No one likes gutter cleaning in Melbourne in the wet and windy weather, it can sometimes feel like you have to start cleaning again as soon as you’re finished.
Gutters can quickly become choked with all sorts of debris, like leaves, twigs and dirt. With gutters getting clogged, water cannot flow freely through the gutters. Instead, gutters block up and water starts overflowing or pooling on your roof or in your gutters. Overflowing gutters and water pooling on your roof and around your home can lead to extremely costly water drainage problems.
Over time, you can expect to see damaged exterior walls, leaks in ceilings, staining to ceilings and walls, electrical problems, damage to structural timbers and even foundation cracking.
One of the alternatives to regular gutter cleaning is installing gutter guards. But are they actually worth it? Well, let’s find out.
What are gutter guards?
Gutter guards are generally plastic or metal filters that sit over your gutters. They are designed to filter out the debris leaving only the water to flow through into the gutters.
They are available in a variety of designs including:
- Reverse curve gutter guards: Usually made from metal or plastic, these are curved sheets that sit over your gutter. The idea is that the debris is washed off the roof onto the ground, while the water follows the curve of the guard into the gutter.
- Mesh gutter guards: These plastic or metal screens that are fitted over your gutters. The mesh filters out the debris, allowing only the water to flow into the gutters.
- Bottle brush gutter guards: These are long cylindrical brushes that are fitted into inside the gutters. The bristles catch debris but allow the water to flow through unimpeded.
- Nylon gutter guards: These guards sit over the gutter with a slight hump. They are designed so that the water drains through to the gutter while the debris is caught in the nylon guard.
- Foam gutter guards: These are basically blocks of foam, like sponges, that sit inside the gutter. They physically prevent debris entering the gutter while allowing water to pass through.
Are they worth it?
Gutter guards are often marketed to homeowners as a hassle-free alternative to gutter cleaning which is extremely important. However, the reality is that even with the best gutter guard system, your roof and gutter will still need cleaning and maintenance.
These guards are only a solution to cleaning gutters when used in ideal circumstances. In reality, while they can limit how much debris enters your gutters, they are in no way fool proof. Over time, gutter guards can come loose or break or tear, causing clogs in your gutters.
Some gutter guard systems, particularly mesh and curved systems, have trouble handling heavy rainfall. If water is flowing too quickly down the roof, the guards can cause it to completely overshoot the gutters, leading to overflow even with clean gutters.
The guards themselves can also become clogged as debris builds up and leaves choke the system to the point that no water can pass through. This means that you may need to clean your gutter guards just as regularly as you previously cleaned your gutters.
Some systems may require even more frequent cleaning. For instance, some guard systems may elevate debris in such a way that it is clearly visible from the street. This can make your roof look messy and unkempt.
Additionally, gutter guards need to be replaced over time. Some homeowners find they need to replace them every few years or so. This is far more frequently than gutters need to be replaced. You might find yourself spending far more than you thought on a product that doesn’t work as it should.
Choose the professionals
While gutter guards can work in some situations, the reality is that with or without them you will still need to regularly clean and maintain your food and gutters.
At the end of the day, the easiest way to handle your roof and gutter cleaning is to call in the professionals at Melbourne’s Himalayas Group. Getting the pros to handle your roof and gutter cleaning is by far the most effective and reliable option. To make an appointment, call Himalayas Group on 0415 841 606.
