The Best Leaf Guards for Gutters
Every homeowner must have gutter guards, especially if the area is prone to extreme weather conditions. They protect your downspouts and gutters from pests and debris, ensuring rainwater flows effectively away from your home.
Gutter guards minimize the need for frequent cleaning while preventing water damage to your roof and fascia. At Above All Gutter-Vac Service, we specialize in all things gutter. With over 25 years of experience, we guarantee quality gutter and leaf guard installation, cleaning, and maintenance.
Benefits of Leaf Guards
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Protecting Your Home from Water Damage, Mold, and Mildew
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Pest Control
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Preventing Gutter Freezing and Ice Dams
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Fire Protection
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Preventing Premature Corrosion and Rust
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Enhancing Water Flow
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Preventing Overflows
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Easier Gutter Maintenance
Factors to Consider When Selecting the Best Leaf Guard for Gutters
Gutter guards are a vital component of your gutter system. They are available in various designs and materials, so it’s essential to consider several factors to help you choose the best leaf guard for gutters.
1. Material Durability and Quality
The material you select determines how often you’ll need to clean, repair and replace your leaf guards.
- Foam guards are the easiest to install and most affordable, but they have lower quality and durability
- Plastic leaf guards are better than foam guards but are not the best quality.
- Plastic leaf guards are better than foam guards but are not the best quality.
- Most micro-mesh and mesh screens are stainless steel, making them among the most durable.
- Aluminum leaf guards consist of aluminum and stainless steel. The quality level varies depending on the gauge the manufacturer uses.
Above All Gutter-Vac Service guarantees high-quality materials that are durable and require less maintenance.
2. Visual Appeal
3. Location and Surroundings
The most suitable leaf guards for your home depend on your environment and living conditions. Brush guards are ideal if your home only has a few trees. If your home has many trees where leaves often cover the ground in the fall, you’ll need to clean these guards every couple of weeks.
Micro-mesh leaf guards are most suitable for homes with asphalt shingles, evergreen trees, tiny debris, and small insects.
Mesh guards with larger openings are perfect for areas experiencing heavy rain. However, surface tension guards in regions with excessive heavy rain for prolonged periods can cause foundation problems over time.
Snowy and cold areas require leaf guards that prevent ice dams from forming. Ice dams clogging your gutters can cause more damage than without gutters altogether. Sloped leaf guards help the snow and ice to slide off and encourage melting.
If you have brush and foam guards, you’ll need to remove them during winter unless your gutters have winter-proofing. We offer affordable gutter cleaning and maintenance services all year round, and we’ll be happy to ensure your gutters remain in tip-top shape.
4. Size
Having the correct dimensions is essential when selecting leaf guards for your gutters. You’ll need to measure the length and width of your drains to determine how many pieces you’ll need for your entire system.
Gutters have three standard widths, so the leaf guards have matching sizes. The 5-inch size is most common, but 4-inch and 6-inch sizes are also available.
It’s best to allow our professionals to help with the measurements for accuracy and to avoid taking a risk. Our licensed and insured technicians have the right tools and gear to climb to your roof without damaging your home or causing accidents.
Types of Leaf Guards
Screen Leaf Guards
Screen leaf guards are most suitable for homeowners in areas with heavy rainfall but minimal debris. They have larger holes that allow more rainwater to flow better while keeping off large debris and leaves.
Screen leaf guards are either stainless steel or aluminum, so they can handle heavy debris when necessary. They are easy to install and affordable, but windy conditions can make them brittle with time.
Mesh Leave Guards
Mesh leaf guards are slightly better than screen guards because the openings have a more condensed pattern. They can keep off smaller debris more efficiently.
Mesh leaf guards are either stainless steel, plastic or metallic with aluminum frames that enhance stability. They are more complex to install, so it’s best to avoid DIY. It’s also essential to get the right quality because flimsy types easier tear during extreme weather conditions.
Micro-mesh Leaf Guards
Micro-mesh guards look like mesh guards, but the openings are smaller. They successfully keep even small debris out while allowing an optimal water flow. Most homeowners use micro-mesh guards as overlays for more porous leaf guards.
Surface Tension or Reverse-curve Guards
Reverse curve leaf guards have a unique pattern that catches water before it flows off the roof. Other guards work by allowing water to flow inside the gutter.
Reverse-guards work by forcing the water to flow on top of the gutter around a curve facing downwards. The water then flows into the gutter while debris and leaves slide off and fall to the ground. Reverse curve gutter guards are complex to install because they must be at the same angle as the roof.
Brush Guards
Brush leaf guards look like large pipe cleaners with bristles inside the gutters. The bristles trap debris, preventing it from clogging the downspouts and waterways.
Although brush guards are affordable and easy to install, they can collect small debris like pine needles between the bristles. You’ll need more regular gutter cleaning to remove the small pieces.
Foam Guards
Foam leaf guards contain foam inserts that fit inside your gutters to keep away large debris. They have a flat top and fit snuggly into your gutters, allowing water to flow through.
Foam guards are best for dry or mild climates because the material wears quickly. They also require regular maintenance, where you remove them entirely to clean the gutters.
The Best Leaf Guards for Gutters
For most homeowners, perforated aluminum leaf guards are the best leaf guard for gutters. They consist of flat aluminum sheets folded into shape using a roll-forming machine.
Aluminum is highly resistant to wear and tear or cracking in cold and hot environments. They can last up to ten or twenty years with proper maintenance. Perforated aluminum guards have a treatment layer and coating to prevent oxidation that causes a color change. They have a smooth surface with a series of holes to allow adequate water flow into the gutter.
The heavy-grade aluminum enhances durability and ensures the design remains sturdy. These guards are perfect for areas with heavy rainfall and are suitable for new and old gutter systems.
They reduce the formation of ice dams and extend the life of your foundation, gutters, doors, and windows. Maintenance is also easier because the wind blows off most of the debris.
Get a Comprehensive Solution
At Above All Gutter-Vac Service, we understand that your home is your most valuable asset, and we strive to protect and enhance your investment.
We’ll work with you to evaluate your gutter system, weather patterns, budget, tree cover, roof warranty, and other essential factors. Our installation services include cleaning all your downspouts and gutters, sealing, and adjusting the flow as necessary.
Our licensed and insured technicians are ready to answer any questions and assist with the entire process, from planning and design to installation and maintenance. We’ll install a new gutter system and leaf guards if your home has no existing gutters. Schedule an appointment today, and avoid taking chances on your home.
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