Keeping your gutters clean is easier said than done. Over time, gutters will collect various forms of debris both inside and out, and this will result in a wide variety of problems. Because of this, you may begin to consider installing gutter guards. But are gutter guards worth it, and what benefits will you enjoy by installing them at your home or business?
Discover the answers to all these questions—and more—with Marin Exterior Cleaning, your local pressure washing and exterior cleaning company. We are happy to share what we know with you, and if you need professional gutter guard installation, just let us know. We can help with that, too!
Why Gutters Become Dirty
It’s unfortunate, but gutters just don’t stay clean on their own. These structures are designed to catch rainwater and channel it to the ground. However, this means that rain gutters are also great at accidentally catching debris. Peek inside your gutters, and you’ll likely find a wide variety of unwanted items, including leaves, sticks, twigs, and even garbage blown in by the wind. As this debris accumulates inside your gutters, it prevents the flow of water—and this will eventually come back to bite you.
When your gutters overflow, water will gather on your property’s exterior surfaces and increase the risk of moisture damage. Additionally, as debris piles up in your gutters, it will put a significant amount of strain on them. It’s only a matter of time before your gutters start sagging.
How Gutter Cleaning and Gutter Guards Help
It’s frustrating when your rain gutters fill up with debris, but there are steps you can take to avoid this problem. First and foremost, gutter cleaning is instrumental to your property’s long-term health. By cleaning debris out of your gutters, you will prevent them from overflowing and sagging. This actually saves you money in the long term because you’ll avoid costly repairs and keep cash in your checking account.
After cleaning your gutters, installing gutter guards is the logical next step. Gutter guards play an important role in property maintenance because they prevent debris from collecting in your gutters in the first place.
How Gutter Guards Work
So, how exactly do gutter guards work? Gutter guards are essentially long, slender grates that sit atop your gutters. These gutter guards have small openings, allowing rainwater to fall into your gutters and flow through them as normal. These openings aren’t large enough for pieces of debris to pass through. Therefore, the risk of your gutters becoming clogged by debris drops significantly.
We highly recommend gutter guards for homeowners, business owners, and property managers alike. You can either go about installing gutter guards on your own, or you can schedule professional gutter guard installation services from a company near you.
Your Options For Gutter Guards
So, you want to install gutter guards on your property. What is the best choice? There are actually a wide variety of options, as gutter guards are made from numerous different materials. A few examples include the following:
- Aluminum
- Stainless steel
- Plastic (PVC)
- Vinyl
- Copper
How can you choose the best material for your gutter guards? Typically, you are striking a balance between quality and cost. For example, copper is an expensive choice, but it is also very long-lasting. On the other hand, aluminum is considerably more cost-effective, but it is also less durable.
Maintenance Is Still Required After Installing Gutter Guards
You might think that you’ll be able to ignore your gutters after installing gutter guards. The gutter guards will do all the maintenance for you, right? Think again. While gutter guards prevent a significant amount of debris from entering your gutters, they aren’t foolproof. Sometimes, particles of debris will pass through the holes in your gutter guards. Additionally, gutter guards won’t stop your gutters’ exterior surfaces from gathering debris, either.
We highly recommend that you continue regularly cleaning your gutters even after installing gutter guards. Remember, gutter guards are here to help, but they aren’t miracle workers. You’ll still need to check in on your gutters once or twice a year.
Challenges of DIY Gutter Guard Installation
To experience the benefits of gutter guards, you may consider doing the work on your own. Is it possible to do your own gutter guard installation? Absolutely, but you need to be prepared for a potentially challenging project. To do this work, you’ll have to find the necessary equipment for the work. This generally includes the following:
- Ladder (sturdy and tall enough to safely reach gutters)
- Drill or screwdriver (for securing guards)
- Tape measure (for sizing sections)
- Utility knife or tin snips (to cut guards to fit)
- Gloves (protect hands from sharp edges and debris)
- Safety glasses (optional, but recommended)
Additionally, do you have enough time and energy to dedicate to the project? Installing gutter guards isn’t something you can knock out in thirty minutes. The process typically takes hours, and you will likely be physically fatigued when you are done.
If you feel like installing gutter guards on your own isn’t the right choice, don’t worry. You can always reach out to a professional company for the assistance you need. For example, at Marin Exterior Cleaning, it would be our pleasure to add gutter guards to your property—and for a reasonable price, too!
Get Started With Marin Exterior Cleaning
Ready for our Kentfield, CA team to start installing gutter guards for you? If so, don’t hesitate to reach out to Marin Exterior Cleaning. We will happily do this work for you; what you’ll pay is based on the size of your project. There are never hidden fees or surcharges, so don’t worry about any unpleasant surprises. We stay honest and transparent all the way through your appointment.
To get started, contact us online with information about your project today. We will provide you with a free cost estimate, and then, you can choose a time and date for your appointment. We will be at your property installing gutter guards for you in the very near future!
