types of gutter guards

Gutter covers, also called gutter hoods or gutter helmets, sit on top of existing gutter troughs in order to keep leaves and debris from entering your gutters. Because gutter covers are a separate component from your existing gutters, they’re prone to being damaged in heavy winds and they’re unable to address the weakness and limited capacity of your underlying gutter system. They also don’t match up perfectly with your existing gutters, which makes them vulnerable to leaks at the seams. In addition, gutter covers are often installed underneath your roof’s shingles, which can expose your roof to water damage at the attachment points and also void your roof’s warranty.

You’ll find a wide range of gutter screens you can place over gutters to filter out leaves and debris. They come in a variety of materials from plastic to metal and have perforations of various sizes. That being said, gutter screens have a number of issues. Many gutter screens have holes that are too big to filter out smaller materials such as shingle granules, silt, and pine needles. The debris that they do filter out often accumulates on top of the screens, causing water to overflow and potentially damage your fascia, basement, foundation, siding, windows, and lawn. If too much debris accumulates on your gutter screens, it can also cause your gutters to sag and pull away from your home. In order to prevent clogging, gutter screens require routine maintenance. In addition, if gutter screens aren’t nailed into your roof, you risk them blowing away in heavy wind. However, if you nail gutter screens to your roof, you risk voiding your roof warranty. Finally, gutter screens can become brittle over time and break.

Gutter filters, also known as foam filters or brush filters, are inserted right into your existing gutter trough. The thinking is that the plastic foam or brush bristles will take up space in your gutters and trap debris, while also allowing water to flow through. However, much like gutter covers and gutter screens, gutter filters are plagued with issues. Leaves, twigs, and other debris get trapped by gutter filters. As this debris accumulates, it can attract insects and other unwanted pests and also overflow your gutters, causing potential water damage to your home. In addition, gutter filters with foam inserts invite mold and plant growth in your gutters. Because of these issues, gutter filters require frequent cleaning and maintenance.

Seamless, all-in-one gutter guard systems, such as the Gutter Shutter® system, are custom-made to fit your house and offer a better design for repelling debris and preventing clogs. In addition, because all-in-one systems are fabricated on site by experienced professionals, you're able to avoid many of the pitfalls associated with DIY installations. That being said, all-in-one gutter guard systems make it more difficult to clean and remove clogs. So if your all-in-one system doesn't perform well, it can become quite a hassle. In order to ensure that your all-in-one gutter guard system performs as expected, you'll want to make sure it's guaranteed not to clog. You'll also want to ensure that your gutter guard system is available in a range of attractive colors to match the appearance of your home.