Types Of Gutter Protection And Do They Work?
Are you tired of cleaning your gutters? Who could blame you? After all, not only is cleaning gutters a dirty job, it is also dangerous.
Nobody can deny the importance of cleaning your gutters.
To keep them clean, you are more than likely doing it several times a year.
What about gutter protection? Is this the answer? In this article we will talk about the different styles of gutter protection on the market and their advantages and disadvantages.
There are three basic types of gutter protection systems on the market today.
Screens are the most common and cheapest type of gutter protection available.
Most of these can be purchased at your local home improvement store and installed by you.
There are companies that sell slightly different versions of these that they install themselves.
Screens in general keep most of the big stuff out like leaves and sticks, but allow the small stuff to pass through like pine needles, shingle aggregate, and dirt.
There are some screens that claim to not let anything pass through because the openings are so small.
The first issue with screens is they still allow debris to enter the gutters and eventually clog them.
Now when you need to clean your gutters you have to also remove and re-install the screens.
As for those screens that claim not to let debris through.
That may be true, but in those heavy downpours, they also don't let the water enter the gutters and the water over shoots the gutter placing it right where you don't want it, next to the foundation.
The last problem with screens is no matter what type; they all allow debris to accumulate on top of the screen and block water from entering as it is intended.
Filters are just what they sound like, a filter that is made of some type of foam that installs inside of the gutter.
These, like screens will keep the big stuff from entering the gutter, however they would like you to believe that the leaves will just blow off of the top, which doesn't happen, so you will still need to get out the ladder and gloves and clean the tops of the gutters off.
Also, these filters also allow pine needles, shingle aggregate, and dirt to enter which will eventually clog the system.
Think of them like your cars oil filter, eventually all filters need to be cleaned or changed.
The last type of system is the hood style.
These systems are usually installed by professionals, and range in price from $20.
00 to $30.
00 a foot.
Yes, very costly.
These systems are installed under the first or second row of shingles and completely cover your gutter.
The water runs over the hood and the water wraps around the hood, and is deposited in the gutter.
These systems claim as the water wraps around the hood the debris is too heavy to wrap around and shoots right off the hood.
These systems actually for the most part do as they say, though I have been on jobs where the system had to be removed and there was still a bit of debris in the gutters.
If you do decide to use one of these systems, I would recommend using a company that guarantees, that if your gutters become clogged they will come and clean them for free.
Another downside to these systems, though they are not made of honey, they tend to attract bee nests.
So if you are allergic you may want to reconsider this type of gutter protection.
The last piece of information for these hood style systems is that if you need a new roof, To keep your warranty the company has to come out and remove the system before the roof work begins and come back out and re-install it once the roof is complete.
Yes, they usually charge a fee for this.
In my experience and years of building, I have not found a gutter protection system that I can say I would recommend.
Though it is a dirty and dangerous job, cleaning your gutters regularly is the best approach.
If you hire somebody to clean your gutters make sure they have insurance, so if something happens, the liability is not on you.
Nobody can deny the importance of cleaning your gutters.
To keep them clean, you are more than likely doing it several times a year.
What about gutter protection? Is this the answer? In this article we will talk about the different styles of gutter protection on the market and their advantages and disadvantages.
There are three basic types of gutter protection systems on the market today.
Screens are the most common and cheapest type of gutter protection available.
Most of these can be purchased at your local home improvement store and installed by you.
There are companies that sell slightly different versions of these that they install themselves.
Screens in general keep most of the big stuff out like leaves and sticks, but allow the small stuff to pass through like pine needles, shingle aggregate, and dirt.
There are some screens that claim to not let anything pass through because the openings are so small.
The first issue with screens is they still allow debris to enter the gutters and eventually clog them.
Now when you need to clean your gutters you have to also remove and re-install the screens.
As for those screens that claim not to let debris through.
That may be true, but in those heavy downpours, they also don't let the water enter the gutters and the water over shoots the gutter placing it right where you don't want it, next to the foundation.
The last problem with screens is no matter what type; they all allow debris to accumulate on top of the screen and block water from entering as it is intended.
Filters are just what they sound like, a filter that is made of some type of foam that installs inside of the gutter.
These, like screens will keep the big stuff from entering the gutter, however they would like you to believe that the leaves will just blow off of the top, which doesn't happen, so you will still need to get out the ladder and gloves and clean the tops of the gutters off.
Also, these filters also allow pine needles, shingle aggregate, and dirt to enter which will eventually clog the system.
Think of them like your cars oil filter, eventually all filters need to be cleaned or changed.
The last type of system is the hood style.
These systems are usually installed by professionals, and range in price from $20.
00 to $30.
00 a foot.
Yes, very costly.
These systems are installed under the first or second row of shingles and completely cover your gutter.
The water runs over the hood and the water wraps around the hood, and is deposited in the gutter.
These systems claim as the water wraps around the hood the debris is too heavy to wrap around and shoots right off the hood.
These systems actually for the most part do as they say, though I have been on jobs where the system had to be removed and there was still a bit of debris in the gutters.
If you do decide to use one of these systems, I would recommend using a company that guarantees, that if your gutters become clogged they will come and clean them for free.
Another downside to these systems, though they are not made of honey, they tend to attract bee nests.
So if you are allergic you may want to reconsider this type of gutter protection.
The last piece of information for these hood style systems is that if you need a new roof, To keep your warranty the company has to come out and remove the system before the roof work begins and come back out and re-install it once the roof is complete.
Yes, they usually charge a fee for this.
In my experience and years of building, I have not found a gutter protection system that I can say I would recommend.
Though it is a dirty and dangerous job, cleaning your gutters regularly is the best approach.
If you hire somebody to clean your gutters make sure they have insurance, so if something happens, the liability is not on you.
