Fall is in full swing. Summer’s green turned to fall’s orange and before winter’s white arrives, everything has settled into faded, brown limbo. As you clean the mounds of muck out of your gutters as part of your winter preparations, you curse yourself because you know there’s a better way. You’ve seen the commercials on tv and all over the Gutter Pros blog. Leaf protection. If only you’d listened, and had gutter guards installed in the spring. Now, it’s fall and you’re stuck with the muck.
The thing is, it’s not too late! Gutter guards can be installed in the fall, and even though they may not be able to keep out this year’s crop of color, you’ll be ready for the next, and they’ll keep out sticks and debris that often accompany winter storms.
Why spend the money on leaf protection? Your gutters are under a constant barrage of leaves, sticks, and debris, especially in the fall months. Clogs can happen anytime and can cause water to overflow and damage your foundation, siding, windows, doors, and landscaping. They can also cause ice and snow to back up onto the roof in the winter and contribute to roof-damaging ice dams.
With gutter guards in place, you can avoid that costly damage and minimize the need to climb up on that rickety ladder to clean your gutters. While gutter guards won’t completely eliminate the need for cleaning, they’ll greatly reduce the frequency.
There are several kinds of leaf protection available. Micro Mesh or Perforated Aluminum Guards are placed over your gutters with holes that allow water to flow in while keeping leaves out. Solid Gutter Covers or Reverse Curve Gutter Guards are sheets of metal that hang over your gutters and as water flows over the smooth curve, leaves and debris drop over the edge and onto the ground. This type works well with leaves and sticks but pine needles can cling to the water’s surface and cause a clog.
Other types of leaf protection go inside your gutters. They’re far less expensive than other forms of protection but they generally aren’t as effective. Foam gutter guards are foam tubes that resemble pool noodles that are simply cut to length and placed inside the gutters. They keep leaves out while letting water in but they tend to deteriorate in the harsh weather and need to be replaced often. Brush Guards, long tubes made of bristle brushes, work similarly but the bristles can build up with leaves instead of repelling them.
Gutter Pros can help you determine what time of leaf protection will work best for your property. Do you have lots of leafy trees? Trees that drop needles or tassels? Our technicians can install the right gutter protection, right now. GutterPros is a full-service gutter company that specializes in commercial gutters, copper gutters, and leaf protection. Our technicians can clean and inspect your gutters and install the optimal leaf protection for your home! Call Gutter Pros at (314)656-7195 and schedule an appointment today.