There are many different types fo gutter guards out there today. The quality of these products ranges significantly. Some are made of vinyl, others aluminum, steel or even mesh. It can be truly challenging to find the right product for your home. You need to consider curb appeal, functionality, quality and budget, when picking the right leaf protection for your home in Minnesota, there are a number of things to take into consideration.
1. The pitch of your roof.
Gutter Covers are more likely to overflow when installed on homes with steep roofs. It is important to make sure that the gutter protection you choose does not overflow. The traditional hood cover will not be effective on these types of homes, instead you will need a Gutter Protection System that has the ability to handle high volumes of water that moves quickly.
Tip: Test the protection system your salesmen / contractor recommends for your home. Hold it under a hose and test its ability to take on the water.
2. Curb Apeal.
When it comes to looks, not all Gutter Hoods are equal. Some stick out like a sore thumb, while others can hardly been seen at all from the ground. It is important the leaf cover you choose has a good color match and fits in nicely with your home.
Featured here is the “Premier Gutter Cover” which has proven to be the most versatile protection system I have installed. In some cases, it may not be the best choice for your home, but usually it is a excellent choice.
3. Tree Type
Different Trees create different problems for your gutter systems. Tree’s that drop lots of seeds or the dreaded “spinners” can be real problem area’s. Simply put, you can protect the system from clogging, but no matter what product you decide to go with you may have trouble keeping small debri from sitting on your gutter, especially if you have a low pitch roof or many seeds.
Leaf Cover Types
Screens
Screening your Gutters can be an effective way to keep the leaves out. Screens come in many different variations from plastic, aluminum and steel. I have found that the powder coated steel screens are the best choice. They are by far the most durable, and have the powder coated mesh to protect them from rusting. A disadvantage of screening is the increased chance of debris sticking in the screen. It is important to go with larger downspouts to help the flow of small debris out of the gutter.
Hoods
A hood can be a great choice for roofs that have a lower pitch. I think that certain brands of hoods do actually look attractive on the home. Custom match color combinations, and durable designs make these an improvement to screening. The disadvantages of hoods are the chance of overflow in hard rains, and debris getting into the gaps. Since there is actually a fairly decent sized hole on all hoods, they run the risk of clogging.
Combination
The Premier Gutter Cover is not a hood, and not a screen. One of the things I like the most about this protection system is the fact that you can install it on your existing gutters. Another is that it does not overflow. I have installed it on very steep roofs and never ran into a problem. There are too reasons that this product doesn’t overflow. The first is the small indent in the middle of the cover that slows the water down as it flows onto the cover. The second is the small screen area. No overflows, No Clogging. There is no such thing as a perfect gutter cover. Is all you can do is compare the options and choose the one you think will solve your problem.
Gutter Cover Payoff – On average, over a 5 year period you will break even on a quality gutter hood being installed. Between cleanings, and the risk of injury, combined with the risk of basement flooding, it is a sound investment.
Minnesota’s harsh conditions require quality products and expert installation. Choose a company that has a excellent reputation, that will stand behind its product and installation, as long as you are living in your home.
