Advantages and disadvantages of different types of gutter guards
Keeping your eavestroughs and downspouts clean is an important part of homeowner maintenance. Clogged gutters can be harmful to your roof, the exterior of your home, foundation and landscaping. Our Kingston gutter guard experts recommend cleaning your gutters periodically over installing gutter screening. However, if there’s a lot of trees on your property, a leaf guard might be the best option.
If you are unsure whether eavestrough cleaning or gutter screening is the best choice for your home, give us a call and our contractors will help you decide. Or maybe you are unsure how gutter guards even work? Let’s take a look below at the pros and cons.
Types of Gutter Screening
When it comes to gutter coverings, there are three main types – full covers, wire brushes and gutter screens.
Full Covers
You may have seen these advertised on television or sold at mall kiosks. Full covers are typically proprietary systems such as “Gutter Helmet” or “Leaf Guard.” They completely cover the gutter, as the name implies, and have a patented design that allows water to drain around, under, and into the gutter.
Pros
- Since full cover guards cover the entire width and length of an eavestrough system, they completely block out debris
- They work great in light and steady rain
- These gutter guards are mechanically secured, so they stay in place through strong weather conditions
Cons
- Once installed, they are difficult to remove
- They don’t perform the best in heavy rainfalls
- Sometimes they don’t fit your current eavestroughs, so the gutter guard itself or your eavestrough needs to be altered
Wire Brushes
Wire brush gutter guards are cylinder shaped brushes that are placed into the gutter and look like giant pipe cleaners. They work by taking up space in your gutters to prevent debris from collecting while still allowing water to flow through.
Pros
- This type of gutter screening is super easy to install and remove
- The wire bristles allow water to easily pass through while stopping debris from entering
Cons
- Debris can build up on the bristles which affects water drainage
- The brushes need to be removed from the eavestroughs and cleanmed regularly
- Sometimes in heavy weather conditions, the wire brushes can blow out of gutters
Gutter Screens
Gutter screens are simply screens that sit on top of your gutters. They either lay on top of the gutter, clip on, or attach to it, and have holes that allow water to pass through while preventing debris from entering the gutter. There are numerous styles and materials available, but they all perform similarly.
Pros
- They are relatively inexpensive
- Gutter screens Cobourg are easy to install and remove
- They can be installed over your existing gutter system
Cons
- Debris can collect on top of the screen and prevent water from being able to flow through
- If not mechanically attached, Napanee gutter screens can blow away in large storms