CONTACT:
Robert Lenney
916-778-8777
Robert@gutterglove.com
7 Gutter Protection Systems Reviewed
A look at the various types of gutter guards on the market
SACRAMENTO, CA – November 4, 2008 -- Fall is the time of year when many adventurous homeowners take that vertical venture skyward to take a peek at the status of their roof gutters. After several months of spring rains and summer winds, an unprotected gutter is likely to be clogged with all sorts of debris, including leaves, pine needles, seed pods and even small tree branches.
But do-it-yourself gutter cleaning can be a tedious and dangerous job for the untrained weekend warrior. Every year, thousands of people are injured or even killed in horrific accidents that involve falling off a ladder or roof while attempting to clean out the gutters in their home.
Installing a gutter guard is a perfect solution that can take the worry and the danger out of this annual gutter-cleaning ritual. There are many types of gutter guards on the market to choose from, and all of them offer some sort of protection for your gutter.
They come in all shapes, sizes and materials, and the price range varies as much as the style. Hardware stores sell a few different kinds, with some versions costing as little as .50 per foot. Premium gutter guards can cost as much as $25 per foot, including labor and materials, and generally are only available through an authorized dealer. Consumers should be aware that while most products that are professionally installed come with a guarantee, they should read the fine print to understand exactly what is, and is not covered before they buy.
So how does one select the right gutter protection system for their needs? Here’s a primer on the seven different types of gutter guards available.
Reverse curve: Gutter Helmet features a nose-forward design that claims to prevent leaves and debris from entering the gutter system by channeling rainwater around the nose-forward panel and through a small, 3/8-inch horizontal slit. Gutter Helmet is installed to match the exact pitch of the roof to assist the principles of gravity and surface tension in allowing rainwater to flow into the gutter while leaves and debris to fall to the ground below. Cost is approximately $1,500-$2,000 for an average sized home For more information, visit www.gutterhelmet.com.
Mesh: Gutterglove Gutterguard, one of the more advanced mesh type of gutter protection systems on the market, claims to keep out all debris -- including sand -- and that you will never have a clogged gutter or downspout again. Made from a super fine stainless steel mesh (8,100 holes per square inch), and a hardened anodized aluminum frame, Gutterglove slides under the roof shingles and fastens to the front lip of your existing gutter. Gutterglove is also widely used on rainwater collection systems due to its ability to filter out all debris from the gutters before the rainwater flows to the rain collection tanks. The cost of Gutterglove is between $1,500 and $2,500 installed on an average size, single story home. More information, visit to www.Gutterglove.com.
Reverse curve with gutter included: Englert LeafGuard is the only gutter protection system that integrates both a gutter, and cover, into one single seamless piece. Made of heavy duty .032 aluminum with a lifetime finish warranty that won’t rust, peel or chip, the seamless system prevents water damage caused by leaky seams. Rainwater travels down the roof and over the round hood on the front and into the gutter while leaves and debris roll right over the edge. The design of LeafGuard features proper drainage, oversized downspouts and positive water flow so that any fine debris that may get into the gutter is flushed out the downspout. The Leafguard Installation Company guarantees that it will not clog with debris or they will clean it for free. Cost is approximately $2,500-$3,500 for an average sized home. Visit www.LeafGuard.com.
Bottle Brush: The GutterBrush Gutter Guard is one of the simplest and least expensive gutter guards available. Resembling a large, flexible bottle brush with stiff bristles, the GutterBrush is inserted into rain gutters from end to end and acts as a barrier blocking most leaves and other debris from entering your home's rain gutters while allowing water to flow unobstructed into and through your rain gutter downspouts. Small debris suspended in the top of the GutterBrush either blows away or begins decomposing and washes through the rain gutter during natural weather cycles of rain, sun and wind and snow. GutterBrush comes in two sizes for five inch and six inch gutters and costs from $3.25 to $4.25 per foot. www.gutterbrush.com
Nylon: Flo-Free Leaf Guard is made of 3/4-inch thick industrial strength nylon that fits into the gutter without attaching to the shingles. Flo-Free comes in several sizes and claims to eliminate winter ice dams by not allowing snow to accumulate in the gutter yet allowing water to flow through the product into the gutter even in the coldest of climates. Flo-Free does not affect the roof shingles and allows the entire mouth of the gutter to accept rainwater. For pricing and more information, visit www.dciproducts.com
Non-gutter cover: Rainhandler replaces conventional gutters with ¾-inch-wide aluminum louvers that have the appearance of an open Venetian blind. As the rain comes off your roof, Rainhandler's seven angled louvers break up the heavy sheet of water into small drops. These drops are deflected away from the house where they fall harmlessly to the ground in a two- to three-foot band. Pricing starts at $23.90 for a standard five-foot section of Rainhandler. For information, visit www.rainhandler.com.
Foam type: Gutter Filler is a polyurethane plastic material that fits into the gutter and acts as a block to all debris coming off the roof. The Gutter Filler material is extremely porous and claims to inhibit mold, mildew and fungus, and has special ultra violet protection to help it last a long time in the sun. Gutter Filler prices start at $90 for 20 feet of the standard size gutter material.
For more information, visit www.gutterfiller.com.
These are just a sampling of the many varieties of gutter guards on the market today. However, with choices like this, there should be no reason to ever tempt fate by climbing a ladder or onto a roof to clean out a gutter.
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Here is my contact information:
Robert Lenney
3150 Edgewood Lane
Newcastle, CA. 95658
(916)778-8777 |