Wednesday, March 26, 2014

The Myth about Gutter Covers and Guards

Whatever you call them, no matter the material; a cover on the gutters is essentially just another piece to clean.  Do we never think you should have them?  Well "never" is an extreme word.  Covers may be great if you are needing to keep out tennis balls from the neighborhood kid.  Covers may deter larger debris from getting into the gutter and clogging the downspout- for example acorns can be troublesome if you have to be constantly scooping them out of your gutter.  Are they a means to an end for every homeowner though?- NO

When asked  about our take on covers, because we have seen them all and we have cleaned debris out from under all types (including the "Never Clean Your Gutters Again" brand), my response is "We rarely recommend them."

However, consider all the types of trees neighboring your home (and I do mean neighboring, not just in your yard, because seed pods and leaves can travel a little bit) before you make a bigger investment than necessary.  If you do all your research and you still feel that given the types of debris that have been getting in your gutters, adding a cover or guard would cut down on the maintenance, then by all means make the upgrade.  Just remember the old adage, "Buyer beware".  Know that all carry a fine print AND all need some type of maintenance.

Thanks for reading.  For more info check our page dedicated to different types of gutter covers.