Knowing the basics about gutter guards

One of the most tedious household chores home-owners loathe is cleaning their gutters of debris like leaves and twigs – which you wouldn’t want getting caught in the gutter’s downspout opening and prevent water from properly draining. If there’s any blockage, then the water can eventually lead to water damage to the roof – a very expensive fix that could have easily been prevented.

The gutter guard, through various incarnations, can help keep everything that isn’t water out of the gutter. Many of them have a low profile like the typical version of the gutter guard that goes for about $6 for five- and six-inch widths – along with a mill finish for the aluminum guard.

The basic types of gutter guards

•    Reverse curve – Designed to lead the rain water down into the gutter using a slit that will keep the leaves and other debris from going anywhere but to the ground.
•    Mesh – Imagine a sheet with several tiny holes that attach to the roof shingles that easily prevent blockage and will sift out leaves and twigs while letting the water flow.
•    Bottle Brush – Similar to having the bristles that keep birds away, pointing up to catch the tree debris while the water continues.
•    Nylon – These are best for defending against snow and ice during those winter months, and important in the Midwest and East Coast states.
•    Non-gutter cover – A series of either angled slats or flat strips that keep rain away from the roof.
•    Foam type – A guard that fits directly into the gutter to prevent debris from falling into it from the roof and nearby trees.

Protecting half-round gutters

While a very large majority – like 99 percent – have rain gutters of some kind. But a unique option is having a half-round option that act as a rain trough composed of metal and hangs just a little below the ease of the roof to catch the rain off the bottom edge. It is also just as effective in catching the snow as it melts and runs off the roof.

These gutters will still collect and guide the water towards the downspout onto either splash pads of anything the homeowner chooses – some even have collection containers for rain water to use later on.

Additional downspout accessories

There’s more than having the basic types of Gutter Guard to help protect your home’s overall health, which include these different accessories to provide extra protection from keeping anything other than rainwater from getting in.

•    Wire strainers – Prevents leaves and other debris from getting into the downspout, usually sitting inside the outlet leading to the downspout. These can come in either three- or four-inch sizes – made of either aluminum, steel or copper. There are also additional heavy duty options available online.
•    Flex-A-Spout – Imagine if you were able to bend around the different obstacles that can divert water away from the house and into the flexible downspout that can be moved and adjusted based on what your personal needs are for the home’s landscaping.

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