Gutter guards are designed to protect your gutters from blocking up with leaves, objects, birds’ nests, living organisms, rodents and more. They act as a deterrent and prevention but most still require regular gutter cleaning. Having gutter guards:
- Prevents blockages
- Prolongs the life of your gutters and downspouts
- Prevents damage to your property
- Reduces the potential of fire ambers catching onto lingering debris
There are so many pros and cons of gutter guards and as installers we thought we’d dive into what your options are and how effective they are for your property. Firstly, lets point out that not all gutters require gutter guards. BUT if you’re roof is prone to having a lot of debris, clogging or if you live in a fire hazard area, then guards are recommended. The type of guards depends on your gutter size and gutter type, as well as the type of roof you have (flat or angled).
There are four types of gutter guard’s worth mentioning:
- Screens/Panel Gutter Guards – these are sheets or flat panels of steel or plastic that have holes in them (like a grater). It filters the debris from the water, protecting your downspouts from clogging.
- Solid covers – Like Vinyl Guards these generally redirect the leaves away but still collect the water through a small gap.
- Meshed Gutter Guards – these are rolls of thick mesh that are integrated between your roof and gutter. They are can easily mold to ensure debris slides off the roof as appose to sitting flat.
- Gutter inserts – usually foam or brush which just stops the gutters from blocking with debris.
Each has its pros and cons.
Screen/ Panel gutter guards
These are generally flat panels that clip into your gutters and act as a filter between all the debris and water. It ensures that the water can flow but nothing clogs or gets caught in your gutter system. These are a more cost-effective method and have the least amount of long-term damage BUT you still need to have regular cleans and that flat service means debris can still sit on top of the gutter guars. Like any product, there is a range of screen gutters available from cheap to premium. Price point becomes a factor so evaluating how much debris you get and what your budget is, may push you towards one or the other.
Solid Covers
These are designed to push the debris clear away from your gutters leaving only enough of a gap for water to run into. Generally, either PVC plastic, Vinyl or steel have a higher percentage of decreasing debris and bird nesting and still allow for water capture. However, they are the WORST for replacing, cracking and aren’t something Australian properties require.
Meshed Gutter Guards
These come in rolls and are either steel or plastic, they are great for any roof type as they can mould to your roofline. We recommend stainless steel for longevity as plastic tends to crack in the sun over time. There are multiple styles in meshed gutters to suit from ember protection, micro-mesh, or standard. You will still need regular gutter cleaning; however, this type is known to stop debris from clogging, birds nesting and rodents living on your gutters.
Gutter Inserts
These are either brush inserts or foam inserts which is easy installation, however, tends to be more difficult to deal with in the long run and can cause more issues
We can help!
Mathiou Services can provide end-to-end maintenance service to all commercial properties. Your qualified technician will have all the necessary paperwork including working at height, white cards, working for children, clean police checks and insurances. See more here
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