Are Gutter Guards Worth It?

Gutters are essential to direct rainwater off of your roof and away from your home’s foundation. To keep your gutter system working effectively this fall, leaf protection products like gutter guards are a popular solution. But do gutter guards really work? With the right type of guards and proper installation, gutter guards can keep your gutters and downspouts free from clogs.

Why Are Gutter Guards Important?

Gutters are installed on your home to prevent water damage. Without a well-maintained gutter system, you may experience major problems such as foundation damage, cracked structures, mold damage and basement flooding.

Gutter guards are designed to ensure the integrity of your gutter system by keeping out leaves, sticks, dirt, ice, snow and other debris that forms clogs over time. When you have gutter guards professionally installed, you will prevent damage and lower the amount of maintenance necessary to keep your gutters in good condition.

Types of Gutter Guards

The best type of gutter guards/leaf protection for your home depends on your home’s location, the gutters you have and the amount of leaves and debris you usually encounter. Common types of gutter guards include:

• Gutter screens: Gutter screens come in a variety of sizes and materials. They are made with small holes that allow water to pass through while keeping leaves and other large debris out. They are easy to install and relatively inexpensive, but your gutters will still need occasional maintenance to prevent clogs from small debris like seeds and needles. When it comes to gutter screens, we recommend Premium Screen Leaf Protection.
• Mesh: Like gutter screens, mesh gutter guards have holes to let rainwater through and keep out debris. The main difference is that they are made of mesh, so the holes are usually smaller than those in gutter screens. Mesh gutter guards are available in a range of materials, from plastic frames and lightweight screens to solid metal frames with stainless steel sheets. They reduce the risk of clogs for less maintenance, but they will still need occasional cleaning. For an excellent mesh product, we recommend Englert Micro Guard.
• Brush: Brush gutter guards are made with bristles that face upright to catch debris while water flows down into the gutter. You have to remove these guards completely to clean them thoroughly.
• Foam: With this type of gutter guard, pieces of foam are placed inside your gutter to block debris. The downsides to this gutter cover are that small debris can get caught in the foam and the foam pieces need to be removed from the gutters to be cleaned.

Gutter screens and mesh guards are generally the most popular and effective leaf protection options.

What Do Gutter Guards Cost?

The cost of gutter guards varies depending on the length of your gutters and the type of gutter guard material. On average, you can expect to pay between $7.50 and $10.00 per linear foot of gutter guard that is installed, though more complex systems may be more expensive.

The upfront cost of professional leaf guard installation will save you time and money over the long run, as they help prevent costly structural damage to your home and reduce the amount of maintenance needed each year. DIY installation can be tricky, and many gutter guards require a level of gutter knowledge and experience that most people don’t have.

When you have your gutter guards professionally installed by a reputable company, you can rest assured that you are getting a high-quality system that will deliver reliable performance.

Contact Sunshine Contracting Today for High-Quality Gutter Guards

Let Sunshine Contracting install your new high-quality gutter guards so you can spend less time scaling ladders this season. We offer a Premium Screen system and an Englert MicroGuard system for advanced leaf protection. The start of fall is the perfect time to get one of these systems installed before leaves begin to accumulate in your gutters.

Contact us today about a new gutter guard system for your home. We will work with you to find the perfect solution for your needs and budget, and our highly trained in-house crews will install the gutter guards quickly and effectively.