Gutter protection manufacturers promise to make your life easier. Install this amazing system on your roof and you'll never have to clean your gutters again! That's a promise, but how accurate is it? Do these systems really work? Is it worth the money? Maybe.
A Bit About Clogged Gutters.
Clogged gutters are a big deal. Seriously. It is better to have no gutters at all than to have clogged ones, as they can cause overflow and damage. This leads to water seepage, rotten soffits, rotten siding, and all sorts of other bad things you don't want in your home.
If you have large trees near your home, you need a plan to keep your gutters clear. The traditional methods are to either climb off the ladder or walk on the roof, but I can't decide which is more dangerous. Safer methods include using tools like pressure washer attachments, leaf blower attachments, or even extendable tools.
There is no perfect solution, but using a ladder properly is a safe option as far as I'm concerned. That's what I've always done and it's worked well for me. My tool is a $4 gutter shovel.
Types of Gutter Guards
They come in various shapes and sizes, but they all have one job: to keep debris from entering and clogging your gutters. Some of the most common ones are:
Screen or mesh guards
Reverse curve guards
Foam inserts
Bottle brush guards
Surface tension systems
Each type has its pros and cons, so it's important to do your research and choose the one that best suits your home and budget.
Pros of Gutter Guards
Gutter guards can do a very good job of keeping gutters flowing freely. If you have large trees in your yard, gutter guards can save you time and hassle by helping to prevent gutters from clogging.
I am a fan of properly installed, high-quality gutter guards. If you go for the high-end systems, you can even get heated gutter guards to help with ice dams.
One such product is the Helmet Heat® system from Gutter Helmet. These systems will not prevent ice dams because ice dams will begin to form above the gutter. However, they will help give melting snow and ice a path to the ground.
The Cons
There's no maintenance-free gutter protection system. Even the best systems can be completely overwhelmed by roof debris.
As your trusted Home Inspection Cincinnati, I repeat, there is no such thing as a maintenance-free gutter protection system. No matter what you install, someone will need to get on the roof or a ladder to remove the debris. If this is not done, water can overcome the gutters.
Furthermore, there is no such thing as a perfect system. Solid "shield" gutter guards rely on the capillary properties of water to force water into the gutters. This works well in normal rain but can overflow in heavy rain, despite what the manufacturers claim on their website. The video clip below shows it.
Tip To Find The Best Gutter Guards: Don't Go Cheap
I've seen a lot of complete failures on cheap DIY systems. I recommend staying away from these. However, I have seen it fail even on high-end systems. No system is perfect.
In 2010, Consumer Reports produced a report on gutter protection systems. They rated one particular DIY plastic cover like Best Buy, but I don't agree with their findings. I call those plastic things trash. They may work well when initially installed, but I know from experience that they clog and fall into the gutters over time.
If you're going to do gutter protection, do it right. Either get a top-of-the-line system or have a top-of-the-line system professionally installed.
Conclusion: Do Gutter Guards Work?
High-quality gutter guards are great, but they are expensive. You can spend up to $30 per foot for an installed system. There are many great options out there and I won't try to steer you in one direction or another because I've seen them all work well when properly installed and properly maintained.
A rating by Consumer Reports in 2010 has come under heavy fire for leaving out many of the industry's big players, and unfortunately, they haven't made any updated reviews since then.
If you plan to install the system yourself, check the installation instructions to make sure it's a job you can handle, and if it seems too easy or too good to be true, it probably is. If you're going to hire a professional home inspector, work with a company you like, and be sure to ask about warranties.
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