Six Reasons to Invest in Gutter Guards
It’s almost winter, so it’s time to start thinking about fall maintenance for your Minnesota home. And one of the most dreaded home maintenance items on most homeowners’ lists? Gutter cleaning.
If you’re like most people, the thought of climbing a ladder on a chilly autumn day and scraping out your gutter canals is not your favorite fall chore. But what if you could make life easier by crossing this item off your to-do list for good? That’s the promise offered by gutter guard manufacturers.
In this post from Budget Exteriors, we’re taking a closer look at gutter guards to learn why more Minnesota homeowners are investing in them. To learn more about Leaf Solution, give us a call.
Many different types of gutter guards or gutter covers are available on the market. A gutter guard system covers your gutters to prevent debris from getting in and clogging the gutter canals.
Gutter guards can be made from metal, plastic, or mesh, and attach to the top of the gutter canals. These covers have slots or holes small enough to allow water in from rain and snowmelt without allowing any leaves or debris into the canals. This reduces the chance of clogs from forming while cutting down dramatically on the need for cleaning and gutter maintenance.
Potential Issues From Clogged Gutters
There are several potential issues that may occur if you do not have routine and reliable gutter cleaning and maintenance done. Unfortunately for homeowners, unkempt or clogged gutters can do much more than decrease your home’s curb appeal.
Clogged gutters can lead to a wide range of problems, including:
- Siding damage
- Foundation damage
- Landscape damage
- Roof damage
- Interior water damage
- Gutter damage
- Ice dams
- Animal nests
These issues, and others, outline the importance of cleaning your gutters on a regular basis. However, like many hardworking Midwestern folks, may decide to simply take on the project yourself. There are many reasons, as well, not to DIY your home’s gutter cleaning services.
Gutter cleaning services, like any home exterior project, require specific tools. For gutter cleaning, you will need thick suede or leather gloves, a sturdy ladder, protective eyewear, and protective clothing with long sleeves and pants. It is a physically demanding project, and considering you may not have the right knowledge or experience to get the job done right, can be a hassle.
If you don’t have the experience or tools to take on a clogged cutter, you shouldn’t do the job yourself. Call on the gutter cleaning professionals at Budget Exterior to get the job done right.
Reasons to Invest in Gutter Guards
Are you thinking of investing in gutter guards? These are some benefits you’ll enjoy when investing in a new gutter guard system.
Less Gutter Maintenance
If the prospect of climbing up a slick ladder in the cold weather and digging away at gutter debris with a trowel makes you nervous, you’ll love gutter guards. Because gutter guards attach to your gutters and prevent debris from collecting in the canals, you won’t have to worry about climbing up a ladder every fall and spring to scrape your gutters before flushing them with a hose.
Each year, ladder-related injuries are responsible for up to 300 deaths and as many as 164,000 emergency room visits in the United States. Gutter guards help to reduce your chance of potentially catastrophic injury.
With less gutter maintenance and no chance of hurting yourself while using a ladder, gutter guards are well-worth the investment for home’s health and safety and your own.
Easy to Clean
Since your gutters won’t be clogged with leaves, twigs, and whatever nature has to throw at them, all it takes is a little water to wash away the debris on top. First, simply attach a gutter cleaning attachment to your garden hose.
Next, spray the top of your gutter guards using your hose attachment while standing safely on the ground. This chore has never been easier, and there is no risk of danger.
Protect Your Home
Clogged gutters increase the chance that you’ll experience water intrusion into your home. Even if you don’t have ice-related roof damage, gutter clogs prevent your roof from draining correctly away from your home and into your yard.
Over time, this can result in water damage to your walls, siding, landscape, and even foundation. With a gutter guard, it becomes a non-issue and you add an additional layer of protection to your home.
Extend the Lifespan of Your Gutter System
Gutter clogs are one of the primary causes of gutter damage. When clogs prevent water from draining properly, water freezes inside your gutter canals and ice accumulates within the gutter. Gutter clogs and their subsequent damage cause the joints to weaken and break over time.
While the average lifespan of your home's gutters is 20 years, gutter clogs dramatically lower this number. Backed-up water inside your gutter canals can also lead to rusted gutters.
Dirty gutters also make an inviting habitat for small animals. Once critters nest in your gutters, this interferes with the drainage significantly. And having small animals close to your roof tends to be bad for the shingles.
Routine maintenance, two to four times a year, is a critical factor in extending the lifespan of your gutter system.
Match the Exteriors
Gutter guards are available in a wide selection of colors, so they’ll look great with your gutter system, roof, and siding. If you’re investing in your exterior, having color-matched gutter guards and gutters is a subtle way to add to your home’s overall curb appeal.
While matching gutters and siding doesn’t affect the functionality or lifetime of your gutters, aesthetically-please gutter guards have a hand in increasing the value of your residential property.
Prevent Ice Dams
Gutter clogs help create ice dams, which cause water to push back onto your roof and get into your shingles, where it refreezes. Once underneath your shingles, that ice can cause all sorts of damage to the roof and underlayment, allowing water to seep into your home. With a gutter guard, water isn’t allowed to seep into those nooks and crannies to create damaging ice dams.
Cleaning Your Gutter Guard Gutters
Occasionally, your gutter guard gutter system will need to be cleaned. However, the process is far less complicated and intensive than it would be without gutter covers. In addition, the design of your gutter guards prevents the accumulation of debris.
To clean your gutters, spray your gutter covers with a garden hose to flush the system.
Contact Budget Exteriors for Gutters in the Twin Cities
To connect with our Budget Exteriors gutter guard installers about gutter guard solutions for your home, give us a call at 952.887.1613 or contact us online and learn more today.