Should I Install Gutter Guards On My Gutters? (Pros and Cons)
When it comes to your gutters, you may have wondered whether or not adding gutter guards would be beneficial. While there are many benefits, there can also be some disadvantages.
One benefit of gutter guards is that they can help ensure that clogs are kept away, which not only saves you money on costly repairs but also makes cleanups a lot easier. Another advantage is that it helps protect your gutters from getting damaged by ice and debris, even during winter. Depending on the type of guard you get installed, it might even be able to keep out large animals such as squirrels or birds from making their nests inside your gutters.
On the other hand, there are some disadvantages when it comes to using gutter guards, primarily with regards to protecting against heavy rain. If you live in an area where there’s a lot of rainfall – especially during hurricane season – then installing gutter guards isn’t going to be enough. You’ll also need to make sure your gutters are reinforced against the weight of rainwater, which is expensive and can pose a safety risk for removal teams working in your home.
Another drawback is that gutter guards aren’t able to control the angle at which water flows into your gutters. This means that even if you install gutter guards, they won’t stop water from flowing and spilling over your side of the house or onto walkways below. If this isn’t something you want to deal with, then it may be better simply to leave your gutter system as-is until you have more time (and money) to invest in repairs.
In the end, you should look at gutter guards as an alternative to keeping your gutters well maintained. This means that in addition to having a local professional help with installation, you’re also going to need to check up on them regularly in order to make sure they’re still doing their job. If this starts becoming more work than it is worth, then you might want to consider getting rid of the guards altogether and hiring professionals for regular maintenance instead.
Fast Tips!
Beware of Gimmicks: There are a lot of so-called miracle gutter guard products that have come out only to quickly disappear from the market when users realized how ineffective they were. Before investing in any kind of gutter guard, be sure to investigate the product and its manufacturer through online reviews. Most of these gimmicks are best avoided altogether, especially if the only benefit they offer is that you don’t have to clean your gutters any more (you will still need to install them properly in order for them to work.)
Install Them Properly: The key with gutter guards is making sure they’re installed correctly. This includes making sure there aren’t any gaps in between each section of the gutter guard and also that it fits snugly over your existing gutters. If needed, it may be a good idea to seal up any visible seams around your roofline as well so that water doesn’t run underneath your existing gutters.
Regular Maintenance Is Key: If you’re not going to have professionals install your gutter guards and then check up on them regularly, then it may be better simply to hire a professional instead. This can help ensure that everything is done right the first time around – as well as avoid some of the more common mistakes when installing gutter guards such as making sure there aren’t any hidden damage under your roof shingles or missing screws (which will only make things worse.)
Conclusion
In the end, whether or not you should get gutter guards depends on two main factors: how bad your current gutters are and what level of commitment you want to put into maintaining them. In most cases, if you have a newer house then chances are your gutters aren’t in need of any major repairs. If this is the case, then it may be wiser to simply hire professionals to improve your system and avoid the mess and hassle that comes with using gutter guards. On the other hand, if you want to minimize future maintenance and keep your home safe from falling debris as much as possible, then getting gutter guards installed is probably one of the smartest investments you can make.
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