[...]Gutter Covers: Leaf Guard review | Random Stuff[...]…

[...]Gutter Covers: Leaf Guard review | Random Stuff[...]…

DGlens :I have been installing gutter guards and cleaning them for over 20 years. I currently install leaf relief (on my own home with pin oaks) and rhino gutter guard.Here is a succinct summary:1. Surface tension: Don’t trust the first price, they will come back with a lower one. They are making about three times the price of materials. They won’t tell you in the presentation that you have to clean the lips or the water shoots over like you have no gutters at all. I make as much cleaning the lips as I do with gutters. Gutter Helmets are the worst. They fasten to the roof and void the roof warranty. They also get clogged. Leaf Guards are too small and also get clogged. Finding service for both of these is really hard too.2. Don’t use plastics at all. The sun dries them out and debris collapses them.3. Waterfall vinyl gutter guards work on steep roofs only, but the slots must be cleaned yearly.4. Leaf Relief works well but it is flat, and the ten year warranty is prorated (I recently discovered this). Most roofs need to be blown off periodically, and the guards can be done then. Alcoa also says that if debris is on top, then the water still gets through.5. Mesh is good if it is metal, not laying flat and the mesh is on top.6. Gutter inserts (black inserts). They say themselves that the tops need cleaning every few seasons.7. Cleaning can be the most cost effective, and I do some houses for $50 (a ranch for instance takes just 20 minutes sometimes). But even higher price houses could get my services in Winston-Salem, NC or Lynchburg VA for several years for the cost of gutter guards.Final thoughts: Get references for any contractors and do a cost comparison. Some contractors really jack up the prices.Final recommendations: All guards work well if the trees are far enough away, under trees, no guard is perfect or maintenance free. The need for guards varies oper house and per tree type. Squirrels chew through any guard out there.K-Guards are great if you can afford them and clean the lips every spring ($12-15/ft.-300% mark up).Leaf Relief and Rhino are the most affordable and effective in their group ($4-5/ft.- material cost is $2.10/ft.).Rhino: I like the slant of the guard and the stainless steel mesh ($4-5/ft.- materials cost is $2.50/foot).Gutta Guard: Cheap, very poor, hard to install, remove and maintain ($3-5/ft.-material cost is $1/ft.)Gorilla Gutter Guard will be only as effective as the cleaning system because the slot will fill up.Waterfall Gutter Guard: The slots clog up and you need a screwdriver and hose to clean them out and stuff does get inside.Rain Strain has slots that will fill up.Many guards work in the fall great, but the spring is when the problems occur with pollen and stringers that clog the guards.One thing not mentioned so far is that the pitch of the gutter must be correct or there will be build up in the gutter of shingle dust and small debris. I fix the pitch before capping gutters.Hope this helps.Glen

Now how many time should you clean out gutters during the fall if you say once thanks that will give carpenters plenty of work since you will mislead homeowner and their facia boards rot and cause tons in damage.Only a gutter cleaner would say its cheaper to have someone clean gutters 1 or 2 times a year. just like putting gas in your car only last so long

[...]Gutter Covers: Leaf Guard review | Random Stuff[...]…

[...]Gutter Covers: Leaf Guard review | Random Stuff[...]…