If you reside in Vancouver, you will realize the importance of gutter cleaning. Homeowners who are aware of the risks involved in gutter cleaning prefer to call upon professionals to get it done. However, some even smarter homeowners choose to install gutter guards to save money on gutter cleaning professionals. While these guards may seem quite helpful, you must dive into the details to decide are gutter guards worth it in Vancouver or not for your gutter system.
An Introduction to Gutter Guards
What do the cleaning professionals usually do when they arrive? Similarly, how do you clean the gutter yourself? Usually, the process is to remove the leaves, twigs, and other debris from the gutter that will otherwise clog the system, blocking water passage. This debris at times mixes with water and creates mess-like stains on the body structure. So, you can keep away your gutter body from stains if you can keep the debris and other elements away. The gutter guards will do exactly this work for you.
Gutter guards are covers or shields that protect your gutter from such leaves, twigs, and debris, that otherwise will clog the gutter system. The guard is installed over the gutter system so that only water flows throw the gutter while the debris stays out of the water’s way. When you get a gutter guard, it reduces the chances of clogging and even you can reduce the number of gutter cleaning sessions per year.
More About Gutter Guards
Now that you have known what gutter guards are, let us take a glimpse of different types of gutter guards and their pros and cons.
First, let us talk about the different gutter guard options you can have.
- Micro-mesh guards are metal sheets that are used to cover the gutter. The tiny holes on the sheet will allow water to drip into the gutter while debris stays out. While this is one of the most effective types, it is also quite expensive.
- The reserve curve gutter guards are a great solution for the larger debris. It pushes the leaves and other larger debris to the ground while letting the water flow through the gutter.
- Bottle brush gutter guard is another option that you have to install inside the gutter. The bristles stand straight to catch up the debris while allowing the water to flow out smoothly.
- You will notice the Screen gutter guards quite commonly because of their ease of installation and budget-friendliness.
- Similar to brush guards, you install the foam gutter guard also inside the gutter to keep the draining water free from debris.
Similar to different functioning types, gutter guards also vary based on the materials they are made up of. You can choose from a wide range of material options such as stainless steel, copper, aluminum, plastic, and foam. While steel and copper are highly durable, they are also expensive. However, aluminum is another material that is known for its affordability. Plastic and foam are the non-metal materials that you must use based on the condition of the gutter system.
Pros and Cons of Gutter Guards
Experts have always recommended gutters with gutter guards to prevent your gutter systems from clogging and to save time and money on cleaning. However, you must always understand the pros and cons before you decide to install a gutter guard for your gutter system.
Pros of Gutter Guards
When you ask do gutter guards work or not, you first look for the pros of these guards. Here are the pros to talk about.
- Saves your Time and Effort
Without gutter guards, you have to spend time in regular cleaning of the gutter. If you call upon professionals for cleaning, you have to spend a lot of money because of frequent cleaning. When you install a gutter guard, your gutter stays clean most of the time. Of course, you will require cleaning but much fewer times than usual.
- Reduced Pest Infestations
Open gutters often welcome pests that again enter the house to cause damage. However, when you cover the gutters with a gutter guard, it stops the pests from entering the gutter and house, ultimately preventing further damage.
- Protection from Fire
When there is a fire nearby, the sparks may fly and fall in the gutter breaking out fire through dry leaves or debris. A gutter guard will keep the gutter free from debris and hence the chances of a fire breakout are reduced to a great extent
- A Great Help during Freezing Condition
During the winters in Vancouver, the water in the gutter freezes. However, the flow of water after defrosting gets difficult if debris has also frozen with the water. A gutter guard will protect the water in the gutter from debris, allowing a smooth flow of water after the ice melts.
- Prevents Rusting
When the water flows out of the gutter, the moist leaves and debris left out in the gutter cause rusting and corrosion. A gutter guard does not allow sitting of such moist debris in the gutter system. So, when there is no water, the gutter is dry and it reduces the chances of rusting.
- Improved Water Flow
The most essential advantage of the gutter system is that improves the water flow. The guards will keep the water collected in the gutters free from debris. Thus, there is less clogging and less need for cleaning and maintenance of the gutter. If you have a habit of collecting rainwater, the gutter guard will ensure cleaner water in the gutter that will flow into the water rank. Also, when you have a guard over the gutter, it allows even faster collection of water in the rain tank.
Cons of Gutter Guards
As it is essential to understand both the pros and cons of gutter guards to decide better, let us focus on the cons now.
- May Not Work At Times
While the gutter guards protect your gutter from dry leaves and twigs, it may always happen that small debris still enters the gutter. So, when such smaller debris accumulates over time, it can also clog the gutter. Of course, clogging with small debris will take longer time than the larger ones.
- Requires Maintenance
While the gutter guard is protecting your gutter, it also requires cleaning and maintenance at times. Maintenance of the gutter guard can be a difficult task. So, you must call upon a professional for the purpose.
- Can Get Dented
Gutter guards can get dented due to several reasons such as something heavy falling on them, or any hard material attacking them. Of course, you can go for the best rated gutter guard or hard metal options in this case but this can get a bit expensive.
- Can Sag the Gutter
You cannot leave the gutter guards unattended for a long time. The debris on the guard may accumulate and put pressure on it to sag and ultimately cause damage to the gutter. So, you must clean up the debris from the top of the guard at regular intervals to keep the gutter guard from sagging the gutter and causing bigger damage.
- May not be Appealing
While today you get several options in gutter guards, you have to settle down with these options available only, even if they do not match the aesthetics of your house. So, the gutter guard doesn't need to match and complement well with the design of your house exterior. If you really require the gutter guard, then you may even have to compromise with the exterior aesthetics to protect the house’s foundation.
- A Compromise with the Roof Warranty at Times
To install the gutter guard, you may at times have to slide the guard under the roof’s shingles. However, when you do so, you tamper with the roof's warranty. So, if some damage happens to the roof, you may not get a free service, rather you have to invest money for the repair and maintenance. So, you must think carefully about about whether you require a gutter guard for your house.
Once you have come across the pros and cons, you must also understand how much you need the gutter guard in your location in Vancouver. These pros and cons mostly answer the question of whether are gutter guards worth it in Vancouver. However, if you are still confused, you can always get in touch with a professional to help you get an answer.
Conclusion
Vancouver is all about rain, snow, and breezy evenings at times. So, you must think about keeping your gutter system clean and well-maintained to ensure proper water flow. While some homeowners prefer to clean and maintain their gutter system regularly, most modern homeowners prefer to get a gutter guard for a much more relaxed experience. Of course, the requirement of the gutter guard depends upon several factors such as the location where you are residing in Vancouver. When you are not sure whether you should get a gutter guard or not, you must go through the pros and cons to understand its necessity for your home gutter. Of course, getting in touch with the professionals will also help you reach a decision and to select the right gutter guard for your home. To know more about other gutter related information Read our Blog