What is Negative About Gutter Guards?

Gutters are generally that part of a house that is often neglected while deciding the aesthetic appearance of the house.

But if we talk about the structure’s stability and other parameters like health and hygiene, they play a very significant role. For example, if you do not protect your gutters using a suitable device, there are chances that foreign particles will fall into them.

To avoid this, you should install gutter guards. Before installing a gutter guard, you should always check things like the various companies and the types of gutter guards. One such is the Shur Flo gutter guards.

What are Gutter Guards?

As the name suggests, gutter cards are used as a protective barrier to prevent things like leaves, debris, small animals, and insects from falling into the gutter and causing problems like blockages in the sewer. Using gutter guards also saves you from frequently cleaning your gutters, as they do this work for you.

They help to reduce the maintenance cost to a great extent and also save you from the hectic task of unnecessarily cleaning your gutters now and then. Gutter guards are also known as gutter protective systems. Gutter guards are made of various materials, from light ones like foam to strong ones like steel. You can either install them inside the gutters or over them to prevent things from falling in the gutter.

Various Types of Gutter Guards

The gutter guards are classified into various categories, offering a broad spectrum of protective gutter solutions review based on the material used in their construction.

Generally, there are the following types of gutter guards available on the market:

• Foam gutter guards: These are the least expensive guards. They are made of foam and are considered temporary solutions. They are not considered a stable option because their quality degrades in the rainy season and harsh weather conditions,
• Brush gutter guards: They offer ease of installation and are affordable. However, they are not a permanent option for your gutters and require frequent cleaning. These guards trap the debris in their brushes and need frequent cleaning so that the debris does not fall into the sewer, choking it.
• Reverse-cut gutter guards: Made of materials like plastic or aluminum, they are one of the most efficient gutter guards. Their mechanism offers better protection of the gutters from debris, but there are chances that they do not work well during the rainy season.
• Screen gutter guards: These gutter guards are made of perforated metal. Therefore, they might be efficient at blocking large particles, but they will not prevent small materials from entering your sewer system. So, it can cause clogging when all these small substances accumulate and form a big lump.
• Micro-mesh gutter guards: These gutter guards can successfully prevent small particles from entering the gutter. So, they are an ideal option for people residing in areas surrounded by many trees or living near any construction site. They, too, have disadvantages, like the fact that to install them, you need professional consultation. The cost of installation is also generally higher than for other guards.

What is Negative About Gutter Guards?

While there are so many advantages to gutter guards, there are a few things you should consider before installing them in your home. It is important to go through all the points so that you do not make the wrong decision.

• Can cause leaks: If the gutter guards are not installed properly, they can cause leakage, which can cause secondary effects like efflorescence in the walls or ceilings.
• Installation cost may be high: If you use a superior-quality material as a gutter guard or if there is a large area to be covered, then there are chances that the initial cost might be high. The light options like plastic and foam are affordable, but they won’t serve you long.
• Can cause roof damage: if you do not take care of the gutter guards properly, there is a chance that unwanted things like debris or leaves may cause blockages in the sewer, causing mild to severe damage to the roofs. In a few cases, roofs have also collapsed, leading to severe losses.
• Might harm the structure’s integrity: The gutter guards and gutters can increase the load on the structure, thus overstraining it. This can lead to roof collapse or other failures like structural instability.
• Maintenance problems: Your job isn’t over by just installing gutter guards in your house. These gutters require frequent maintenance to avoid leaks or blockage in the sewer lines. Thus, you can’t say that gutter guards are maintenance-free. You might even need a professional to clean and maintain the gutter guards, resulting in additional expenses.
• Ice dams: Another problem with guards you can’t neglect is ice dams. This is a problem that is commonly seen during the winter season. As a result, the guards can collapse, or you might experience clogging.

Conclusion

Gutters are as equal as any other part of your house. Rather, we can say it is the part that requires the most attention. If you don’t take care of the gutters properly, it can cause severe effects, so you should always install protective barriers like gutter guards for safety.

But before you install one in your house, check the various parameters associated with it. This will help you make a wise decision that will help you in the long run, both economically and in providing stability for your beautiful and precious house.