If you’ve already started looking for gutter protectors, you’re probably well aware that there are various brands and types of gutter protectors to choose from. Here are five questions to ask yourself before purchasing one.

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1. Can I install them myself? If you buy your gutter protectors at the hardware store or home improvement center, ask a sales associate whether they recommend letting contractors install them or doing it yourself. If you’re looking at a certain product that you’ve seen advertised somewhere, be aware that certain types of gutter protectors require that the company or dealer install them.

1. How are installation costs figured? If you need to have your gutter protectors installed by someone else, be sure to ask not only for a cost estimate, but also how the company arrives at that figure. Is it a flat fee based on the square footage of your home, or does the installer charge by the linear foot? Will you be charged extra for a multistory home or for each corner or bend? Make sure you understand the contractor’s cost structure before agreeing to any installation job.

1. Do you guarantee the results? Many companies like to toss around the word “guarantee” when talking about their service, but you should inquire as to exactly what products or results are being guaranteed. Are they only guaranteeing their labor? Or do they promote some type of “no-clog guarantee” for your gutters? If the latter is the case, determine what constitutes a clog and identify the procedure for getting the company to remedy the situation. Finally, if they are guaranteeing that they are giving you the lowest price, figure out how they will compensate you if you find a better deal elsewhere.

1. What kind of warranty do these gutter protectors have? Most products come with some type of warranty, but some installers will claim that their gutter protectors will last for a certain period of time (or forever). Be sure to ask them what must happen to your gutters before they will replace them under warranty (i.e., rust spots, leaks or cracks, allowing debris to clog gutters, falling off your roof, etc.). Many contractors are counting on homeowners to ignore a warranty’s fine print, so be sure to educate yourself and keep track as to whether the gutter protectors are lasting as long as they should.

1. Will installing these gutter protectors void my roof warranty? This is one aspect of gutter protectors that consumers often don’t think about. While many gutter protectors simply lay atop your gutter or fasten to the gutters themselves, certain products attach directly to the side or top of your roof. In these cases, the installation of these products may cause a roof’s warranty to become null and void. If your roof is beyond its warranty period, then this won’t apply to you. Otherwise, find your most recent roofing contract and check to see if it has a warranty which covers leaks – and whether or not gutter protectors will violate the terms of the agreement.

Installing gutter protectors is a serious investment, so you want to make the right choice the first time. That’s why it’s vital to ask questions before putting the gutter protectors on your home.

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How can you get some “leaf relief” for your gutters? Here are four tips:

1. Trim your trees

Start the leaf relief by getting rid of some branches. Climb up onto your roof or a tall ladder and pare back the small limbs that hang over your roof. And then trim another three to four feet away from your roofline so that high winds don’t blow leaves back onto the roof.

2. Invest in gutter protection

There are several different products which can provide you with leaf relief by protecting the insides of your gutters from leaf accumulation. You can install gutter guards, which consist of metal mesh or aluminum covers that allow rainwater to enter your gutter while keeping leaves and other debris out. Or you can place porous strips or “brushy” items inside your gutter than perform the same function.

3. Clean your gutters at least twice a year

To remove the buildup of leaves already in your gutters, you can buy one of many innovative products to make the job easier. There are long spray wands or vacuum extensions that don’t require the use of a ladder to get the leaves out. You can even have a robot provide you with leaf relief if you purchase a remote-controlled gutter cleaner which moves along your gutter and lifts out leaves and twigs.

4. Plant evergreen trees

There’s no better way to achieve leaf relief than by getting rid of leaves at their source. That means removing trees that supply the fallen leaves and/or planting new evergreen trees near your home. If the leaves stay on their limbs year-round, then they won’t end up in your gutters. This is an especially attractive solution if you are building a new home on a vacant lot.

You don’t have to resign yourself to dealing with piles of (sometimes soggy) leaves that clog up your gutters every fall. Planning ahead and taking control of your leafy situation can help you experience the joys of “leaf relief”– and let you enjoy the autumn months even more!

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Judging by the ads you see on the Internet, no-clog gutters are just a phone call or email away. Many companies and contractors market their products and services with the “no-clog” moniker, and a few even offer some sort of warranty or guarantee. But do they work as well as advertised?

One thing to keep in mind: no-clog gutters can still cause problems. Why? Because these products can work so well in keeping things out, they can even prevent water from getting into the gutters. That can lead to runoff/overflow/spillage onto the ground next to your home, which exposes your home to foundation issues over time.

Let’s take a closer look at three gutter protection systems which claim to provide customers with “no-clog gutters.”

1. Gutter Guard. This product claims to be clog-free because of its closed system. The installers actually hang an entirely new gutter, which has a curved portion on top and a small slit on the side, through which water runs into the gutters. The idea is for leaves and debris to bounce off the curved portion. The trouble is, debris can still get caught even in that small opening, which leads to water spillage onto the ground. Plus, it’s much harder to clean out that clog-causing debris because of the closed system.

1. Triangle Gutter Filter. This product’s design involves a sturdy-yet-porous material laid at an angle inside the gutter that holds back debris while allowing water to seep through. The concept is sound, but in practice the debris buildup can get so heavy in places that the water won’t seep through the material. As a result, the runoff often ends up spilling over the gutter’s edge onto the ground.

1. Brush guard. It shares the keep-everything-out-but-water idea embraced by the Triangle Gutter Filter, but instead utilizes a long, spiny “brush” which sits inside the gutter. Leaves and debris are supposed to settle atop the brush while allowing water to drain through the gutters. However, excessive debris accumulation on top of the brush can actually channel the roof water over the gutter entirely – so it falls next to your foundation instead of flowing toward your downspouts.

In short, there really is no system that can truly provide you with no-clog gutters. Your best bet is a type of gutter guard system, which provides a cover to repel debris – a cover that can be removed, if needed, to clean the interior gutters. While many types of gutter protection products can help (even the ones touted as “no-clog gutters”), you shouldn’t believe that they will singlehandedly solve all of your gutter clogging problems.

Page content © 2011 Keyword Connects

Page content © 2009 Keyword Connects