Covers keep your gutters in tip-top shape

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/10/2003 (8144 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

GUTTERS have been around for as long as homeowners have wondered what to do with water cascading off their roofs.

Until now, the world of gutters was simple: the actual gutter, downspouts, plus regular cleaning. For those who dread the latter, there is good news — gutter covers.

Gutter covers — aka gutter guards, gutter protection systems or leaf guards — act as a shield to stop debris from accumulating and clogging the gutter. The gutter system effectively blocks debris while easily handling several inches of rainwater per hour.

“Gutter covers are a great thing,” says Mike Turner of The Home Service Store. “This is one of the first new breakthroughs in gutter technology in a long, long time.” He says gutter covers are a particular boon to elderly or disabled homeowners who cannot otherwise clean or wash out gutters. Gutter covers are included in about 20 per cent of gutter systems installed today.

Gutter covers encase the entire gutter. Water flows over the top of the gutter into a series of narrow slots. Debris tumbles over the gutters edge to the ground below. The slots are too small for leaves, twigs and sticks to enter. Water goes in, debris does not. The covers also provide your gutter with additional protection from plants, insects, and nesting animals such as squirrels, mice, and birds.

The covers are fabricated from metal or vinyl by a number of manufacturers. The design differs from company to company but all are predicated on the same no-debris technology.

The covers can be installed on existing gutters, but Turner says typical installation involves both covers and matching gutters as part of a system.

While gutter covers block large debris, homeowners might need to periodically flush mud and sand from the gutters. How easily the covers are removed for this cleaning depends on the brand purchased.

Homeowners should expect to pay nearly twice as much for a full package of gutter covers and matching gutters as they would for standard aluminum or vinyl varieties. Manufacturers say the time and labor saved with less frequent cleaning more than offsets the increase in price. For instance, if one has his gutters cleaned professionally twice a year (which in many areas might not be frequent enough), he will spend between $750 to $1,500 US in five years time. On the other hand, people who neglect to clean their gutters risk more expensive repairs based on the water damage to their paint, drywall, siding, fascia boards, basement, and roof.

In terms of colour choices, gutter guard options are currently somewhat limited. White and beige appear to be the most prevalent colours. On the other hand, there has been a proliferation of designer colours in standard aluminum gutters. The more familiar aluminum gutters are now available in more than 50 colours, and with time and growing popularity, gutter covers will undoubtedly be made available in many of the same colours.

Steve Matteo of Matteo Aluminum in suburban Cleveland says gutter covers are nice, but routine maintenance and cleaning are important to any gutter. He recommends homeowners spray or brush gutters clean as often as necessary. Leaks occur at the corners in most seamless gutters. Matteo suggests homeowners not use roof tar to patch leaks but instead use a specialty sealer formulated for gutters. As with most sealers, the surface should be clean and dry.

Don’t view gutter covers as the ultimate solution to destructive ice dams. Ice dams are formed when heat from the house melts accumulated snow on the roof. The runoff freezes solid in the gutter when it runs into cold air at the end of the shingles. Your best bet is plenty of attic insulation and an adequate attic ventilation system to remove excess heat.

“Gutter covers are an effective solution for homeowners who either dislike or just dont perform regular cleaning and maintenance on their gutter systems,” concludes Turner.

–Associated Press