The roof and its associated components are the most important components of your home. Fortunately, products such as gutter guards can prevent water, pest or other issues from potentially ruining the roof or causing other problems. They can also be a great investment because you’ll spend less time and money on gutter maintenance. Let’s review some reasons why gutter guards make a good investment.
Gutter Guards Are Designed to Prevent Clogs
Perhaps the best reason to get gutter guards is that they are designed to keep out anything large enough to cause a clog. Generally, only water is allowed to get through them and flow through the gutter and downspout as intended.
Gutter guards help prevent water from pooling, which can draw in pests such as ants or spiders that can infest your home. Meanwhile, they can also prevent larger pests such as mice, squirrels or birds from having easy access to your home.
Finally, sticks, leaves and other debris will also be too large to fall into the gutter. Instead, they will linger on top of the gutter guard or remain on the roof of the home until removed by a strong gust of wind or by someone who accesses your roof to remove them.
Ultimately, you can feel good in knowing that most items that tend to cause clogs will not be able to find their way into your gutters. This also means that they won’t be able to get into your home or be forced back under shingles or toward the foundation of your home, which can cause further damage and expensive repairs.
Worry Less About Gutter Maintenance
As leaves, grasses or other items won’t clog your gutters, you won’t have to worry about cleaning them out. This can be ideal if you don’t like the prospect of removing material that can turn into a gooey mess if left to linger for too long.
You also don’t have to worry about going outside and facing grass, pollen or other airborne allergens. The fact that you don’t have to clean the gutters also means you don’t need to climb a ladder or engage in other activities that could result in a pulled muscle or other injuries.
If you typically pay someone to clean out the gutters, you won’t have to worry about that anymore either. This could save you hundreds of dollars per year depending on how often you have this done.
Gutters Remain in Good Physical Condition
Gutters that aren’t chewed or clawed at by pests won’t have gouges, holes or other damage that could erode their ability to function properly. Furthermore, you won’t have to worry about scratches, dents or other damage that sticks, acorns or branches might cause when contacting your home’s gutters.
When properly maintained and kept in good condition, a gutter can last for about 20 years. This is roughly the same amount of time that asphalt shingles last. Therefore, gutter guards can help to ensure that you don’t have to replace your gutters until it’s time to put a new roof on your home.
Improve Curb Appeal
When water flows over the gutters, it can result in stains or potential mold growth where it hits the ground. It’s also possible that exposure to moisture over long periods can lead to cracks in pavers or other imperfections that are easy to spot.
Ensuring that water flows through the gutters, downspouts and away from your property can help avoid these problems. In addition to improving curb appeal, avoiding stains or other unsightly marks can also extend the amount of time that pavers, a patio or a sidewalk lasts.
Make Your Home Easier to Sell
Adding curb appeal means that your home will be more attractive to buyers if you decide to sell and that they’ll likely pay more for the right to acquire it. Installing gutter guards on your home may also make it easier to sell because a buyer will have the peace of mind that comes with not having to worry about gutter and roof issues. This may be particularly true if you’re selling to older buyers or others who aren’t mobile enough to clean the gutters.
In most cases, the guards on your home come with a transferable warranty. This means that the new owners are entitled to the same protection that you have today. Ultimately, whoever buys the house can feel good in knowing that they won’t have to pay to repair or replace gutters that they didn’t even install on the house.
Your House Might Cost Less to Insure
Insurance companies price their products based on the likelihood that you’ll file a claim. Taking steps such as installing gutter guards on your home may reduce the risk that you’ll need to file a claim. Of course, you may not get a discount specifically because of the guards themselves, but you might get a discount for not filing a claim in the past six months.
You may also receive a discount because your house is less likely to incur roof damage or foundation damage. If water were to enter your home from the roof, it could easily find its way down to the foundation. Water can also damage insulation and your belongings.
Make Sure to Pick the Right Product
Not all gutter guard products are the same, so it’s essential to choose one that is right for your home and the climate in Indianapolis. The most important issues to consider are the length of the guards and the materials that they are made from.
During an initial consultation, our team will measure your gutters to ensure proper coverage. We’ll also suggest materials that are less likely to warp or crack as the temperatures change throughout the year.
Don’t Forget Gutter Guard Maintenance
Your gutter guards are like anything else on your home, which means that they will need regular maintenance. Fortunately, this typically means having them inspected once a year, and you can often have this done at the same time as your annual roof inspection.
A yearly inspection can detect minor issues that may be easy and affordable to fix. In fact, it may be possible to have a gutter guard repaired or replaced for free per the terms of your warranty.
It’s also a good idea to perform a quick visual check of your gutters periodically. Although they tend to keep out a significant amount of material, it’s possible that a small amount slips through over a long enough period of time. You may also notice obvious damage that can be repaired before any secondary issues can occur.
If you need gutter guards or general gutter service, our team can help. We’ll also perform roof inspections, storm damage repair, or other roof maintenance to ensure that your home is safe to always live in. Therefore, don’t hesitate to reach out to Red Bird Roofing in Indianapolis today to learn more about how we can help!
