Are gutter guards a good idea? When it comes to leaves and twigs I guess the answer is yes, however when it comes to silt buildup there is no type of gutter guard that will stop silt build up – silts are soluble so they will collect against the gutter floor compound and build up.
Some gutter guard companies will tell you that this will happen and want to set you up with a flushing maintenance program, whereas they will flush through the gutter guard with a high pressure water hose and wash all the silt down the downpipes – this in itself can become a big problem with ensuing blocked drains. So what are you to do?
There are many types of gutter guards available on the market today, if you decide to have a gutter guard installed I would recommend that you get a clip in metal gutter guard so it can easily be removed for the cleaning of silt build up.
I DEFINITELY DO NOT RECOMMEND ANY TYPE OF PERMANENTLY FIXED GUTTER GUARD
Some gutter guard companies will tell you of the silt problem – most won’t.
When purchasing gutter guards do not get fooled into thinking your gutter will never have to be cleaned again. The problem with silt is it is corrosive and if left on the gutter floor it will definitely prematurely age and corrode your guttering with necessary replacement due long before it would have been necessary.
There is also another problem that can come from metal gutter guards which in general are the best type of gutter guard. Most gutter guards are made from a BHP metal called zincalume the problem that can ensue from this is zincalume is not compatible with galvanizing. In other words there is a chemical reaction between the two metals causing the galvanized coating to rust and corrode. So where is the problem – if they use a zincalume gutter guard and your gutters are on an older home and they are galvanized – you are going to have a lot of corroded guttering long before its due date.
WHAT DO I RECOMMEND YOU DO ABOUT GUTTER GUARDS
Don’t do it. Any gutter guard that is worth getting is going to cost you quite a bit of money, so what I suggest that is best for you in the long run is to get your gutters cleaned thoroughly at least once every year by a reputable gutter cleaner. They will remove all the leaves, twigs and silt, this is the best way to maintain your guttering in a good state for many decades.
Advantages of just cleaning your gutters periodically: - No lump sum for the gutter guards – Properly maintained guttering will mean gutter will last many years longer.
Best ways to clean guttering – either use blower or vacuum (vacuum will have to be done with a commercial vacuum) – block downpipes – blow the whole roof clean then blow all guttering clean then remove downpipe block and blow out downpipes – by blocking downpipes whilst doing roof and gutter clean allows all silt to be blown or vacuumed away without allowing any silt to enter the downpipes.
You will save more money by keeping your gutters clean with a periodic maintenance clean. What would offer you more value for your money than gutter guard is an effective roof ventilation system for the comfort and health of your home.
Universal Tile Ventilators have the best systems in the world for roofspace ventilation.