Are Gutter Guards A Waste Of Money?
Gutter guards are marketed by gutter providers as a maintenance-free alternative to gutter cleaning and maintenance. Gutter guards have benefits and drawbacks. Companies neglect to inform you that your gutters still require routine maintenance even with gutter guards, and they can be pricey to install.
Gutter guards are a waste of money and are not worth the long-term costs. You can avoid the laborious task of gutter cleaning by using gutter guards, which are often effective in keeping debris out of gutters. It contradicts the point of the gutter guard investment when gutters still require routine cleaning and maintenance.
Other issues include inadequate roof rainwater collection and rotting fascia boards brought on by leakage behind the gutters, both of which can result in costly repairs.
What Happens When You Use Gutter Guards?
You’ll find that over time, gutter guards won’t accomplish much to prevent debris off your roof when you utilize them.
In the worst situation, gutter guards might result in irreversible roof damage, necessitating expensive replacement. This “hack” or “shortcut” to a clean roof can cost you money instead.
Then, do gutter guards function? Actually, no. You might be better off looking for competent gutter cleaners in your area.
What Advantages Do Gutter Guards Have?
There are various advantages of gutter guards on your rain gutters. Here are some of them:
Variety
You can choose from a wide variety of brands with variable design possibilities. This ought to be a success for you.
You can research the best option within your price range and install it. The possibilities offered during the pre-purchase stage are well-liked by many happy consumers.
Less Maintenance
If you live in a region with a lot of trees, autumn can be difficult for gutters. If unattended, your gutters would gather a lot of leaves. The gutters would need to be cleaned more frequently.
The chance of harm increases when you ascend the roof more frequently to clear the gutter. The larger leaf bits that would normally land in the gutter are now washed away or blown off the roof by the gutter guard.
What are the Disadvantages of Gutter Guards?
Due to their restriction of the amount of water entering the gutter, gutter guards can be problematic. As a result, it keeps moisture in the gutter, lets smaller debris in, and ruins the appearance of your home. Gutter overflow issues can arise even with expert installation.
Waterflow Restriction
A gutter guard’s main function is to divert water and keep most debris out of the gutter systems. If there is a severe deluge, however, rainwater will rush off and skip the gutter, falling to the ground.
When the gutter is not present, the rainwater overflows the surrounding area and may leak into the basement and foundation.
Water flow restriction into the gutter channel is the main issue that gutter guards create, especially during periods of heavy rainfall.
Certain gutter guard designs may be overly tight and hinder the entry of enough water. Rainwater may run over the gutter and land in areas where you don’t want it to by reason of this poor drainage.
They Don’t Stop Debris Efficiently
Small openings for water can become blocked by larger debris, such leaves, and the water cannot flow as freely into the gutter.
They might not completely prevent material from entering the main gutter trough, and should a blockage develop that requires clearing, the gutter guard might make it challenging to adequately clean the gutters.
Smaller debris, like pine needles, can frequently get past gutter guards and accumulate in the main gutter channel, causing clogs that require periodic cleaning.
Do Gutter Guards Cause Problems?
Gutter guard issues are mostly the result of carelessness. Homeowners are sold on peace of mind by gutter guard marketing in order to avoid clogged or blocked gutters.
Although it sounds nice to never have to clean gutters again, this is untrue. In the winter, they can also help produce ice dams and serve as a site for bees and birds to build their nests.
Do Gutter Guards Work in Heavy Rain?
Your home is shielded by gutters from significant water damage brought on by torrential rain. Rain gutters can sometimes become clogged, which is why gutter guards are a thing. Do gutter guards, however, withstand torrential rain?
When it rains heavily, gutter guards can reduce the amount of water that enters the gutter channel. Some designs are more effective than others, but in many cases, particularly on a roof with a big surface area or a steep roof, heavy rain will overwhelm the gutter guard.
Gutter guards allow water to travel through and are designed to direct it away from your home. They stop leaves and other debris from getting into the gutter and clogging gutters.
Is it Normal for Gutters to Overflow in Heavy Rain?
Gutter overflow during a downpour is uncommon. If your gutter overflows during a downpour, it usually means that there is a clog or that the gutter is not sloped properly to divert roof runoff sufficiently away from the foundation.
Gutter control is the process of directing water away from the house so that it won’t damage the foundation by preventing runoff from the roof.
Under normal circumstances, gutters can manage the water flow from the roof. However, they often find it difficult to manage the extra water when it rains heavily. Gutter guards might make things even more challenging.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Gutter Guard
Ultimately, it’s up to you whether you want a gutter guard or not. If you decide you want one, then it’s vital that you choose the best one for you. Below, we have some factors you need to consider when choosing one:
- Roof’s surface size: A large surface area roof will be sending a lot of water down the gutter. Gutter guards could work effectively on a modest roof area but are definitely not appropriate for a large surface area roof.
- Price: Installing gutter guards is not cheap, so the expense might not be worth it if they are ineffective and distract from the appearance of the home.
- Maintenance: Installing gutter guards and forgetting about them is not a good gutter care strategy. Gutter guards still need to be maintained, and any debris that slipped through the gutter guard needs to be removed.
- Insects and animals: Gutter guards can offer a sanctuary in the gutter area that is alluring to pest animals including bees, wasps, and hornets, as well as occasionally tiny birds. These creatures have been known to create nests in the gutter guard covers, clogging the gutter.
- Type of debris in your area: The gutter guard may not be able to properly keep the gutter free of certain kind of debris. If the debris on your roof is from tiny leaved trees, like pine needles, this will be an issue.
In general, leaf guards for gutters are not a practical way to prevent clogs, and the cost is not justified by the potential number of new issues they could cause.
Wrapping It Up
Gutter guards may be necessary in some situations, but they are not necessary or desirable for every home. To decide whether a gutter guard would be a good option for your home, you would need to assess your specific situation.
Heather is a passionate writer who loves anything DIY. Growing up, she learned everything from home repairs to design, and wants to share her tips with you. When she's not writing, she's usually hiking or searching for her next DIY project.
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