Gutter Guard Types in a Nutshell

By Hallett Gutter Cover
on April 22, 2021
Categories: Hallett Gutter Cover

A roof drainage system is not complete without the addition of gutter guards. Aside from making the gutters easier to clean, it also keeps your roofing system in top condition. The gutter directs the water coming from the roof and keeps it away from the fascia, soffit and seeping through the house walls. Your gutter can somehow still perform well without the gutter guards but gradually debris and clogging will occur. As of now there are a lot of companies that provide gutter guards and new designs have been invented. Making a decision on what type to choose is important as it will determine how much money will you save in the coming months and the convenience of not having to go up and down the ladder to do gutter cleaning. Here are some gutter types and their features:

Foam

Made from polyurethane, this type of gutter guard is one of the easiest to install. It keeps most of the debris out and it also can be helpful in the winter season. The liquids just seep through and any debris will just be blown away gradually. However, there are times that this type is a temporary solution as debris such as pine needles and some small objects would stick to the foam. It can be a good choice for houses that doesn't have that much surrounding trees.

Brush

Another type that's easy to install, the brush type looks like a giant bottle brush. You just insert it along the gutter and let it do its work. It's a bit cheaper than gutter foam and cleaning just requires shaking the brush off. One disadvantage to this is you've got to go up and down the ladder more often as it gets easily stuffed with debris – it somehow “catches” or suspends the debris within.

Mesh/Screen

This gutter guard is made of a fine screen of stainless steel and laid out on a frame for added durability. This variety keeps all types of debris out and only lets water through. Cleaning is really simple – just hose it down along the screen/mesh and the leaves come off. Usually, installation is easy by just putting it under the shingles. One disadvantage it has is when not cleaned regularly, the debris combines with water and creates a layer along the mesh. This gradually creates a partial clog and kills the purpose of the mesh – which is to let water pass through the screen.

Louvered Gutter Guards

This is a popular alternative as of today. Instead of having gutters, “louvers” made of aluminum is installed. This looks like your everyday window blinds, angled to a certain extent which diverts rainwater away from the house walls. This is recommended for people who don't want to install a gutter system. However, since there are no gutters installed, when heavy rain comes the water somehow “soaks up” the house's surrounding area. When having this installed, it is important to consider a ground drainage system around the home to prevent flooding, especially with the basement if you have one.

Reverse Curve

This is a popular variety as well. It has a solid cover and a simple design. One good thing about its design is that it lets water flow freely down the covers into the gutter (thanks to science – surface tension and water adhesion) and the debris just falls freely down to the ground. Installation is fairly easy, just a few clips and screws and it's good to go. It maybe hard at times to remove the covers, but it minimizes cleaning as much as possible.

What do you think is the most preferred type of gutter guard? You can join in the discussion at Hallett Gutter Cover's Facebook page. Hallett Gutter Cover has been providing the best gutter guards since 1995, have a look at their site today!