Drive through any established neighborhood, and you’ll see at least one or two homes with weeds growing in the gutters. You might even notice small trees sprouting.
This is a result of poor gutter maintenance!
When gutters become a planter for weeds, grass, and trees, it’s time to switch up the gutter cleaning program. Many homeowners install gutter guards, thinking they can eliminate gutter maintenance.
While that sounds like a great plan, it may not be realistic. Read on to learn more about this popular gutter protection system and whether it means no more maintenance.
The Danger of Blocked Gutters
When you have blocked gutters, your home cannot drain water after heavy rain. This is incredibly taxing to your home if you live in Vancouver, Washington, where it rains 177 days out of the year.
Avoiding gutter maintenance can cause multiple issues, including:
- Roof damage
- Wall damage
- Compromised foundation
- Ruined landscaping
Clogged gutters usually result in standing water, the perfect breeding for mold, mildew, and mosquitoes. Mosquito infestations can lead to health problems for you and your household.
How Do Gutter Guards Work?
Think of gutter guards like a helmet. They cover the gutter and deflect debris that can create a blockage. While several different types of materials are used to make gutter guards, mesh is one of the best.
Mesh gutter guards are sheets that cover the gutters. They attach to the shingles on the roof and trap debris while allowing stormwater to flow into the gutter, where it then travels to the downspout.
Many manufacturers offer custom mesh sizes, including standard, large, and extra large. Size matters because it determines what size of debris the guard can trap.
No or Low-Maintenance?
Maybe you’ve heard that installing these protective helmets on your gutters means you’ll never need to clean them again. After all, some companies advertise their products as maintenance-free. While that would be wonderful, it’s not realistic.
A gutter protection system will significantly reduce, but not eliminate, gutter maintenance.
Since the guards keep debris out of the gutter system, you won’t need to scoop fallen leaves, plant matter, or rodents from the gutters twice a year. If installed correctly, you should only need to brush larger debris from the top of the guards.
There are caveats!
Even the smallest gauge mesh can allow a small amount of debris to drop into the gutter, but the particles aren’t large enough to clog gutters. You may still need to clean gutters periodically, but not as often as you would without protection.
Let Us Help Protect Your Home Gutters
When you consider the maintenance required by many other home systems, HVAC, plumbing, or floor coverings – installing low-maintenance gutter guards is like a breath of fresh air.
You can even take a completely hands-off approach and hire a gutter company to brush off the guards and clean underneath when needed.
Gutter Empire has been installing and maintaining gutter systems for Vancouver area homeowners since 2016. Contact us for more information on how we can help you protect your gutters.