Every spring and fall, many homeowners are faced with the sometimes daunting task of cleaning out their gutters. Some simply avoid the job, ignoring obvious signs of clogging and simply letting debris build up and decompose until little trees start growing in the gutters. Others hire out the job to professionals.
Gutter Guards an Alternative to Gutter Cleaning
Another alternative to consider is installing screen gutter guards. They are simple to install and effective against many types of leaves and debris. There are many gutter protection products on the market ranging widely in both design and price, but this article will focus on the performance, the limits and the installation of traditional aluminum body screen gutter guards.
Gutter Guard Performance Limits
Screen gutter guards work well at preventing large leafy debris from entering the gutters. They are not effective against pine needles, "helicopters" and other such growth. An important thing to remember about screen-style gutter guards is that they are limited in their effectiveness, so choosing them simply for their economical price is not a good idea unless the trees surrounding the house are of the types that the screen is effective against.
Installing Commercial Downspouts
Another point worth pondering is the possibility of converting existing downspouts on the gutters from standard to commercial sizes. Combining this adjustment with the installation of some kind of gutter guard system can make the gutter guards much more effective, because small debris that does get into the gutters has a greater chance of washing out through the downspouts, rather than clogging the gutter. In fact, many gutter guard manufacturers, including those of most solid body helmet-style covers, require larger downspouts in order to warranty their products.
Finally, no gutter protection is perfect or 100 percent maintenance-free. Gutter guards can take a lot of the hassle out of gutter maintenance, but they should be installed with these limits in mind. With that said, here are the basic steps to follow in installing aluminum screen gutter guards.
Directions for Installing Screen Gutter Guards
- Prior to any gutter guard installation, be sure to thoroughly clean out the gutters and downspouts and test their function.
- Gutter guards install under the shingle and on top of the gutter. Carefully lift the shingle to separate it from the starter shingle and slide the leading edge of the gutter guard in between. A small drywall paddle works well to get in between the shingle layers. Be careful not to rip the shingles while pulling them loose from the adhesive joining them together.
- The hemmed edge of the gutter guard locks in to the top of the gutter, and is attached with three zip screws, one on each end and one near the middle. The first gutter guard should be installed on the very end of the gutter.
- On each end of the gutter, at the end caps, the gutter guards should be somewhat folded so that if the gutter extends past the shingles, there is not an open area for birds to get in. If the gutter is longer than the roof (which it often is), cut off a short length of the hemmed front edge of the gutter guard, allowing the end to flex more freely. Install the gutter guard as is, pulling the end of the hemmed front edge all the way to the gutter end cap. Use the extra screened material to close off the back of the gutter, which may be open and available for birds to access. Cut off any unneeded excess left over. This step will almost always be necessary on the low end (the downspout end) of the gutter.
- Work across the gutter, butting the sections of gutter guard together. At mitered joints, be sure to completely cover the miter. Overlap the mitered pieces at least 1/2", or as much as necessary to ensure total coverage.
- Be sure to completely cover every gutter. Any areas left uncovered will allow debris to get into the screened area and get packed in, and will also invite birds to take shelter and compromise the gutter system's function. Doing only half a section is worse than doing nothing at all.
Jim Whitton - Jim Whitton is a happily married stay-at-home father of two children, a licensed builder and part-time business owner, and a graduate ...
