Hal Major © 2009
BobVilaContractors.com
Gutters are of little use if they are clogged with leaves and debris and you see tiny maple trees growing in them. Gutters have to be kept clean so the water flows unobstructed to the downspouts and away from your house. In order to keep the gutters clean you have to get on a ladder or on the roof every fall and spring and risk your neck. Or, you could install leaf guards and never worry about cleaning your gutters again.
There are as many gutter leaf guard designs as there are types and colors of gutters. They all work well at keeping the big stuff out of the gutters. However, many allow seedlings and small debris to sneak through the grid. This could eventually require you to get out the ladder, again. Some of the gutter guards simply snap into place while others require fasteners and take a little effort to install. The snap-ins are my preference because if I do need to clean the gutters I don�t want to loosen and remove dozens of fasteners.
Chances are you will need to clean the muck out at some point. The dirt and small biological matter settle in the bottom of the gutter and slows the flow. Gutter leaf guards certainly reduce the frequency that you�ll need to clean your gutters.
Gutter Guards
Gutter guards lie on top of the gutter and have small holes that allow the water through but trap leaves and twigs on the surface. The wind and rain is supposed to remove the leaves and twigs trapped on the surface.
Gutter Covers
The gutter cover is generally a solid cover with small holes on the underside of a lip molded into the cover. The rainwater follows the lip and runs through the small holes into the gutter. The leaves and debris are flushed off the cover to the ground.
Gutter Filters
The filters consist of a dense foam material that is placed in the gutter. The foam takes up the space so there is no room for leaves and debris. The rainwater runs through the foam to the bottom of the gutter while all the debris remains trapped on top of the foam.
Screens and Strainers
The screens and strainers simply snap on the gutter and catch the large debris and leaves and stop them from entering the gutters. The screens are your typical diamond mesh pattern and are the least expensive of the gutter guards.
