3 Things To Consider When Installing Gutter Covers

If you have trouble keeping up with gutter cleaning to prevent clogs, gutter covers could be the answer. Gutter covers can reduce gutter maintenance needs and protect your siding and foundation from overflows, but there are a few things homeowners who are new to gutter covers should know. Here are three things to consider when installing gutter covers.

1. The Condition of Your Gutters

Gutter covers are a useful add-on to protect your home if your gutters are in good shape. However, gutter covers aren't meant to overcome the shortcomings of gutters that are in poor condition.

Gutter cover brackets typically support the entire weight of the covers on your gutters. Your gutters must be up to a certain standard of stability to hold gutter covers securely. If your gutters are leaking, sagging, or corroded, you will need to address these issues before installing gutter covers.

2. Types of Gutter Covers

Most gutter covers operate on a similar principle by using a filtering media to protect your gutters from clogs. Screen, mesh, and micromesh covers all use grates of varying sizes to separate debris from the water that enters your gutters. Brush gutter guards filter water with a bristle brush insert that rests inside your gutters.

A reverse curve gutter cover relies on gravity and a curved, hydrophobic surface to route debris away from your gutters. These covers shield your gutters almost completely and are designed so that leaves and branches cannot possibly come to rest on top of them. Reverse curve covers have a small gap at the edge that allows only water to enter the gutters.

3. Gutter Cover Materials

The material your gutter covers are made of will have a big impact on their performance and longevity. Constant exposure to moisture means that not all metals are a good choice for gutter covers. Stainless steel covers can withstand decades of temperature changes and inclement weather. Low-cost aluminum covers are a good short-term solution, but they will sometimes corrode in a matter of months.

Plastic and nylon gutter covers are impervious to rust, but they're naturally less durable than metal covers. Heavy branches or other debris that fall on plastic gutter covers may crack them, so trim branches back regularly or consider metal gutter guards if there is heavy tree cover near your house.

The right gutter covers can make clogged gutters a thing of the past. If you're still unsure about the best covers for your gutters, ask a local gutter contractor for a personalized recommendation.

For more information, contact a company such as Mid Kansas Seamless Guttering.


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