A gutter guard is a great way of providing covers for the guttering system of a property, helping to prevent the build up of debris and subsequent blockages.
Anyone who has spent time removing wet leaves, sticks, twigs and other materials from guttering will know what a boring task it is. Yet it is also necessary to keep gutters in good working order.
Blocked gutters can otherwise lead to water overflowing towards building foundations, causing structural damage. Blockages contribute to corrosion by holding water against metal guttering.
In winter, water trapped by debris will freeze and expand, causing guttering to crack. Better to clear a blockage in summer rather than requiring the use of a drain pipe repair kit to seal leaks in depths of December.
Even better of course is to avoid blockages or the need to clean gutters in the first place. Which is where a gutter guard comes in.
There are several differing types of gutter coverings on the market. We are going to take you through four of the most frequently installed to help you make the decision over which gutter guard is right for your building.
Screen gutter guard
Screen gutter guards are amongst the most popular type of covering, largely for cost and ease of application reasons.
They are normally made of metal and fit on top of existing guttering. They do not require a professional to install, making them extremely affordable if you are semi-confident in your DIY skills and do not mind scaling a ladder.
Screen gutter guards work by having holes which allow rainwater through but keep larger debris out. The key phrase in that last sentence being larger debris, rather than all debris.
That is the one downside to screen gutter coverings. The holes are big enough for small leaves, dirt and tiny twigs to pass through and cause blockages.
This means the screens need to be removed on a yearly basis, so that both the guard itself can be cleaned and any debris which have entered the gutter removed.
Mesh and micro-mesh
Mesh and micro-mesh gutter guards work in the same way as screen coverings, only their holes are much smaller. They allow the same levels of rainwater to pass through but keep out more debris.
Micro-mesh is the more effective of the two, containing holes as small as 0.275mm or 275 microns. Even tiny grit particles will struggle to penetrate.
Because almost all material which could cause a blockage sits on top of mesh and micro-mesh guards, no cleaning of the gutter or the coverings themselves is needed.
They are designed in such a way that the debris fall off the side and down to the ground below. It means sweeping or raking up at ground level becomes the means of disposal rather than getting up high for gutter cleaning.
Like everything in life, you get what you pay for with gutter guards. And because mesh and micro-mesh are so effective, they are amongst the most expensive types of covering. Both also need professional installation.
Brush gutter guards
Brush gutter guards are large brush bristles placed inside of guttering. They stand up, allowing water to pass through rain gutters towards downpipes and drains but catching other debris.
Large leaves and pine cones are easily caught by brush gutter guards. They are also relatively inexpensive, simpler to install and much easier to remove for cleaning and maintenance.
Trapping debris inside the gutter itself is the major downside of brush guards. They can be easily blocked and require regular inspection and cleaning.
Foam gutter guards
In terms of pricing, foam gutter guards will usually provide the lowest-cost solution. They are lightweight, fit into guttering and easy to install.
Foam gutter guards work by allowing rainwater to absorb through them and be taken away. Debris meanwhile sit on top of the foam.
Whereas debris easily fall to the ground from screen, mesh and micro-mesh coverings, large leaves and sticks are more prone to becoming stuck in foam.
This can cause damage to the foam. Even if foam gutter guards do not become damaged, they have to be regularly replaced rather than cleaned.
Leave a Reply