By Anne Balogh
Most homeowners have a love-hate relationship with their gutters. They love them when they function as intended, whisking away rainwater that would otherwise cascade down the side of the house and cause soil erosion and wet basements. Yet they despise maintaining them, which often means balancing precariously atop a ladder while scooping out soggy, smelly clumps of leaves, twigs and other gunk that can block water flow.
Homeowners eager to be rid of this maintenance headache once and for all are often willing to pay a premium (anywhere from $7 to $12 per foot installed) for gutters fitted with protective covers or shields. Avery Frost of The Waterstreet Group has been installing gutter protectors in northern New Jersey since 1989, and he says that demand for them is high in rural and suburban areas with mature trees. He claims that the protectors are much more effective than wire mesh screens and will keep gutters flowing freely year-round with minimal cleaning. "Screens lay flat and collect debris," he says. "The system we install has vertical openings that won't clog."
Larry Rota, a remodeling contractor with North American Pfister in Fair Lawn, N.J., installs a one-piece gutter-protection system that combines a seamless gutter and protective hood. "The product we use is fabricated onsite right on a truck and custom fit to the home's roofline," he explains. "It's recommended for homeowners who are ready to replace existing worn-out gutters but want an advanced system they won't have to maintain anymore."
The systems installed by Avery and Larry are among the many patented gutter-shield products on the market (see table for an overview of some of them). While all of these systems boast similar leaf-shedding benefits, they differ in three primary ways:
- How they channel water into the gutter. Some systems have a rounded nose that directs water into a narrow longitudinal gap. Others have louvered slots or perforated openings.
- How they are attached. Some systems, such as the one installed by Avery, are retrofit products designed to mount onto new or existing gutters. Others, like the one Larry uses, are complete systems with gutter included and are designed to attach directly to the fascia board.
- How they interfit with the roof. Some gutter covers simply slide under the first or second course of shingles; others must be glued or nailed to the roof.
What they do best
Gutter shields usually are quite effective at deflecting leaves, acorns, pinecones and other debris that can choke downspouts. Under certain conditions, small bits of organic matter such as tree seedlings or short pine needles may bypass the cover, but a good downpour will carry this debris away if the gutter is pitched correctly. "The harder it rains, the more turbulence you get inside, and the gutter will flush itself out," says Avery.
Gutter covers may also help alleviate ice damming problems in winter by preventing water from collecting and freezing inside gutters and downspouts, causing backups that can result in water damage to the house itself. However, Larry notes that no gutter system will completely prevent ice damming. You can still get ice on the top that can back up under the shingles, depending on the slope of the roof and how well the home is insulated.
Aesthetics
For many homeowners, how a gutter cover looks is as important as how it functions. Most systems have low to slightly raised profiles, making them fairly inconspicuous when viewed from ground level. Nearly all come in an assortment of colors, so the homeowner can choose a hue to match an existing gutter or complement the roof. Some manufacturers can also custom fabricate covers from copper to coordinate with copper gutter systems.
Limitations
Not all gutter shield systems are suitable for all applications. Some products won't work with certain gutter profiles (such as half round or box styles) or certain types of roofing (such as tile, cedar shakes or slate). Roof pitch limitations may also apply.
Many manufacturers claim that their systems will handle heavy downpours without overflow. But at roof valleys, where runoff is heaviest, the water may overshoot the gutter cover. This "fire-hose" effect is a potential problem, admits Avery, but it can be minimized by installing a diverter system at the valley.
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