GUTTER GUARDS
Gutter Guards
First and foremost, there is no such thing as “NEVER CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS AGAIN”. This is a phrase that is thrown around our industry very
loosely. A lot of companies use this phrase, but what they don’t tell you is the GUARD has to be cleaned. Keep in mind that gutter and guards exist
in an imperfect world, the real world, and are exposed to conditions only mother nature can on display. Be very skeptical of the home show
displays. More than likely, you are going to have to have your guards serviced. Guards are well worth the investment when installed correctly
upon the right application. Guards are not for everyone.
Types of Guards
Micro Mesh gutter guards:
Pros:
Micro mesh gutter guards keep leaves, pine needles, and roof grit out of
your gutter while providing maximum water flow through your gutter.
Made from stainless steel micro-mesh that can withstand the elements
and avoid warping or rusting year after year. We install this guard slightly
under the shingle, with the slope of the roof, therefore eliminating a flat
service or shelf, for debris to collect on. Helps stop birds, squirrels and
pests from nesting in the gutters. We use a series of Micro mesh guards
made by Gutter Glove products, such as Leaf Blaster (40yr product
warranty) and Easy On (10yr product warranty) gutter guard.
Cons:
Although micro mesh provides maximum water flow through its filtration,
it still restricts flow. All guards restrict flow. Your steeper roofs, and roof
valleys put a high volume of water onto the guard at a fast rate, and can fail
in your heavy downpours. We recommend installing a 6” gutter system
before putting on this guard. Most homes have a 5” gutter system. We do
install this guard on 5” gutter systems, but bigger is better in this case.
Cost:
Approx $10-$13 per linear foot on full installs. Variables on the price
are whether your system is a 5” or 6” gutter system. Additional expenses
may apply where accessibility to install the guard is difficult, such as heavy
landscape, +2 story structures, and uneven ground conditions which all
require additional time and labor to install the guard properly.
Leaf Logic Gutter Guard
Pros:
Leaf logic has a rippled design which acts like a drying rack and helps
prevent wet leaves from sticking to the surface by letting air get
underneath the debris and lift it away, therefore less maintenance. The
front of the guard has a trough that is engineered to help prevent
overflows during heavier downpours. The low profile lays flat and fits
snugly on top of the gutter for a less visible view of the guard from the
ground. This product does help stop birds, squirrels and pests from nesting
in gutters This product is available in brushed nickel and bronze color. We
install the brushed nickel by default, but bronze is avail upon request. Leaf
logic is Backed by a 20-year material and performance warranty.
Cons:
This guard lays flat on top of the gutter and therefore creates a flat
surface/shelf for debris to collect on. The ripples in the guard do trap small
seedlings and debris, which can build up on top of the guard.
Cost:
Approx $8-$9 per linear foot on full installs. Variables on the price are
whether your system is a 5” or 6” gutter system. Additional expenses may
apply where accessibility to install the guard is difficult, such as heavy
landscape, +2 story structures, and uneven ground conditions which all
require additional time and labor to install the guard properly.
Have you ever tried booking a gutter
cleaning and had to wait 2 or 3 weeks, or
even longer, to get on the schedule?
Well that’s because gutter companies are extremely busy in
the peak seasons of Spring and Fall. Mid-April to Mid-June
makes up the Spring season, and Mid-October to Early-
January makes up the Fall Season. This is when most debris
drop into the gutters, and when most people need to get their
gutters cleaned.
The average person waits until there is a problem with their
gutters to call a gutter company. The trouble with that is,
everybody ends up calling at the same time and the schedule is
already filled up.
Investing in gutter guards keeps you out of the race during
peak seasons.
Frequency, installing gutter guards will reduce how often you
need to service your gutters.
Plastic guards of any type
Pros:
Cheap up front costs, quick and easy to install.
Cons:
Plastics warp over time. The sun bakes the plastic and it eventually gets
brittle and crumbles into the gutter. Discoloration. Squirrels and birds
chew through it easily giving them access to nest in your gutter under the
guard. These guards are often fastened to the gutter by a pressure point,
and blow off during high winds.
Cost:
$4-$6 per linear foot. We do not offer plastic guards of any kind.
Reverse curve guards – Helmet guards – Bullnose guard
Pros:
Most of these style of guards are made of aluminum and are very sturdy.
They principle behind guard relies on water retention. The guard works
great at home shows…..take a look at the cons for the real world situation.
This guard is great until it gets dirty. These types of guards need to be clean to work properly. Water does not roll around the reverse curve very well when it is dirty. This guard is awful for steep roofs and homes with roof valleys. Steep roofs and valleys throw a lot of water at a high rate at this guard, and the water shoots over the guard. Very hard and expensive to service this gutter and guard system.
$15 – $50 per linear foot.
Warranty:
Many say lifetime warranty. Check the consumer reviews. Then run,
run fast, run far away.
Foam gutter guards or Sponge guards:
Pros:
Does a great job at keeping large debris out, and filters water fairly quickly.
Cons:
These guards are made of plastic and become brittle and break apart as
a dust into the gutter over time. These guards also hold dirt and small debris,
which then clogs the guard. Just like a sponge gets dirty, except you can’t
ring it out and clean it. Not good for trees that drop little seedlings and
debris.
Cost:
Depending on which brand of guard you go with, anywhere between
$8-$12 per linear foot.
Gutter Brush gutter guards:
Pros:
The idea of the brush is for debris to roll off the brush and water go
through the bristles. Works great at a home show, and looks good on
paper.
Cons:
Debris gets caught up in the brushes, and eventually clogs the brushes.
The brushesthen need pulled out, cleaned, and re-installed.
Cost:
$9-$15 per linear foot, depending on how much you buy. The more you
buy, the cheaper it is per foot.
