Gutter guards offer amazing protection to your gutter system and home. Let’s break down the different types of gutter guards to determine which is right for your home.
Why Are Gutter Guards Necessary?
Spring is right around the corner! You’ve just finished preparing the exterior of your home for the spring rains. The leaves have been cleared out of your garden beds and off of your decks and patios. You’ve de-winterized your exterior hose bibs. You may have even power washed the exterior of your home and you’ve cleaned your gutters. Before you mark your springtime exterior home preparation checklist as ‘Done’, you should consider installing gutter protection.
Gutter guards are a great way to protect the gutter system on your home, and in turn, protect your home itself from the heavier rainfall that Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, and the surrounding areas of Montgomery County can receive in the spring months. Gutters collect rainwater from your roof and divert it away from your home. However, if your gutter system is not properly protected, it could fail leaving your home susceptible to water damage and foundation issues. Any type of covering or insert for your gutters will help protect them from the sun’s UV rays which can break down the sealants used at installation, protect against insects and pests gathering in and making your gutters their home, and protect against the gathering of heavy debris which can cause your gutters to become damaged or even fail. For most Homeowners, though, the biggest benefit to gutter guard systems is the decreased need for gutter cleaning and maintenance.
What Should I Consider When Deciding on Gutter Guards?
When looking at the different types of gutter guards, you should think about your home and its specific needs. For example, consider what type of trees surround your home. For example, pine trees drop pine needles while oak trees drop larger oak leaves. Knowing what type of debris your gutters system needs protection from can help in making your decision. Another thing to consider when thinking about gutter guards is your abilities and comfortability maintaining your gutter system as the Homeowner. For example, are you a handy or mechanically inclined person who can handle a DIY gutter guards project? Are you able to comfortably work on a ladder to perform maintenance on your gutters system and the gutter guards? Lastly, consider your price range. Are you comfortable with spending the money on a professional gutter guard installation company or spending money on a more expensive DIY gutter guard option? These are all questions that you should consider when looking into gutter guard options.
What Are My Options When It Comes to Gutter Guards?
There are many types of gutter guards available to you to install personally and to have installed professionally. Each type has its own pros, cons, and benefits depending on the home and the Homeowner. Below we will discuss the six (6) main types of gutter guard systems:
Brush Guards
Just as the name suggests, brush guards are large bristled brushes that are installed inside of your gutter troughs (see our previous blog about the different components of your gutter system for help with terminology). This option is great for keeping pine needles and twigs out of your gutters and its design allows free air flow through the gutter troughs. Adequate air flow will minimize the amount of stagnant water that collects preventing mildew from accumulating and preventing mosquitos and other insects from hanging around your home. However, larger leaves may have get stuck on the brushes causing blockages. Smaller particles, too, often get stuck in between the bristles of the brush, need to be removed by hand, and are often difficult to get fully clean. This could be a good option for a home that has a lot of pine trees around as long as the Homeowner is comfortable with plenty of regular maintenance.
Foam Inserts
These are pieces of polyurethane foam that are inserted inside of your gutter trough. The material is sponge-like and porous so that water can filter through while leaves and debris are kept out of the gutter trough. Foam inserts are very simple to install yourself so a professional will not be needed, but they do require quite a bit of maintenance. The larger pieces of debris, like larger leaves, sit on top of the foam inserts and if not removed regularly, can cause the gutter system to fail since water cannot get to the foam inserts passed the larger pieces of debris. Foam inserts also tend to breakdown over time and will need to be replaced every few years.
PVC Covers
PVC gutter covers are another option for gutter protection. Essentially, they are a piece of PVC that fits on stop of your gutter trough and has a drain on the top. The cover keeps leaves and debris out of the gutter troughs while allowing the rainwater to flow through the drain and into the gutter trough. PVC covers are durable in most types of weather and are mildew resistant. However, prolonged exposure to the sun can break down the material. Installation is a bit difficult for most DIY savvy Homeowners and while they require less regular maintenance, they will likely require professional installation. A Homeowner would have to keep an eye on the single drain on the covers to ensure that it does not get clogged with pollen which would prevent rainwater from flowing into the gutter troughs and render the PVC covers obsolete.
Mesh & Micro Mesh Screens
Mesh screens and micro mesh screens are very similar in design. They are usually made out of stainless steel or aluminum and are easily installed and have a low profile so that they are not visible from the ground. Mesh and micro mesh screens are also fairly durable and can last many years. The only difference between the two (2) is the size of the holes in the mesh. Micro mesh screens have smaller holes to prevent even smaller debris from making its way through into your gutter troughs. The downside to mesh and micro mesh screens is that they can be costly, are not the easiest to install on your own, and they can easily clog requiring more regular maintenance. Larger leaves will sit on top of the mesh and micro mesh screens and block water from flowing through, impeding the drainage of your gutter system.
Surface Tension Helmets
Surface tension helmets consist of a piece of aluminum that fits over top of your gutter troughs with a drain on that allows water through. They direct the water over the aluminum helmet and then around the lip into the gutter troughs. The water goes into the gutter trough while the leaves and debris flow over the top of the helmet and then to the ground. This type of gutter guard requires very little maintenance, looks great on your gutters, and can last a lifetime. The only downside to this option is that it is difficult for a Homeowner to install themselves and generally requires professional installation. There are a few different brands of surface tension gutter helmets, but the best is the K Guard leaf free gutter system. With the K Guard system, you get not one (1), but two (2) drains on the hood, the hood is able to be lifted for inspection or maintenance, and it comes with a lifetime warranty guaranteeing that your gutters will never clog, sag, or pull away from your home. This guarantee is transferable to the next Owner if you were to sell your home. The lifetime warranty means that the Homeowner will never have to clean their own gutters again. They’d just have to call the professional that installed themselves and they would come out, at no cost to the Homeowner, and make sure that the gutter system is running smoothly. K Guard’s cost is also significantly less than other surface tension helmet brands.
Mid Atlantic Gutters and Roofing, LLC is a licensed K Guard dealer serving Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, the surrounding areas of Montgomery county, as well as most of Maryland. We offer quick, free estimates and fast turn around times from estimation to installation. If surface tension helmets sound like the perfect solution for your gutters guard needs, that’s because it is. We’d love to meet with you, show you a demonstration of the amazing K Guard product and give you a free estimate.
Say Yes to Gutter Guards
Gutter guards may be considered a gutter system accessory, but in our professional opinion, they are a gutter system necessity. Gutter guards are a simple way to provide you with the peace of mind that your gutter system will work effectively and protect your home from the rainfall that we experience here on the mid Atlantic coast. No matter which option you choose, gutter guards are the way to go.