Gutter guards protect your gutters from clogging with leaves, dirt, moss, dead animals, and other debris.
These clogs can cause serious problems for your home. They can also lead to mold and mildew, which is terrible for your home.
Gutter guards come in several different types and designs. Some are more effective for certain kinds of debris or work better in specific climates.
Debris Blockage
While gutter guards may prevent leaves and larger debris from entering your gutters, they often don’t stop smaller items, such as twigs and pine needles, from slipping through. It can lead to blockages, requiring you to climb a ladder to clean the gutters or hire a company.
Some gutter guards Oregon City are designed to catch shingle sediment and sand that can build up in the bottom of your storm gutters. This type of debris is typically a problem for homes with asphalt shingles, which are coated with a fine sand-like material that can collect in the gutters.
Screen gutter guards are the most popular and are made of perforated metal, plastic, or mesh. These systems work well for blocking debris but can be challenging to install and clog easily. They also are susceptible to rust, which can void your roof warranty.
Curb Appeal
Focusing on curb appeal can be a great place to start if you want to add value to your home. Not only will it attract potential buyers, but it will also create a sense of pride that you put effort into maintaining your home’s exterior.
First impressions matter, and you can afford a good one. Even small details, like dead patches of grass or old gutters, can make a difference in how a buyer perceives your property.
In a competitive market, your home’s curb appeal is critical for sticking out from the crowd and attracting potential buyers. Fortunately, there are various low-cost ways to improve the appeal of your home’s outside. From fresh paint to landscaping to a new front door, there are plenty of ways to make your house more attractive and valuable. These tips can help increase your home’s value and ensure it sells quickly.
Health Hazards
Gutter guards help keep your home and its gutters safe by preventing the accumulation of debris in them. Debris can clog gutters, causing water to back up and flood your home’s roof, siding, and foundation.
The resulting damage to your property can be costly and time-consuming. Moreover, moisture buildup can lead to mold growth in your basement and other house areas.
Having a clogged gutter is also a haven for pests and insects. These creatures love to nest in a warm and moist place, so a clogged gutter offers them their private retreat.
Furthermore, dry leaves and twigs can become an explosive fire hazard in a clogged gutter. It can cause a gutter fire to spread quickly and destroy your home.
Maintenance
While gutter guards help prevent debris buildup and pest infestation, they still need to be cleaned out occasionally. You can clean them using a long brush and a hosepipe to remove any dirt or other accumulated material on top of them.
The type of gutter guard you have will affect the frequency of maintenance required. For example, basic chicken-wire or colander-type guards must be swept out regularly, while micromesh screens require cleaning only once or twice a year.
If you have a lot of trees nearby, it may also be necessary to brush the gutters more often than with other types of guards. It is especially true with woody plants that shed their needles.