Without any layer of protection, your gutters are susceptible to clogging. This isn’t good news, especially for your home’s foundation and wood components. To prevent this issue, consider investing in a gutter protection system.
Here’s a quick review of four popular gutter guard systems and how they work.
1. Gutter Foam
This is the most common do-it-yourself gutter guard material. It consists of highly porous foam strips, which filter water and prevent leaves, twigs and other debris from clogging the system. Gutter foams, however, come in precut shapes that may not fit your gutters. You may have to adjust them based on your gutter system’s dimension, which isn’t easy at all.
2. Gutter Brush
Gutter brushes allow water to slide through the gaps while their bristles catch the debris. The downside, however, is they aren’t completely maintenance-free. You need to remove the objects stuck in the whiskers to keep the brush clean.
3. Surface Tension Gutter Guards
Unlike ordinary gutter guards, Gutter Helmet® allows rainwater to stick together and slip through a tiny gap by utilizing the principle of surface tension. Unwanted debris is then directed over and around the lip of the system to fall harmlessly to the ground. Moreover, Gutter Helmet systems are designed to handle up to 22 inches of rain per hour, which is twice the highest amount of rainfall recorded in the country.
4. Mesh Screen
This is a DIY-friendly gutter cover, but it isn’t as efficient as surface tension gutter guards. Since mesh screens are flat, large debris tends to settle on its surface. This means you still need to climb a ladder and sweep accumulated leaves and twigs. Another flaw is its holes are sometimes large enough to allow small debris to enter the gutters.
At Mr. Fix It, we install Gutter Helmet systems that can help eliminate frequent gutter cleaning. Call us today at (866) 985-9437 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation with our crew. We serve residents of Ashland, Virginia.