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Gutter Guards
You should clean your gutters several times
a year, even if there are no trees overhanging
your home. Windblown leaves, dust, and other
organic matter inevitably will collect in
the gutters. Moreover, some types of roof
shingles can be prone to gradual erosion
from the weather, causing a slow buildup
of silt in the gutters.
Installing gutter guards can radically reduce
the amount of maintenance that your gutters
require. Also known as leaf guards or gutter
covers, gutter guards prevent leaves, twigs,
acorns, or other debris from collecting in
your gutters where they will clog the drains
and decompose into a heavy rancid sludge.
If your area experiences freezing temperatures
during winter, clogged drains also can foster
ice buildup after rainy or snowy weather.
The weight of this ice, in turn, can bend
the gutters and/or pull them loose from the
house.
In general, gutter guards are of two principal
types:
- a mesh or screen over the gutters: this is
the cheaper solution. It reduces the frequency
and difficulty of ongoing gutter cleaning,
but does not eliminate it. You must still
clear leaves and other debris that catch
atop the mesh, either by climbing up a ladder
or by using a long-handled brush. Moreover,
smaller particles inevitably will slip through
the mesh, requiring the periodic removal
of the mesh to reach into the gutters.
- a solid cover with side slots: a solid cover
with side slots to permit the entry of water
needs much less upkeep than a mesh or screen.
Once again, however, do not expect it to
be completely maintenance-free. Debris may
catch in the slots, so regular inspection
and the use of long-handled brush to clear
them is advisable. Furthermore, small particles
and silt are bound to wash through the slots,
so occasional removal of the covers may be
necessary.
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