Living in Tacoma, Wash., you probably know the importance of having rain gutters—we’d even venture the assumption that you have a system installed on your home. Even with the best gutter system, as a home owner, you still have to deal with maintenance and regularly cleaning debris out from them.
Wind and rain can carry a bunch of junk, such as leaves, twigs, nuts (such as acorns or pine cones), and dirt, into your rain gutters, which causes them to clog. Blocked gutters no longer work the way they’re intended; in fact, they can become pointless. If gutters are clogged, then rain water can overflow, drip down your walls, pool around and crack your foundation, damage your landscape, and lead to pest infestation.
There are two ways to avoid these types of problems:
- Clean out your rain gutters several times a year
- Install a gutter guard to protect your system from debris and junk
What are Gutter Guards?
Gutter guards filter out debris so that only water passes through the system. Theoretically, it saves you time and energy from having to clean out your gutters after every storm. (Other maintenance may still be required throughout the year.)
Types of Gutter Guards
There are many different kinds of gutter protection systems available; all of them are intended to let the water drain into the rain gutter while keeping the debris out.
Screen Gutter Guards
A gutter screen prevents the majority of debris from getting into your gutter system. Fine or very small bits can still pass through the screen and get into your gutters. Because of this, occasional cleaning may still be required, but far more infrequently than if you had no gutter guards. Screens are usually made of metal or plastic and are typically the most affordable gutter guard option. They’re also easy to install. If you choose a screen guard as your protection, opt for plastic instead of metal, because metal can rust and stain your home’s exterior.
Bottle Brush Gutter Guards
Bottle brush gutter guards look like wire cleaning brushes and will filter out large debris. They’re very easy to install—you simply need to place them inside your gutters. Rain water slips between the bristles, but larger materials, like leaves or pinecones, get caught. This type of gutter guard requires yearly maintenance, but cleaning is simple. When it comes time, all you have to do is remove them from your gutters, shake them off, and pull out anything that may be stuck in the bristles.
Mesh Gutter Guards
Mesh gutter guards are made of metal sheets with tiny holes. These are similar to screen gutter guards, but have smaller openings, so they keep out more debris. These guard systems are versatile in that they can be installed on many types of gutters and roofs. They are also durable and not likely to deteriorate or rust. The downside to mesh guards is that debris can pile up on top of them causing rain to deflect and not make it through the gutter system.
Foam Gutter Guards
Foam gutter guards fit inside your gutters to block debris from entering the system. The fine pores of the foam only allow water to penetrate. This option is also easy to install; you simply insert the pre-cut, size-specific pieces inside your gutters. Foam gutter guards are made of polyether or polyurethane foam, and while they are relatively inexpensive, they do not last long and need to be replaced every two years.
Reverse Curve Gutter Guards
Reverse curve gutter guards have a curved nose that extends past the edge of the gutter, then curves in towards the system to enables rainwater to flow naturally into the gutters because of surface tension. The opening between a curved guard and gutter is less than half an inch, so only rain flows through, and any other debris falls to the ground or blows away without clogging your gutters. This type of guard should be chosen to match your roofing, since it lies along the roof and is visible at ground level.
The experienced and professional team at Tacoma Gutter Service can help you choose the right option for your home. We’ll install the gutter guards for you and clean out your gutter system beforehand, so that everything functions properly. Give us a call at (253) 927-7111 or visit us online to schedule your free estimate.
This post first appeared on https://tacomagutterservice.com