Gutter guards help prevent leaves, pine needles, twigs, and other debris from entering a home’s gutter system. These products come in a variety of styles and materials.
Choosing the right type of gutter guard is important for many reasons. In addition to keeping out debris, these devices can protect a home from fire hazards and improve curb appeal.
PVC Covers
Gutter guards are designed to prevent gutter clogging and save you time and money on gutter maintenance. They also help protect your home’s foundation from water damage.
There are many different types of gutter guards on the market, and each has strengths and weaknesses that will depend on your specific needs. You’ll need to consider the type of debris that will likely clog your gutters, as well as your budget and weather patterns in your area.
Reverse curve: This style of guard uses a ribbed or textured surface to increase the water’s surface tension. This forces it to stick to the surface and flow into the gutter, keeping leaves and other debris out.
Reverse curve gutter guards work best in areas with frequent, heavy rainfall. They’re also a good choice for homeowners with roof valleys or gutters on multiple levels.
Foam Inserts
Foam gutter guards are an inexpensive and easy-to-install option that does a good job at keeping leaves, twigs, and other debris from clogging your gutters. They also come in a variety of sizes, making them suitable for most homes.
As a result, foam inserts are popular among many homeowners. They are made from durable outdoor foam and are fire retardant.
They’re also available in a variety of colors, including black and white. However, it’s important to remember that foam is susceptible to deterioration.
To prevent this, be sure to choose a high-quality foam gutter guard that can withstand the weather conditions it will be exposed to. In addition, look for one that has UV protection and antimicrobial properties.
Surface Tension Helmets
Using the principle of surface tension, these gutter covers allow water to flow through a slit that’s less than half an inch wide. They also prevent leaves, twigs and other debris from entering the gutter.
The ribbed design also limits the amount of water that flows through the slit, which means less dirt ends up in your gutter and more water can escape your roof. These guards can handle rainfall of up to 22 inches per hour, which is twice the highest recorded rain in the U.S.
They also have a patented texturing process that helps strengthen the panels and improves rain-handling performance. This texturing boosts tensile strength and cuts down on the weight your gutter system has to bear. It also increases the gutter’s ability to resist damage from acid rain. Lastly, their Permalife(tm) coating gives it a long-lasting finish that won’t chip, peel, fade or become corroded by acid rain. It comes in a variety of colors to match your home’s design and enhance its curb appeal.
Micro-Mesh
A micro-mesh gutter guard is one of the best options for preventing clogs in your gutters. They work like filters for rainwater, allowing it to filter through while preventing leaves and other debris from entering the gutter.
They also have a pitched design, which helps any caught debris easily slide off and onto the ground. This way, there’s less risk of overflowing and damage to your foundation.
These mesh gutter guards are made from stainless steel and are often backed by a lifetime warranty. They are easy to install and fit all 4- to 6-inch K-style gutters.
Unlike other types of gutter guards, they are not prone to rusting and corrosion, so they can last longer.
Another benefit of these guards is that they ward off small seeds that birds may drop, keeping your gutters clear of moss and other plant growth. This also prevents algae and fungus from growing inside your gutters.
