorable environment for mosquitoes. 

Professionally Installed Gutter Guard Options

Professionally installed gutter guards include those made of perforated sheet aluminum or micro-mesh screens.

Perforated aluminum gutter guards attach to the inside of your home's rain gutter system. Because they are made of aluminum, they will not rust and do a fantastic job keeping leaves and other debris out of the rain gutter system.

If your home sits underneath a canopy of trees, then micro-mesh screen gutter covers are often the best option. The screens are fantastic for capturing clean rainwater for off-grid living or landscaping applications. 

However, micro-mesh screens are not ideal for homes with asphalt roofs due to the asphalt roof being shed into the gutters.

Some of the high-end gutter guard options in the market take advantage of both perforated aluminum gutter guards and being covered with a micro-mesh screen. These gutters are often advertised as never clogging, and this is often the case. While these gutter guard systems will still need to be hosed off once yearly, the gutters should not clog under normal circumstances.

For more information about gutter guards, contact a local company.