Gutter guards come in all shapes and sizes and choosing the right one for home can be a little confusing at times. Some home owners might even question if installing one is really worth the effort and money. However if you have ever had to climb a ladder and complete the awful, time consuming task of clearing a clogged gutter then you will never question the benefits installing a guard can offer your home!
Gutter guards come in all shapes and sizes and choosing the right one for home can be a little confusing at times. Some home owners might even question if installing one is really worth the effort and money. However if you have ever had to climb a ladder and complete the awful, time consuming task of clearing a clogged gutter then you will never question the benefits installing a guard can offer your home!
Fitting gutter guards to your home is the easiest way to ensure that your systems remain mostly debris free, however no guard is 100% fool proof and you will still need to clean the gutters out occasionally; but they do significantly reduce the number of times that you will need to climb that ladder.
Of course you could just hire a professional to come in once a year to clean your gutters for you, reducing the need for installing a gutter guard around your entire property. This might seem a cheaper alternative in the short term but in reality over the course of a few years, the cost of hiring someone in to clean your gutter systems will end up costing a lot more compared to installing gutter guards.
You could of course simply undertake the job of cleaning the guttering system yourself, however this is an incredibly lengthy procedure for someone who is not experienced – which often leads to many DIY enthusiasts having to waste an entire weekend picking leaves a debris out from their system. Certainly not the best way to be spending your precious free time!
Alongside the time wasted from cleaning out the gutter, it is also a very dangerous task. Every year, between 4,000 and 5,000 Australians are hospitalised from falling off a ladder, with an average of 19 people dying as a consequence every year. With the vast majority of these cases being from people undertaking DIY around their home, it is not falls from great height that is dangerous; even a fall of just two metres is enough to cause you serious harm.
So how do you choose the right gutter guard?
It can be a little overwhelming trying to work out which type of guard is most suitable for your home; brush guards, foam inserts, plastic mesh or stainless steel – each one has its pros and cons and with such a wide choice, it is able to suit any budget.
The first thing you should do is when considering gutter guards is to work out what kind of debris you are looking to protect your guttering from. Plastic screen style gutter guards are some of the most common on the market and act like a barrier over your guttering system, pushing debris down to the ground. With perforated holes throughout, they still allow rain water to run cleanly through the guttering system.
Another popular choice is the use of wire mesh. Acting in a similar fashion as the screen style guards, these metal mesh guards prevent large debris from entering the gutter, whilst again still allowing water to enter the system freely. Foam guards are amongst the cheapest on the market and are able to prevent anything from entering the system, they are however known to deteriorate quickly and can actually lead to seeds sprouting in the gutter system itself!
If you live in an area that is prone to bush fires, then there is also the option of installing ember guards to your property. These guards are specifically designed for bush fires and are made of non-combustible materials which are able to prevent burning embers from entering your gutter and setting highly flammable material such as dead leaves and twigs alight. Burning embers are one of the biggest causes of property fires during bush fire season, so if your property is at risk of a fire then these can be a very wise investment to make.
Talk to the professionals
Before you purchase a gutter guard for your property it is always best to consult the professionals to help you decide the best solution. A professionally installed system will not only mean that you do not have to risk the danger of climbing a ladder and fitting yourself them yourself, but will also give you the peace of mind knowing the system is working as efficiently and as strongly as it should.
Using a professional service, like the one we offer, will also ensure that you have the correct type of guard installed to offer maximum protection to your home. More than that however, your installation will be backed by a guarantee; meaning your home will always be fully protected.
