Any homeowner knows that gutter cleaning is a smelly, messy, miserable job. With 500,000 injuries from ladder accidents occuring each year, you may be very hesitant to climb up to the roof and do that dirty work.
Installing gutter guards could make regular gutter cleaning a thing of the past.
If you find yourself on the fence over the value versus cost of guard installation, read on to find out six amazing benefits you can expect when you add gutter guards to your home.
Reduce Maintenance
The main purpose of gutter guards is to prevent debris from gathering and blocking your gutter system. Without them, you will have to do regular cleaning and maintenance to your gutter system. You may even have to pay a professional to come clear them for you.
No matter which method you choose, cleaning gutters costs you time and money. Even though leaves and debris do eventually accumulate atop guarded gutters, they are much easier to clear off. What was once an arduous routine will become a much less time-consuming occasional task.
Protect Against Corrosion
Soggy leaves sitting against your gutters will contribute to the corrosion and rust of your gutter system. If your gutters start to overflow with leaves onto your roofline, algae and mold can start to form in your roofing and quickly deteriorate the structural integrity of your roof, as well.
Gutter screens can add several years to the life of your gutter system and roof. This means you will protect your investment and add to the resale value of your home in the process.
Prevent Freezing and Water Damage
Water that collects in your gutters during winter can re-freeze and create gutter dams. This problem can be exacerbated when blockages prevent partially melted ice from flowing down the gutter system. Though gutter covers cannot completely prevent ice buildup, it can significantly reduce it.
Less ice collecting in or around your gutters extends their life and helps prevent ice damage from the weight of compacted snow and icicles. A common cause of gutter damage is the weight of frozen areas pulling the gutters completely away from the house. You can reduce your risk of suffering this damage by installing guards.
Even in warmer months, guards help keep water from flowing down the sides of your home and behind the siding. Water overflow can cause extensive structural damage to your walls and contribute to mold and mildew growth. When gutters overflow, the water can cause stains on your siding and even damage the foundation of your home.
Avoid Infestations
One of the unseen benefits of gutter guards is that they help prevent rodents and insects from taking up residence in your gutters. By reducing the nesting material or standing water in your gutters, you keep water flowing freely. This discourages vermin from making a home or breeding ground on your rooftop.
Gutter screens also act as a barrier against small creatures that might squeeze their way behind the gutters and fascia of your roof into the attic of your house.
Fire Prevention
If you or your neighbors frequently have bonfires or burn leaves, your home could be at a greater fire risk. Accumulation of brush and leaves in gutters are easily made into kindling when they come in contact with floating embers.
If you have a buildup of dry material clinging to your gutters, it could allow embers to light into flame and quickly spread over the roof of your home. Gutter guards can help prevent this buildup of flammable material and reduce your risk of fire.
