Why Gutter Guards Are Bad
Do gutter guards work? Before we answer that, let's talk about your gutters. Gutters redirect rainwater away from your house to protect it from soil erosion, which can damage your basement and destabilize the foundation of your home. So, gutters are a pretty big deal for your home.
To keep your gutters in good condition, you should clean it every season to prevent it from clogging. In places like the Pacific Northwest, it's especially important to clean your gutters at least twice a year because of the climate and amount of forestry that surrounds homes. Gutter cleaners in Vancouver are all too familiar with what happens when you don't clean your gutters regularly. Before you know it, fallen leaves pile up and create a massive blockage, leading to issues like mold and leakage that cause roof damage.
Gutter guards—or its other name gutter screens, helmets, or covers supposedly prevent debris from entering your rain gutters. In turn, the guards will then reduce your amount of gutter cleaning and will save you money in the long-term. Or so gutter guard sellers claim.
Why Gutter Guards Are Bad
As much as we would love for there to be an easy solution that completely protects you against drain blockages and eliminates your gutter upkeep, these guards don't work in the way you want. It's surprising and disappointing, but contrary to popular belief, gutter guards are a money pit, and there are five reasons why.
Gutter guards still require maintenance.
Despite claims that the shields are self-sufficient and reduce the number of times you need to clean your gutters, these leaf guards still demand routine cleaning. Not only do you have to tend to your guards, but they are also complicated to remove and clean. The rating of difficulty differs depending on what type of screens you have installed. You might even have to hire a cleaning company to help remove your screens and clean your gutters. Regardless, it's a time-consuming process that defeats the purpose of you purchasing them in the first place.
They don't do what's advertised (well).
Advertisers claim gutter guards keep your gutters debris-free. While it may prevent leaves and larger debris from infiltrating your gutter, smaller items like twigs and pine needles can still slip through the barrier. Over time, these sticks can accumulate, and soon enough, you'll find yourself with a dam that's blocking water from flowing through the canal. Overall, gutter guards might buy you time, but it doesn't stop blockages from happening entirely.
It's also more challenging to spot blockages because the guards sit on top of your gutter, obstructing your view. Discovering you have gutter congestion requires pulling out the old ladder and climbing up those rickety rungs, increasing the likelihood of personal injury.
Your problem may not be debris but moss and algae.
If even a small amount of leaves penetrate your guards and begin to decompose in your gutters, you could face moss and algae growth. Left unchecked, this growth could quickly spread across your gutters and inevitably to your roof. Moss is definitively bad for your roof because when it grows, it can cause immense damage that could lead to having to replace your roof entirely. (Check out more on "Why Moss is Bad For Your Roof")
They put a strain on your roof.
When there's too much weight on a roof, it could collapse and destroy a home. Gutters and downspout systems are lightweight, to avoid putting pressure on the fascia, which is the longboard that supports the lower edge of a roof. By installing a gutter guard, screen or helmet, you're adding additional weight to your gutter that your fascia can't carry. They may not seem hefty, but over a long period, the tension will strain your fascia, and it will show. Your fascia might bend and coil, and in due time rip off from your roof.
As well, since these screens prevent you from seeing what gets stuck in your gutters, you might not notice a buildup until it's too late. The weight of the debris is also something you need to consider—especially during the wintertime.
Unbeknownst to many, gutter guards aren't made for the winter.
When you have gutter guards in place during the winter season, you'll come across a couple of issues. You know that when debris builds up in your gutters it will block water flow. But, in freezing temperatures, this water will turn to ice and add significant weight to your fascia. As well, the overflow of water can turn into icicles, adding more pressure to an already strained fascia. Rather than installing guards that lead to long-term damage to your roof, it's best to get a gutter cleaning service done in the fall right before winter.
All in all, they are costly.
After reviewing all the ways that gutter guards fail to work, we conclude that the guards are a bad investment. When you calculate the amount of time, effort, and money it takes to install and care for gutter guards, you'll see that it offers zero cost-savings and is not worth the expense. You'll spend more on its maintenance than on what you would pay for gutter cleaners in Vancouver. Since these shields require periodic cleaning that is sometimes a cumbersome procedure, in the end, the cost and work involved aren't worth it. Instead, simply hire gutter cleaners, like Clean Home Break Services, to conduct your twice-a-year cleaning.
What Happens When You Use Gutter Guards
When you use gutter guards, you'll notice that over time these guards will do little to help keep debris from your roof. In the worst-case scenario, gutter guards could lead to irreparable roof damage, costing thousands of dollars in replacement. This 'hack' or 'shortcut' to a clean roof could instead cost you one.
So do gutter guards work? Not really. You're better off searching for gutter cleaners in Vancouver, like Clean Break Home Services, who can do the work flawlessly. Clean Break Home Services is an award-winning professional home services company that provides services like painting, pressure washing, and gutter cleaning in Vancouver. With fall quickly approaching, you should get a free estimate today!