Table of Contents
If your gutter demands two to three times cleaning in a year, then there is a need to look for some better alternatives. Gutter guard is the best solution for homeowners who need frequent cleaning of their gutters.
It acts as a cap or liner over gutters and blocks all kinds of debris entry inside the gutter system. Installing gutter guards will reduce the mess and make your job easy. Check out the features of each gutter guard, and then choose the best.
What Is A Gutter Guard?
Rainwater often brings some other elements along them such as leaves, sticks and that clogs the gutter. That’s why professional recommend gutter guards. Gutter guards are the best alternative or mechanism to prevent the entry of debris and leaves in gutters and the clogging of gutters.
These guards filter out debris and other elements and ensure the proper flow of water through the installed gutters. It is also termed gutter screens, helmets, gutter covers. It saves your time of gutter cleaning and money in the long term.
Why Are Gutter Guards Important?
The home’s gutter system collects water from the roof and channels it effectively from home. But if the gutter system gets clogged with debris and dust, it will not allow proper water flow. This results in damaging the foundation of the roof, and in severe conditions, it can start leaking through roofs.
Such a situation increases the chance of mold formation and damage to the substructure. Sticks, twigs, leaves, and other such things clog gutters and downspouts. Because of this, homeowners need to offer frequent cleaning to gutters. Therefore installing gutter guards are important in keeping gutters clean and free from buildup.
Might Like: How to Install Gutter Guards?
Gutter helmets ensure water flows easily through gutters. There are a variety of gutter guards available, and each of them works differently. As they all have some upsides and downsides, so you should choose the best one for your home.
Types Of Gutter Guards Available For Home
You will find gutter guards in a variety of materials, sizes, and features. The pricing of each guard varies with its materials. Have a look at some of the popular gutter guard types and decide the best one for your home.
Micro-Mesh Gutter Guards
Such types of gutter guards are made up of metal sheets and have thousands of tiny holes. The size of the holes is 50 microns in diameter. These small holes are best for keeping debris out and water in. It appears like metal or uPVC plates and gets fitted easily on the top of gutters.
Micro mesh gutter guards can get installed on all types of roofs and gutters. Tiny holes do not get clogged with leaves, seeds, and needles. Also, this gutter guard is durable. It lasts for a long duration. If you are planning to install new gutter guards, then a micro-mesh gutter guard is the best choice.
But it requires occasional cleaning. Pine needles do not enter the mesh cover; thus, if your home is located near trees, then it will be a suitable option.
Pros
- This gutter guard review suggests it provides the best gutter protection.
- Reliable gutter cover
- Maintenance-free and comes with a warranty
- The durable and best solution for blocked gutters
Cons
- High price tag
- Debris will rest on its top and demand sweeping timely
- They require professional installation
Clean Your Gutter: Get The Easy and Effective Tips For Gutter Cleaning
Foam Gutter Guards
Image Source by Website @amazon.com.au
The foam gutter guards block all the debris entrance inside the gutter. It fits perfectly inside gutters. With the pores of these gutters, only water penetrates. The forms are mostly made of polyether or polyurethane. Foam gutter guards are the easiest to install, and you can easily install them without hiring professional gutter guard installers.
It is available in different lengths thus you can easily choose according to your requirement. By pushing and bending, they get inserted inside gutters. The cost of such gutter guards is minimal.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Most economical option
- They come with a warranty.
- High-end design and construction
Cons
- Frequent replacement required
- Debris pile up on guard
- Low-quality foam gutters are prone to fire hazards
- The seedling may start inside foam
Brush Gutter Guards
As the name suggests, this gutter guard comes in bottlebrush form with heavy-duty bristles. This is a DIY project. You can easily lay down a long bristle bottle brush gutter guard. It keeps large debris away. The best part is that the gutters remain dry as the spiles of the guards allow the proper air circulation.
It prevents rusting issues. Also, with less maintenance, you will enjoy debris-free gutters. You only have to remove the gutter guard and shake, and you are all set. Because of this reason, it is one of the most popular gutter guards for residential spaces.
Pros
- DIY installation is possible.
- Wet free gutters
- An inexpensive option for debris-free gutters
- Easy cleaning process
Cons
- Small debris such as pine needles spinners may get stuck in this.
- Leaves get projects on their bristles.
- For cleaning, you need to remove the whole thing.
- Requires frequent maintenance
Screen Gutter Guards
It is the most common gutter cover that is made up of polyether foam, nylon filaments, metal. It appears like a screen, and you can easily install it over the top of the gutter. Also, this gutter guard (aluminum wire or powder-coated steel wire) allows the proper flow of water, and the mesh screen easily catches all debris and leaves.
The best thing about screen gutter guards is that it is lightweight, budget-friendly, easy to install, and easily available. But with so much upside, there is one downside too: it is not giving its best for long years.
Pros
- DIY friendly gutter guard installation
- Lightweight and inexpensive
- Available in a variety of shapes and materials
Cons
- It gets clogged easily.
- If you are using a metal screen guard, then it is prone to rust
- Frequent maintenance is required
- Small debris easily enters into guard
- During a storm, it may blow off if not installed properly
Reverse Curve Surface Tension Gutter Guards
It is the old form of gutter guards that are somewhat hundred years old. Over the years, this gutter guard has experienced several improvements. Now gutter guards manufacturing companies are improving their performance and durability. Water flows easily from the nose of the edge into the gutter.
Leaves and debris get stuck at its curved edge. It is termed reverse gutter guard because water gets collected from the top side, and then due to surface tension of the curved surface, water naturally flows into gutters.
This type of gutter guard requires proper installation; no DIY gutter guard installation is successful for this particular product.
Pros
- Preventing clogging by stopping debris entrance
- Ensure proper flow of rainwater
- Low maintenance
- Comes with warranty
Cons
- Heavy and bulky
- Roof shingles need to lift up for installation
- Installation cost is high
- A pest problem can occur
- Debris may collect at opening
- Turn down-home curb appeal
Conclusion
We hope that you have got an idea about a different variety of gutter guards. Then, you can choose the most reasonable one according to your needs and requirements. But you should keep this point in mind that even if you install the best or highly-priced gutter guard, it will also not be completely maintenance-free.
Also Visit: How Much Does Gutter Guard Installation Or Replacement Cost Sydney 2022
They will prevent the entrance of dust, dirt, and leaves. The only right way is to consider all the reasonable factors such as region, climate, pros, and cons of a particular gutter guard.
