Types Of Gutter Guards
Choose The Type Of Gutter Guards Best Suited To Your Requirements
Few people look forward to cleaning the gutters on their home. Not only is it tedious and time consuming, but working from a ladder at roof height can be a precarious endeavor. By guarding your gutters with a quality product suited to the task, you can keep them free of debris and significantly reduce the need for maintenance. Here is some information to help you choose the type of gutter guards best suited to your budget and property.
Plastic Mesh
Plastic mesh is one of the least expensive ways to protect your gutters. It is sold in rolls of various lengths and is easy to install. Support clips are usually provided with the product to hold it in place. Mesh is not ideal for houses subject to heavy leaf fall or roof moss. If too much weight builds up on top it is liable to collapse into to the gutter.
Brush Guard
This product resembles a giant bottle brush. It consists of a stainless steel spine covered in polypropylene bristles. Installation is a simple matter of cutting to length with wire-cutters and sliding into the gutter. Leaves and twigs sit on the surface of the bristles until they are blown away. Small debris such as pine needles or bits of moss may build up in the bristles, in which case the brush guard will need to be removed for cleaning.
Foam Inserts
Permeable foam inserts come in sizes to fit snugly into most guttering. To install them, you simply apply an adhesive or sealant. Water flows through the foam while leaves and seeds are repelled. Foam inserts are not recommended for people whose homes are surrounded by evergreen trees. Pine needles can become stuck in the material and will need to be manually removed.
Screen Filter
This product is made up of five-foot aluminium channel sections covered with stainless steel micro-mesh. The very fine mesh filters out all organic matter including leaves, seeds, pine-needles and grit while letting water through. Most debris will roll off the covered gutter and onto the ground, however some may collect on top of the mesh and occasionally need to be brushed off. Popular brands of screen filters are only available for installation through a certified installer.