Being a homeowner in Michigan, you’ve likely dealt with the hassle of gutter maintenance. Having to climb a ladder, walk the roof line, and dig out leaves, sticks, and other debris out of the gutter system. This task not only takes valuable time out of your day but can also be a dangerous task to perform. So the question is… are gutter guards worth the money? In this blog, we will go through the reasons why we believe gutter guards are worth the money and a few things to think about like the surrounding environment, and current gutter condition so you can make an informed decision on having gutter guards installed on your gutter system.
First, let’s talk about the two main things you should think about.
Surrounding Environment
When trying to decide if gutter guards are worth the money, first you should decide if they are necessary for your home. Take a look around, do you have tall trees surrounding your home? If so, they are necessary for your home, we all know how messy trees can be in the fall season, and open gutter systems love to collect these falling debris. Now, on the other hand, you may not have any trees surrounding your home at all, in this case, are gutter guards really necessary? Pay attention to how much debris is getting collected into the system and decide from there.
Current Gutter Conditions
The current condition of your gutter system can play a big part in whether gutter guards are worth the money or not. If your gutter system is old, worn out, leaking, and in need of a replacement, gutter guards are not worth the money for your specific situation. We highly suggest looking into seamless gutter replacements in Ludington and focusing on getting your gutter system replaced first, then you can start to look into gutter guards. This way you have a solid gutter system that will efficiently do its job and gutter guards that will protect your new gutters.
If this is your situation, most seamless gutter companies in Strasburg will offer gutter guards as well, and you may be able to get a bit of a discount on the gutter guards when you get a full gutter replacement.
Now let’s get into the few reasons why we believe gutter guards are worth the money.
Reduced Maintenance
Having gutter guards installed on your gutter systems will significantly reduce your gutter maintenance as a homeowner. Instead of having to pull debris like leaves, twigs, and pinecones out of the gutters and downspouts multiple times a year, you only need to either brush or spray the gutter guards off as you see debris build up on them. This saves you time and money in the long run because cleaning off gutter guards takes much less time than cleaning out gutters and it is a task that is fairly easy to do… meaning there’s no need to spend the money on hiring professionals.
Protection Against Clogs
Debris build-up and clogs are a gutter system’s worst nightmare. Clogged gutters can cause many issues to the home and the gutters themselves. When clogs block the flow of water, it causes the water to back up into the gutter system causing excess weight on the gutters. This water also starts to overflow the gutters and causes damage to the foundation, landscaping, exterior walls, and fascia/soffit. When gutter guards are in place, they effectively block all debris from entering the gutter system, this barrier keeps out all unwanted debris while allowing water to flow through the system and be effectively distributed away from the home.
Protects Against Pest Infestation
Gutter guards are not only a barrier protecting against the intrusion of debris, but they also protect against pest infestation. When gutters become clogged and have stagnant water in the system, this becomes an ideal environment for pests such as birds, mice, squirrels, and insects. It provides these pests with food, water, and shelter.
These pests can cause significant damage to the gutter system over time. The first way they cause damage is their excess weight, the gutter system is not designed to hold the weight of debris, stagnant water, and pests. This can cause the gutter system to detach from the fascia board if excessive weight is added.
The second way this can cause damage to the gutter system is these pests tend to like to chew and peck through things, this can cause leaks within the gutter system making you need a gutter repair or possibly even a replacement.
Pests are also known to build nests in these environments, adding to the weight and debris build-up. Having pests nest and breed within your gutter system can become a headache for you to clean out, making the job harder than it needs to be.
Protects Against Ice Dams
An ice dam within the gutter system is when snow or water rolls off the roof into the gutters and becomes stagnant then freezes when temperatures get cold enough. This happens when the gutter system is clogged and blocks the flow of water. Ice dams can cause a few different issues like the added weight of ice and it expands and contracts as the ice melts and refreezes possibly causing cracks in the gutters.
Extends The Gutters Lifespan
Lastly, gutter guards extend the lifespan of the gutter system. When you spend your money on new gutters, you want to ensure they last as long as possible. The last thing you want to do is dump money into a bunch of repairs or need to pay for a premature replacement.
When we talk about all the different ways gutter guards can protect your gutters like protection against clogs, pest infestation, and ice dams, they eliminate these issues that come with having an open gutter system. When you eliminate the issues that cause frequent repairs and premature replacements, your gutters are bound to have an extended life, providing you with optimal rainwater management for as long as possible.
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