The gutters on your roof will serve some important roles. Unfortunately, the gutters can suffer from clogs and other issues that will greatly reduce their ability to direct water away from the roof. Installing gutter guards may help with this issue, but homeowners may lack a basic awareness about making this upgrade to their property.

What Are the Advantages of Gutter Guards?

A gutter guard is a device that can be placed over the gutters. It is designed to intercept common types of debris that can get into the gutter. This will include leaves, sticks, and other large items. By preventing these items from entering the gutters, you can greatly reduce the risk of the gutters developing clogs and the amount of cleaning that they will need.

Can Gutter Guards Be Added to Any Gutter System?

While it is possible to purchase gutters that are designed with a guard over them, you may not be fortunate enough to have this type of gutter on your home already. Luckily, it is usually possible to add these devices to almost any type of gutter. This will enable you to enjoy the benefits of gutter guards without having to replace your current gutters. In situations where you are unable to purchase mass produced guards that will fit your gutters, it may be possible to have a roofing professional custom make guards that will fit your gutters.

Will Gutter Guards Be Maintenance-Free Additions?

While gutter guards will greatly reduce the amount of work that your gutters will require, you will still need to perform some basic care for these guards. More specifically, you will need to periodically pressure wash the guard to remove moss and algae that may start to grow on it. These substances can completely block the flow of water into the gutter. Luckily, this work will only need to be done once a year, and you can hire a professional roofing or gutter contractor to perform this work for you.

Protecting your gutters will be necessary for ensuring that they are able to manage the runoff from the roof effectively. To this end, you can install gutter guards to help prevent some of the more common types of issues that gutters can encounter. In particular, knowing the ways that gutter guards can benefit your home, the fact that most gutters can accommodate these devices as well as the need to wash them once a year should provide you with a clear understanding of what to expect from making this change to your home.