Gutter guards are a very hot topic in Charlottesville and Albemarle county. Many homeowners and residents are curious about the benefits of installing gutter guards (also called gutter screens) on their gutter system but if you’re like most of them, you probably have more questions than answers about gutter guards. In this article, I will explain the pros and cons of gutter guards, how to maximize their effectiveness, and I answer a very common question: What kind of maintenance is required (if any!) after I install gutter guards?
The most common question people have when considering gutter guards for their home is: Do I have to do any maintenance or cleaning after these are installed or can I just “set it and forget it?”
I think the gutter industry as a whole (we’ve been guilty of this at times) is guilty of overselling the benefits of gutter guards and not being upfront with buyers about realistic expectations once they’re installed. Frankly, we’ve all been guilty at some point of selling a solution to clogged gutters that will last forever and never need you to think about them again. That might be an exaggeration, but I think a lot of buyers think gutter guards will address all of their gutter issues once and for all and that isn’t realistic. This would be like thinking, I just bought a new car and it drives really smooth. Now I won’t have to change the oil, get new tires or get a tune up ever again!
In this article I will provide you with unbiased information to help you navigate your buying journey so you feel great about your ultimate decision.
Gutter guards are great. They protect your gutter system from endless debris, prevent clogs forming in all three parts of the gutter system (gutters, downspouts, drains) and overall give you peace of mind that your gutters are going to perform and function properly.
Before I get into the ongoing TLC and maintenance you should realistically expect, you need to understand a very important fact about gutter guards: Not all gutter guards are created equal. The old saying, You get what you pay for is as true about gutter guards as it is about just about everything else.
Gutter guards from big box stores like Costco, Lowe’s and Home Depot are usually low quality which results in more long term maintenance and cost in the future. The better the gutter guard you install, the less maintenance is required long term. There are exceptions to that but it’s generally true.
You can learn more about the different kinds of gutter guards and gutter screens in this article.
Gutter guards are meant to keep debris out while letting water in. In other words, the best guards keep debris out while allowing water to pass through the guard into the gutter. Most gutter guards do only one of these things well. They either do a really good job at keeping debris out but it also keeps water out and the water doesn’t permeate the screen so it runs over onto the ground. Other styles do the opposite: they’re really good at letting water through (permeable) but they also allow a lot of debris in, too.
So when you’re asking, What will I have to do with my gutter guards long term after they’re installed, it needs to be considered in this context: how long will the gutter guard keep debris out and let water in?
Over time, gutter guards weaken and deteriorate like every product in the world. Some last longer than others. Here are some specific things you can expect to do if you want yours to last longer than average.
- Once per year blow off the gutter guards to remove any debris that has accumulated over time on top of the gutter guard. This is only necessary if you have build-up on your gutters. For homes with very heavy foliage and tree cover, this might need to happen more frequently than once per year.
- Remove fallen limbs, branches, and other debris from your roof as soon as possible.
- Promptly replace damaged gutter guards sections caused by storms and a new roof install.
When high quality gutter guards are installed correctly, they should last 10+ years before needing to be replaced. Gutter guards last longer if the home isn’t surrounded by heavy foliage; their life span is reduced when the home is surrounded by heavy foliage. But here’s the key: if you follow the three steps above, your gutter guards will last a lot longer, even in extreme conditions with heavy foliage.
Just like you can’t hold back the ocean with a broom, you can’t beat heavy foliage. High volumes of big wet leaves are always going to win but you can prolong the life and effectiveness of your gutter guards by following the three steps above. If your home has underground drains (the third section of the gutter system) then gutter guards do a perfect job of protecting your drains from ever clogging again. We recommend making sure they’re clean and clear before installing screens or else it’s like putting a bandaid over a dirty wound.
But Adam, I want gutter guards so I don’t have to clean them again. What’s the point of gutter guards if you still have to hire people to put up ladders and service them on a regular basis?
Great question! I’m so glad you asked because it’s a very common question (more like a complaint if they weren’t expecting it) when buying gutter guards.
A lot of people buy gutter guards and don’t have to do a thing with them for many years. That’s obviously the best case scenario.
Some people buy gutter guards with a mild to medium amount of trees around their home so they have to clean/blow off their gutter guards every year or two.
But some people just live among a million trees and there’s no silver bullet. Either they’re going to pay for gutter cleaning 4-6x per year or they’ll get gutter guards with 1-2 discounted services a year. Either way, living in a heavily wooded area costs money. Trees are expensive.
You don’t have to perform any regular maintenance on your gutter guards. You can buy them, check the chore off your list, and not think about them anymore. But they won’t last as long (which might be perfectly fine to you!) and the gutter guards may get covered in debris and start to break down which usually results in overflow and other problems.
At this point, the choice is yours. You can either buy gutter guards and plan for annual tune ups or you can opt to keep the gutters open (no guards) and get them cleaned 4-6 per year. The first option requires a large cost up front while the second option has no up front costs but has more cost spread out over the number of years you live in your home.
In summary, some buyers experience the silver bullet effect and they get many years of effectiveness from their gutter guards with very little or even no additional service. Some buyers need to have their gutter guards blown off and checked out every year or two to keep them in good shape. Lastly, some buyers who live in wooded areas need to continue to help their gutter guards thrive and perform as intended by cleaning them off once or twice a year and keeping them clear of accumulated debris.
In this article, I break down all the different types of gutter guards so you can be an educated and informed buyer and make a great decision for your home and your needs. I hope this article helped! If you have any questions, please let us know.
We also offer memberships to help you maintain your gutters without the hassle all year long. Contact us at (434) 422-4700 to be a member! You may also book your gutter maintenance appointment here.
