Jacksonville Home Inspector Answers The Question "Should I Use Gutter Guards?"

Stan asks "Do you have a contact and/or would refer a person (or company) who puts on "gutter guards"??? Or, do you have a recommendation on whether or not to use them??"

Well the short answers is that I do not personally have them installed on my home, nor will I have them installed. I have gutters installed on my home because occasionally it rains a little bit here in Florida (Tropical Storm Fay for instance), and I want the water running off my roof collected and disposed of away from the foundation of my home.

The reason for installing gutter guards is so you don't have to do any maintenance. Well there are several types of gutter guards. Some are nothing more than a screen. Some are perforated metal or plastic caps. Some are a cover that are designed to direct the water into a small opening at the front edge of the gutter.

I have yet to see any gutter guard systems that are truly maintenance free. The screens and the caps will still trap debris in the screen openings and perforations. So you will still need to get up there and clean them out. When debris bypasses (and it does) the guard system then you will need to remove the guard to clean it. That just makes more work for you. I figure, if I'm going to have to clean it, why make more work for myself.

I would never use a system that leaves only a small area open at the front. I have 6 inch seamless gutters on my home. Why? Because when we have large rain falls, I want all 6 inches collecting the LARGE amounts of water the pour off my roof. I have inspected several homes that have had solid cap systems in place during heavy rains, and the water ran off as if I were standing at Niagara Falls.

One thing that you can do to cut down on cleaning your gutters is to keep all trees trimmed back. This not only will help keep your gutters clean, it will prevent debris from collecting on your roof, and reducing the life of your roof. It will also help prevent damage caused by branches falling on the roof (this happens all too often).

If I could find a gutter guard system that 1) was truly maintenance free, and 2) collected all of the rain water from my roof I would buy them. Until that time I will be happy to clean my gutters the good old fashioned way.