Home Remodeling Tips & Tricks

When the autumn leaves start to fall, you may start to dread the upcoming chore of cleaning them out of your gutters. Because you have grown tired of having to haul out the ladder and dig the clogs out, you may be thinking about having guards installed on them.

However, you may have some questions about how the guards work. Below are answers to a couple of these questions you may have about having guards installed on your home's gutters.

1. What Type of Maintenance Will Be Required When You Have Guards on Your Gutters?

One question you may have about having guards placed on your gutters has to do with their maintenance. You may be wondering what you will have to do each year to keep them clean and functional.

While gutter guards do not require a lot of care, there is some maintenance that needs to be done to keep the mesh open so that the water can flow through. A few times a year, you will need to check the mesh to see if there is any debris stuck in the holes. 

If there is debris, you usually only need to brush it away. However, if mud is caked in mesh or leaf veins and sticks are stuck, you may need to spray them off. 

2. How Well Do the Guards Hold up When Large Amounts of Snow and Ice Accumulate? 

Another concern you may have may be about how well they withstand large amounts of snow and ice. If you live in an area that typically receives high amounts of wintry accumulation, you may be concerned about the guards' ability to hold the weight.

The guards that are installed on your gutters are thick and reinforced, making them able to withstand the weight of several inches of snow and ice. As the wintry precipitation melts, the water filters through the mesh slowly, keeping out any debris that may have become stuck in the snow and ice.

While you may have to brush off the guards a couple of times a year, they will save you time from having to dig out the leaves, dirt, and other debris that would otherwise clog up the gutters. They also prevent the buildup of snow and ice inside the gutters and are sturdy enough to handle high amounts of accumulation. If you have any further questions, contact a contractor who performs gutter guard installation services.