Maintaining Your Gutter Guards, Here’s an Easy DIY For You!

Gutter guards are something that most modern homes have, and once you have them, there is some maintenance you should follow to make sure they continue to work well. These few simple steps will help you keep your gutter system running smoothly for years to come.

Does the need for gutter guards on your home strike you as more of an Old World “Old Money” thing? You would be wrong! The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) surveyed their members in 2011 and found that 83% of them install gutters on new homes, while 65% of builders surveyed said they include the installation of rain gutters with their warranty or maintenance contract. Why? Because if you want your roofing shingles to live longer than 10 years, you should have some way to protect them from rot caused by water damage.

The NAHB also found that even though 83% of new homes came with gutters, only 49% of homeowners who had their home more than 5 years said they cleaned the gutter out themselves. Only 27% of people who installed a gutter guard said they ever bought a cleaning kit to clean them. But there’s no reason not to keep your gutters clear! Gutters should be easy enough to maintain by yourself or with a friend or two, but if all you have is a ladder and you’re afraid of heights, paying an experienced professional for this small service may be cheaper in both money and stress relief than having it done poorly by yourself.

What even are gutter guards?

Gutter guards are basically a filter system for your gutters. They consist of a series of small bars or other materials that push debris, leaves, and even birds out of the path of water running down your gutters. Yep: Birds can get in there. That’s why gutter guards must be able to flex up and down to mimic the action of a leaf blower blowing away debris from a driveway or sidewalk.

The NAHB recommends using aluminum filters because they’re durable, aesthetic, and readily available at most home improvement stores… But not everyone agrees with them! Some homeowners say they prefer plastic filters because aluminum ones need painting every four years to maintain their good looks. People who use metal guttering generally agree that it’s sturdier but more expensive.

There are also some pretty innovative gutter guard ideas on the market. A company called Protecto-Guard makes a product that’s not just for gutters, but for roofs too! They’re one of the few companies in the industry with no visible seams or joints between their products. This is accomplished by using heat treatment during manufacturing. Other easier-to-install options include gutter guards that simply clip onto your existing guttering… But they don’t last as long because they can get knocked around more easily while they’re still attached to the roofing system.

Maintaining your gutter guards

A word of advice: Don’t get the idea that you should install gutter guards and then never clean them again! You won’t get very far with that attitude. Consider the cost of rain gutters as an investment in your home, not an expense to be minimized. 

The National Association of Home Builders says that gutter guards should be swept once a year. Your gutters will certainly require more frequent attention if you’re on a hill… And/or if you have ever used any kind of fertilizer on your yard. The manufacturers agree! Proper cleanliness is important for gutter guard longevity, so look out for leaves or other debris. They are usually easily cleared away during your spring cleanup, but they’ll only get worse over time if ignored!

Gutters can also literally clog up from corrosion after years of exposure to water and buildup of calcium deposits the same way your kitchen sink does. If you absolutely cannot remove the debris yourself, you’ll have to contact someone who can clear it for you. You should also check your gutter guards out for rusting, which is more common in metal than plastic. Replacing them will be necessary after 10 years of use.

Paint often fades over time due to exposure to sun and water, so paint maintenance on your new gutters is just as important as maintaining any other part of your home that gets painted! Keep an eye on the color of your aluminum gutter guards. Not only are they all susceptible to oxidation, but one side may get faded by exposure to sunlight differently than the other side! It’s usually not hard at all to match the existing color during a touchup.

Recommendations

The price of gutters is going to vary widely from region to region, but they’re usually between $1 and $2 per foot. In my experience, this cost goes up steeply if you live in a place that’s hot enough for snow most winters… And even more steeply if your gutter has an especially sharp or steep angle! The installation will be pricier than the product you actually buy: You can expect to pay about $25 on average for “hired help” according to the NAHB. They recommend hiring someone else because it’s dangerous work and not everyone is physically able! If you don’t hire anyone, though, it only takes an hour or two to install your gutters.