If you have heavy debris conditions there is only one way to keep your gutters clean and free flowing and that is to have the best gutter cover.
By what criteria do you select the best gutter guard? Do you go by price? Usually not. The most expensive gutter cover may not necessarily be the best gutter guard.
All gutter covers can be broken down into four types. Screening devices are the first type. They simply don't get the job done. Primitive gutter screens pass sufficient debris to clog the gutter and the newer micro mesh types, even though they may not let any debris into the gutter, will accumulate debris on the top where it will keep water from getting into the gutter.
Fins or a rounded front nose used to collect water are the second type. Google "Niagara rain gutter cover leaf guards and gutter guards" for the basic design. There are over a dozen different gutter guards have this basic design. One even has screen openings in top. Another one has a trough below the fin with openings to screen keep out large debris. In heavy debris conditions you can be guaranteed that sufficient debris will stick to the fin or rounded nose and be guided into the gutter where it will either clog the gutter or the trough that delivers the water to the gutter.
Louvered leaf guards with louvers instead of one long fin or nose is the third type. To see the basic design "Carefree Vinyl Gutter covers" which is also available in aluminum. So far, it's the best chance that you have in heavy debris conditions. Tje size of the debris that can get into the gutter is limited. However, more debris may get washed in from the lip of the gutter than you might wish and could clog the gutter.
A gutter guard with a double row of louvers is the fourth type of gutter guards. If you Google "Waterloov gutter guards" you can see what it looks like. With two rows of louvers, no debris can wash in from the lip of the gutter and you can be confident that the gutter inside will never clog. Since 1989 this design has been used with great success on tens of thousands of homes.
Maintenance is always an issue with all types of gutter guards. Screens either have to have the tops cleaned or they have to be removed to clean the gutter inside. The rounded nose or fin type (with or without the trough) have to be taken off the gutters, disconnected from the roof and then reinstalled whereas with the louvered products, they can usually be maintained by brushing with a telescopic pole and brush assembly. Removal of the gutter guards are never required with the double row design, however, with the single row design, it may be necessary to remove the gutter cover at the downspout.
In summary, for heavy debris conditions the best gutter guard is the double row louvered gutter cover which are easy to maintain with a telescopic pole and brush (as high as two floors) and never clogs inside.
By what criteria do you select the best gutter guard? Do you go by price? Usually not. The most expensive gutter cover may not necessarily be the best gutter guard.
All gutter covers can be broken down into four types. Screening devices are the first type. They simply don't get the job done. Primitive gutter screens pass sufficient debris to clog the gutter and the newer micro mesh types, even though they may not let any debris into the gutter, will accumulate debris on the top where it will keep water from getting into the gutter.
Fins or a rounded front nose used to collect water are the second type. Google "Niagara rain gutter cover leaf guards and gutter guards" for the basic design. There are over a dozen different gutter guards have this basic design. One even has screen openings in top. Another one has a trough below the fin with openings to screen keep out large debris. In heavy debris conditions you can be guaranteed that sufficient debris will stick to the fin or rounded nose and be guided into the gutter where it will either clog the gutter or the trough that delivers the water to the gutter.
Louvered leaf guards with louvers instead of one long fin or nose is the third type. To see the basic design "Carefree Vinyl Gutter covers" which is also available in aluminum. So far, it's the best chance that you have in heavy debris conditions. Tje size of the debris that can get into the gutter is limited. However, more debris may get washed in from the lip of the gutter than you might wish and could clog the gutter.
A gutter guard with a double row of louvers is the fourth type of gutter guards. If you Google "Waterloov gutter guards" you can see what it looks like. With two rows of louvers, no debris can wash in from the lip of the gutter and you can be confident that the gutter inside will never clog. Since 1989 this design has been used with great success on tens of thousands of homes.
Maintenance is always an issue with all types of gutter guards. Screens either have to have the tops cleaned or they have to be removed to clean the gutter inside. The rounded nose or fin type (with or without the trough) have to be taken off the gutters, disconnected from the roof and then reinstalled whereas with the louvered products, they can usually be maintained by brushing with a telescopic pole and brush assembly. Removal of the gutter guards are never required with the double row design, however, with the single row design, it may be necessary to remove the gutter cover at the downspout.
In summary, for heavy debris conditions the best gutter guard is the double row louvered gutter cover which are easy to maintain with a telescopic pole and brush (as high as two floors) and never clogs inside.
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