Gutters don’t just create a clean edge around the roofline of your home. The primary purpose of your gutter system is to divert stormwater off the roof and keep it away from your home’s foundation.
Clogged gutters can damage your foundation, create structural issues, and cause basement flooding. Gutter guards can help improve the way your existing gutters perform.
In this article, you’ll learn some basic information about gutter guards. You’ll also enjoy tips on choosing the best gutter guards to fit your roof.
If you’re considering adding an extra layer of protection to your gutter system, you’ll want to take a minute and read this post.
Benefits of Gutter Guards
Installing gutter guards should reduce the amount of time you spend maintaining your gutter system. Here are a few other advantages of gutter guards you may not know about:
- Discourage rodent and insect infestations
- Help alleviate ice dams
- Prevent rust and corrosion
- Prevent mold and mildew development
- Fire protection
If you use a rain barrel, gutter guards help it refill more quickly when it rains. You’ll also enjoy cleaner water because gutter guards filter contaminants and debris.
Types of Gutter Guards
When you research gutter protection, you’ll see gutter guards come in different types of materials. Each material offers a different strength and different features.
The guards you choose can optimize your gutter system and help extend the life of your roof. In most areas, you can choose from these five types of gutter guards:
- Mesh
- Bottle brush
- Screen
- Foam
- Reverse curve
Most homeowners prefer mesh guards. Mesh gutter guards have a reputation for being durable. They also work with a wide variety of gutter systems and roof types and sizes.
Best Gutter Guards for Your Roof
Keeping in mind the different types of gutter guards, which one will work best on your roof? You’re lucky if you have an asphalt roof—the most common roofing material. Mesh gutter guards perform well with asphalt roofs.
Other top roofing materials include metal, wood, clay, concrete, and slate. Some roofs today are made from synthetic materials like rubber, plastic, and polymer.
A qualified gutter installer can even fit them to one of the more challenging types of roofing materials: terracotta or Spanish tiles. These tiles often overhang the fascia. Gutters on these roofs sometimes sit too high to install gutter guards.
If manufactured from the highest-quality materials and installed by a professional, micromesh gutter guards work on every type of roof system.
Time to Talk to the Experts
Now that you know more about gutter guards and feel confident they’ll work on your specific type of roof, it’s an excellent time to consult a professional gutter installation contractor.
Gutter Empire has installed and maintained residential gutter systems in Washington and Oregon since 2016. We specialize in the installation of micromesh gutter guards.
Contact us today for more information on gutter guards. Let us help you protect your home from the inconvenience of clogged gutters.