Gutter Guards For Improved Winter Performance

Posted on Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Debris and ice do not mix well in gutters. As debris builds-up, water can pool and stagnate. When winter comes around, this water freezes and weights down your gutter system. As the days become warmer, the ice will melt causing an expansion and contraction which loosens the gutter’s connection to your roof. Besides damaging your gutter system, the water that isn’t captured by the gutter can get into your roof and walls which will cause much more severe damage.

Potential Problems

To protect your foundation from water damage, they redirect water from the roof into a downspout that can either collect the water or flush it down the sewer. The problem with gutters is that they need to be maintained, or they can cause other problems to arise.

If a gutter starts to separate from a roof, the water that it was supposed to collect can be redirect back towards the house. Normally, this water will find its way into the soffit, the underside of a roof overhang, causing it to warp, rot, and become dirty. In some occasions, the ice can pool under the roof shingles or tiles and can cause damage to the roof and walls. Both scenarios result in the same thing, expensive repairs that could have been avoided if the gutters were maintained.

Since foundations are the most important structure for a home, it is worth investing time or money in proper gutter installation and maintenance.

Potential Solutions

Proper gutter maintenance is required if the top is unprotected and debris can enter freely. Ice dams cause the most serious damage to homes, but any gutter malfunction is a potentially expensive problem. Most of the time, these problems can be prevented if the gutters are always clean. But gutter cleaning can be laborious and dangerous. Fortunately, there are other options.

If you have gutter guards installed by a professional, any maintenance that is required should be covered in the warranty. Gutter guards prevent debris buildup which will prevent water from pooling up and causing problems. Professionally installed gutter guards are the set-it and forget it version of gutters. Once they are on, you don’t have to worry about maintenance ever again.

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