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Are gutter guards a good idea? 5 Reasons To Install Gutter Guards

ByTyler DeBroux
Home » Are gutter guards a good idea? 5 Reasons To Install Gutter Guards

Gutter guard installation is a decision that requires balancing short-term costs with long-term advantages. Installing gutter guards is a good idea if you want to protect your home, save time, and cut down on how often you have to clean your gutters.

You can choose a gutter guard from the many options by thinking about what you need and how much money you have. Gutter guard installation is frequently doable on your own, which further helps keep costs in check.

Surface tension helmets, PVC covers, foam inserts, and mesh screens are some of the most common types of gutter guards. 200 linear feet of mesh gutter guards would cost roughly $425 to install if you did it yourself. The typical price for 200 linear feet of mesh gutter guard covers rises to $1,500 if you want to have gutter guards professionally installed.

Even though the material and installation costs are high, gutter guards may eventually pay for themselves by protecting your home and reducing how often you have to clean your gutters. 

You should be aware of the following:

1. Gutter Guards Cut Down on Gutter Cleaning Needs

The main justification for considering gutter guards is as follows: You can avoid having to clean your gutters twice a year if you stop leaves, twigs, and other debris from getting in by filtering or blocking their entry. Gutter cleaning services typically cost $160. It is recommended that unprotected gutters be cleaned at least twice a year, which can easily add $320 to the cost of home maintenance.

Depending on the type of gutter guard you install, you can drastically reduce the frequency with which you need to clean your gutters. Because you can just brush off the top and lift the cover to deal with anything blocking the gutter, mesh guards are thought to be the most straightforward gutter guards to maintain. But if your gutter covers are fixed in place, you might need to hire a professional to clean them once a year.

For their own safety, most people with two or three stories should hire a professional to clean their gutter guards. However, if you only need to clean your gutter guards once a year or every other year, it will still be less expensive than hiring a contractor to clean your gutters on many occasions each year.

2. Gutter Guards Safeguard the Residence

Simply put, clogged gutters cause issues for homeowners. If water can’t flow freely through the gutters and down the downspouts, it could do a lot of damage to the structure of the house.

These dangers consist of:

  • Streaming water onto the roof, which could lead to leaks inside the house
  • The fascia board, which is located between the gutter and the side of the house, is being flooded. This could result in the fascia separating, harming the structure.
  • Water accumulating at the base of the house, which could harm the foundation and lead to leaking

These are serious issues. In order to prevent these problems, gutter guards were developed. You can shield yourself against these greater, more expensive emergencies by taking care of your gutters and preventing the buildup of debris that can clog them.

3. Gutter guard installation reduces mold and mildew growth

Your home should not have any mold or mildew. Additionally, they are harmful to your health. This is only one of the many benefits of adding gutter guards. To put it another way, leaves, dirt, and other kinds of natural debris are the things that clog gutters the most frequently. Mold spores can grow in clogged gutters and be carried by these items.

Mold and mildew can also grow inside the home as a result of clogged gutters. The building components are vulnerable to rot when there is a blockage, which makes it simple for mold and mildew to colonize the house. This can happen when water overflows over the roof or side of the house. Everyone should stay away from this, but people with asthma, allergies, or other lung problems may be at a higher risk.

Remediation is costly if mold and mildew are present. Mold removal typically costs $2,500 for 200 square feet of basement flooring and walls. This cost can increase to over $7,000 for an attic that needs new insulation. By installing gutter guards, you are reducing the possibility of gutter clogs. Thus, the likelihood of mold and mildew issues is reduced.

4. Gutter Guards Support Pest Management

Gutter guards help keep pests from making a home in your gutter system and also keep your gutters from getting clogged. Gutter guards are an important first line of defense against a more serious pest problem because they keep rats, birds, and even snakes from getting into the large gutter below. Pests dwelling in the gutter could potentially harm the house without this barrier.

Mosquitoes and other insects can grow and reproduce well in clogged gutters. You should definitely try to keep your gutters clear. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in still water, so clogged gutters are the perfect place for hundreds or thousands of mosquitoes to grow up.

The issue of cleaning your gutters when bugs are present is another. It’s probably not something you’ll want to do. Without gutter guards, your do-it-yourself project will turn into a costly professional project.

5. Gutter Guards Protect Against Fire

Putting gutter guards on homes in places where wildfires are common is a good idea because they can protect your home from danger. The University of California claims that the finest gutter guards and gutters for places with a high risk of fire are made of metal. Gutter guards are less likely to catch fire than plastic alternatives, and they also keep debris from getting into the gutter and drying out.

Without cover, twigs, dried leaves, and other debris can burn and become kindling. This can be a risky situation because the roof is the component of a house that is most vulnerable to a wildfire. If mesh gutter guards or metal surface helmets can stop a fire from spreading to your property, the initial cost of installing them is definitely worth it.

More on Rain Gutters & Gutter Guards

Hello, I'm Tyler DeBroux. I'm a full-time real estate investor, blogger, and property manager. Rain gutters are an essential part of any home or building and that is why I've set up this site; to document everything I learn about gutters, maintaining gutters, repairing gutters, installing gutters, and home gutter accessories. Feel free to contact me using the contact page and form here on this site.

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