Gutter covers come in a variety of styles. Before choosing which style or type of gutter screen, here are some things to consider.
The Need
It's a good idea to frist look at your reasons for considering installing gutter covers or screens. Seems like the reason should be pretty obvious, right?
There are a variety of reasons people turn to gutter covers.
1. Debris (the obvious reason) but which type of debris is gathering in your gutters? There are maple spinners, leaves, pine needles, and if you live in a wooded area-so much more! This will help when deciding which gutter covers you'll want installed.
2. Snow and Ice- Some homeowners think that by installing solid gutter covers, snow and ice won't collect causing potential ice damming in the gutters. Wrong again. Snow and ice will just build up on top of the covers or seep into the gutters, causing the same issues. So if this is your reasoning, keep researching.
3. Rain- So many customers call us with concerns of water overflow with heavy rains. It's thought that by installing solid or mesh covered gutter guards this will somehow solve the problem. Truth is, it will probably make it worse. Water overflow can wreak havoc on your home due to soil erosion, basement seepage, or leaks. Gutter covers will literally cause a waterfall with heavy rains if you already have this issue. It's best to consider water diverters or other methods when experiencing water overflow.
Roof Pitch
If you have a steep roof you may want to steer away from any mesh covered gutter screens, solid gutter covers or small hole screens. As discussed above, this will likely cause water overflow with heavy rains.
Time
This is an important factor. Never fall for sales tactics claiming gutter covers are "maintenance free." Before choosing, you really need to think about how much time you're willing to set aside for maintenance. Some people think that by installing gutter covers or screens, their responsibility ends and the gutter covers never need attention. Wrong. Some debris will still collect on top of the screens, covers or gutter guards and you'll need to regularly spray off with a hose or sweep debris off of the area.
Remember, gutter covers are not miracle workers. Regular maintenance is still required to free the area of debris.
Style and Cost
Different styles come at different costs. Some gutter covers can be quite costly. Is it worth it?
As we stated above, no gutter guard, cover or screen is maintenance free. If you're looking for something simple to simply reduce the time you have to spend on your gutters, you may want to consider EZ Lock screens. These are fairly inexpensive and are available in small hole, regular hole and with or without mesh.
If you live in a heavily wooded area, Diamond Back Gutter Screens may be the thing for you. Like the EZ Lock, Diamond Back Gutter Screens also come in a variety of styles, most popular being the mesh covered. The mesh is designed to keep debris completely out of your gutters but again, you'll still need to clean off the screens every so often.
Another popular option are Hallett Gutter Covers. Again, there are many varieties but the most common Hallet Covers are the solid, aluminum gutter covers. They brag that with "no mesh, holes or slots to catch debris, water will follow the curved surface into the the narrow opening of the gutter and debris will fall over the edge, virtually eliminating build-up and messy gutter cleaning."
As you can see, there's alot more than you think when considering gutter covers or screens. If you're considering gutter covers or screens, do your research or contact one of our knowledgeable consultants today. ABC Roofing Company, Inc. has been serving homeowners in Indianapolis and surrounding areas for over 20 years! Call us today for a FREE assessment at (317) 228-9882.
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