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Do You Really Need Gutter Guards?

Well there is really no way to give a simple yes or no answer to that question. But one thing is certain, and that is that rain gutters need to be unobstructed so that water can flow freely to the downspouts and be carried away from the house. If that doesn’t happen you are sure to run into serious problems in and around the house. But, if for some reason your gutters are not subjected to falling leaves and other debris such as branches, twigs, etc., then you may not need any type of protection, but they should be checked occasionally. If your home does have trees near it and leaves blow onto your roof and into your gutters, and you are willing and able to clean the gutters out frequently then you may not need a gutter guard. And of course you could always pay someone to clean your gutters frequently once again eliminating the need for a guard. But let’s be realistic about the situation. It is very unlikely that your gutters will be cleaned frequently enough to assure that problems do not occur. And paying for cleanings frequently enough can run into some serious expense. And even when the situation is being handled frequently, there are things that can be overlooked. For example, downspouts can be clogged with leaves and that problem goes unnoticed because the clog is out of sight (and out of mind). While it may sound as if I am stating that there is a need for gutter guards, I am not. I am simply stating that gutters need to be free of leaves and other debris in order to function properly. Gutter guards may be the easiest and most economical way to make that happen.

So, if you decide on using a gutter guard there are a few things to consider. There are many types of guards on the market, ranging from extremely expensive, to very cheap. The thing to remember is not to judge the performance based on the price. Some of the most expensive guards can actually cause more problems than they solve. So what should you look for? It certainly isn’t rocket science. Gutter guards need to be made of a sturdy material. The very cheapest ones can collapse into the gutter and become a catch point for debris to form a dam and block the flow of water. Avoid guards with gaps in the front because leaves can blow in the gaps, clog the gutters, and then cannot be reached in order to clean them out. Many of the gutter hoods are effective in light rain, but can overflow during heavy downpours, and can also have the dreaded gap in front. And avoid anything that needs to be attached to the roof as this can affect your roofer’s warranty should a leak occur. So a sturdy guard that attaches only to the gutter, with perforations to allow only water into the gutter seems to be the most logical choice. Often times this is the most economical (not cheapest) way to go. If the installation is being done by a professional (highly recommended) be sure to get a written warranty and performance guarantee. Avoid contractors who do not specialize in gutters or those that make use of sub contractors. Doing this job right will allow you to have many years of trouble free performance.

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What should you look for in a gutter guard system?

Unlike some manufacturers of gutter guards would have you believe, gutter guard technology is far from rocket science. Consider what it is you are trying to accomplish……keeping leaves from clogging the rain gutter so that the water collected in the gutter can flow freely to the downspouts. If the gutter gets clogged, thereby forming a dam of sorts, water will overflow. It will overflow the front of the gutter resulting in pooling around the base of the house which can cause costly damage to the crawlspace area or basement. The water build up in the gutter will also seep over the back of the gutter where it attaches to the fascia board and cause rotting of that wood. So what’s the best and most economical way to prevent all of this? What should you look for in choosing a guard?
Well first off be sure that the guard is made of a sturdy material. Inexpensive plastic guards that are readily available at home improvement stores may hold up for a year, but after wet leaves, or snow put a heavy weight on them they will simply collapse into the gutter and give leaves a place to stick inside the gutter, actually causing more harm than good.
Secondly choose a guard with a screen that is small enough to keep large debris out of the gutter.
Then be sure that the guard is constructed in such a way as to allow air to flow under the accumulated leaves in order to allow the wind to blow the leaves off, and also to help dry them out when they are wet.
Avoid guards that go under your roof shingles and attach to the roof itself. This could cause problems in regard to your roof warranty.
Be sure that the guards will not allow a waterfall effect during periods of heavy rain. Some guards will allow runoff from the roof to overshoot the gutter completely, in which case you may as well not even have gutters.
And finally be sure that there is no large gap to allow leaves to blow into the gutter because once those leaves get in there, it is nearly impossible to clean them out properly. Also, birds and bees find these openings lead them to a nice sheltered environment to build nests and hives. And very often this type of guard is the most expensive.
So with all that being said take a look at the website www.everythinggutter.com and see what Shur Flo has to offer. Guaranteed not to clog, economical and sturdy, once installed you can forget you even have gutters. And a lifetime of gutter related issues is a thing of the past.

Posted on

What should you look for in a gutter guard system?

Unlike some manufacturers of gutter guards would have you believe, gutter guard technology is far from rocket science. Consider what it is you are trying to accomplish……keeping leaves from clogging the rain gutter so that the water collected in the gutter can flow freely to the downspouts. If the gutter gets clogged, thereby forming a dam of sorts, water will overflow. It will overflow the front of the gutter resulting in pooling around the base of the house which can cause costly damage to the crawlspace area or basement. The water build up in the gutter will also seep over the back of the gutter where it attaches to the fascia board and cause rotting of that wood. So what’s the best and most economical way to prevent all of this? What should you look for in choosing a guard?

Well first off be sure that the guard is made of a sturdy material. Inexpensive plastic guards that are readily available at home improvement stores may hold up for a year, but after wet leaves, or snow put a heavy weight on them they will simply collapse into the gutter and give leaves a place to stick inside the gutter, actually causing more harm than good.

Secondly choose a guard with a screen that is small enough to keep large debris out of the gutter.

Then be sure that the guard is constructed in such a way as to allow air to flow under the accumulated leaves in order to allow the wind to blow the leaves off, and also to help dry them out when they are wet.

Avoid guards that go under your roof shingles and attach to the roof itself. This could cause problems in regard to your roof warranty.

Be sure that the guards will not allow a waterfall effect during periods of heavy rain. Some guards will allow runoff from the roof to overshoot the gutter completely, in which case you may as well not even have gutters.

And finally be sure that there is no large gap to allow leaves to blow into the gutter because once those leaves get in there, it is nearly impossible to clean them out properly. Also, birds and bees find these openings lead them to a nice sheltered environment to build nests and hives. And very often this type of guard is the most expensive.

So with all that being said take a look at the website www.everythinggutter.com and see what Gutter RX has to offer. Guaranteed not to clog, economical and sturdy, once installed you can forget you even have gutters. And a lifetime of gutter related issues is a thing of the past.


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How About Those Downspouts?


Picture if you will, brand new shiny seamless gutters on your house. Picture them clean and free of any leaves, pine cones, pine needles, those annoying little helicopter things, and just general debris. Nice huh? Well, not so fast there. All that runoff from the roof will flow very nicely into the gutter and toward the downspout. But what if the downspout itself is clogged up with debris? Where will all that water go? Nowhere, it will just fill up the gutter and overflow both the front and back, which will cause extensive and expensive problems. Erosion of the soil underneath the gutters, and possible damage to the fascia board behind the gutters is sure to happen. Not to mention foundation, interior walls, window, and basement problems. So let’s not forget to keep an eye on the downspout and make sure that water is flowing freely out of them and away from the foundation. It is not well known but true that leaves will turn into dirt like compost, and if they get stuck in the downspout it is obvious that water will not flow freely and eventually back up into and over those nice shiny, clean gutters. So the message here is to be aware of the downspouts. If you are having a gutter guard installed, make sure that the downspouts are cleaned along with the gutters before installing the guards. Once those things are completed you should have a lifetime of worry-free performance with your gutters and downspouts. A trained gutter professional can easily assess the condition of all gutter components, and often times a simple gutter tune up will leave your gutters functionally like new.
Everything Gutter can provide the experienced professional and certified installers to evaluate your gutter system. There are many homeowner issues with which to contend, but your gutters need not be one of them. “Everything Gutter” guarantees all its work for life, so you’ll never have to worry about gutters again. See us on line at http://everythinggutter.com.

Posted on

How About Those Downspouts?


Picture if you will, brand new shiny seamless gutters on your house. Picture them clean and free of any leaves, pine cones, pine needles, those annoying little helicopter things, and just general debris. Nice huh? Well, not so fast there. All that runoff from the roof will flow very nicely into the gutter and toward the downspout. But what if the downspout itself is clogged up with debris? Where will all that water go? Nowhere, it will just fill up the gutter and overflow both the front and back, which will cause extensive and expensive problems. Erosion of the soil underneath the gutters, and possible damage to the fascia board behind the gutters is sure to happen. Not to mention foundation, interior walls, window, and basement problems. So let’s not forget to keep an eye on the downspout and make sure that water is flowing freely out of them and away from the foundation. It is not well known but true that leaves will turn into dirt like compost, and if they get stuck in the downspout it is obvious that water will not flow freely and eventually back up into and over those nice shiny, clean gutters. So the message here is to be aware of the downspouts. If you are having a gutter guard installed, make sure that the downspouts are cleaned along with the gutters before installing the guards. Once those things are completed you should have a lifetime of worry-free performance with your gutters and downspouts. A trained gutter professional can easily assess the condition of all gutter components, and often times a simple gutter tune up will leave your gutters functionally like new.
Everything Gutter can provide the experienced professional and certified installers to evaluate your gutter system. There are many homeowner issues with which to contend, but your gutters need not be one of them. “Everything Gutter” guarantees all its work for life, so you’ll never have to worry about gutters again. See us on line at http://everythinggutter.com.