Gutters are a part of your property that you’re likely to take for granted until they stop functioning properly and then you realise just how important they really are. Gutters help with directing rainwater away from the house but when they become blocked or damaged they can be the cause of numerous problems and if the situation is allowed to continue, they’ll wreak havoc on your property.
The weight of water which builds up because of clogged gutters will eventually end up bending their structure and ultimately they will be torn away from the roof rendering them pretty useless.
A properly functioning gutter will carry that water through a downspout and away from your home. That is not the case with a gutter that has become blocked. Instead literally gallons of water will spill over the sides and pour down your walls. This excess water can cause the foundations to leak, shift, crack or even sink.
If blockages are causing water to hang around in the guttering then this can cause damage to the edge of your roof and underlying materials can become damaged as a result of this constant contact with water. Eventually wood will weaken and rot and have to be replaced – at some cost!
If water is allowed to continuously gush down walls it can lead to problems caused by damp, such as mold and bacteria.
Damp mud and leaves can create the perfect environment for bees and wasps to build their nests.
Clogged gutters can also cause water leaks on the inside of your home, leading to wall and ceiling damage.
A gutter guard is a covering that filters out unwanted debris and leaves. It’s as simple as that. It’s positioned above/into your gutters and it shouldn’t be visible from the ground. By definition the guard would only let rainwater pass and hold onto anything else that might clog and damage your gutters.
Most simple in its structure, the gutter mesh is a metal sheet filled with holes that you attach to your gutters and roof shingles via special gutter clips. It acts as a fence for your gutters.
Reverse curve guards are positioned at the end of your roof, some inches above your gutters without actually touching them. That leaves a small gap between the two. Water, taking advantage of the power of surface tension, flows inside the gutters, while every solid object just falls down from the edge.
Hedgehog or bottle brush gutter guards are plastic bristles that function as a filter to your guttering. The advantages of the hedgehog is their cheapness. They are also easy to install. You just lay them along your gutters and all you have to do is secure them with a coated wire.
The gutter guard is a cost effective way of helping to prevent blockages and some may last for years, making them a good investment. The downside is that it’s much harder to inspect your gutter system to see if there are any problems when you have gutter guards that are covering them. So while they may seem to be working, you may actually have a build up of debris in your gutters that you have no way of seeing. That build up can lead to the kinds of serious problems we’ve outlined above.
Also, while gutter guards are keeping out leaves and debris they can also end up deflecting away water which means the gutters won’t be doing the job they’re intended to do, creating more problems than solving them.
The simple answer is yes. The gutter guard can be a cost effective way of mitigating blockages from leaves and debris but you’ll still need to schedule regular gutter cleaning to avoid problems. A professional clean will ensure they are doing their job efficiently and that any breakages etc are spotted early. Cleaning improves the aesthetics of your home, extends your house’s lifespan, prevents basement flooding, and protects your landscaping from water damage. They are worth all the attention you can give them!
At Direct Cleaning Group, we are the leading experts in our field offering state-of-the-art cleaning services. To find out more or to request a quote for cleaning your windows, contact Direct Cleaning today.
