Owning a home has many advantages. However, it also comes with a lot of maintenance which can be expensive. This often leads homeowners to opt for shortcuts or ignore maintenance until something breaks.
Roof maintenance should however never be skimped on as this can easily lead to issues such as water damage that can impact the structure of your home. It’s with this in mind that all homeowners should opt for the gutter guard installation Melbourne residents are finding so useful.
Gutter Guards are a Must-Have in 2024
Many items around your home can be classed as nice-to-haves. Other items, such as gutter guards are clearly necessities once you have all the facts. We urge you to keep reading as we highlight the key reasons why 2024 is the year to invest in gutter guards.
1. Reduces Premature Rust and Corrosion
Leaves and other garden debris accumulate in your gutters and prevent water from flowing through to the bottom. This moisture build-up increases the possibility of rust and corrosion forming on the sides of the gutter. This can lead to the gutters leaking, breaking and having to be replaced sooner than expected.
Since gutter guards are designed to prevent twigs, leaves and other organic materials from getting into the gutter, the risk of corrosion and rust is reduced. Ultimately, this will extend the lifespan of your gutters and downpipes.
2. Offer Fire Protection
If your home is located in the parts of Australia prone to bushfires, then you will understand the fear of these fires reaching your home. Keep in mind that a bushfire doesn’t have to be right next to your home to be a risk. Fire embers can travel long distances, and it would only take one ember to fall onto the dry leaves in your gutter to start a fire. Fortunately, installing the right type of gutter guard will act as a physical barrier between the debris and the embers.
3. Reduces the Risk of Gutter Freezing
Winter in Australia isn’t without its risks. Colder areas often reach freezing temperatures, and this can affect your gutters. Water that gets trapped by leaves can freeze, which in turn can cause ice dams in the gutters.
While gutter guards won’t eliminate ice dams on their own, they will reduce the amount of leaves that build up in the gutter. This in turn will alleviate the potential build-up of ice as water won’t become trapped in the first place.
4. Keeps Rodents and Insects out of the Gutters
One of the top reasons homeowners invest in gutter guards is to keep unwanted creatures such as rats, mice, birds and insects from creating nests in the gutters. In addition to not being able to physically get into the gutters to make nests, there will also be less stagnant water pooling up in the gutter to attract these pests. With less access to the fascia boards on your roof, these pests will also not be able to navigate their way into your home’s roof space.
5. Reduces Time and Effort Spent on Maintenance
It only takes one season of storms and winds to create a significant amount of leaves and other debris accumulating in your gutters. This can take a considerable amount of time and effort to clean up, especially if you’re planning to do it yourself.
Installing gutter guards means that the bulk of the debris will collect on top of the guards. While smaller pieces of debris will still collect in the gutter, it will take much less time to clean out. It’s also easier, as you will be able to brush the debris off the top of the guards with a hard brush or even a power washer.
6. Many Options to Choose From
Another advantage of adding gutter guards is that there are different types available. That means you can choose the best ones for your gutters and your needs. Some of the more popular options to consider include:
- Leaf guards: Ideal for most small to medium-sized gutters.
- Poly guards: Suitable for most gutters and also work as a filter. Popular with homeowners with water tanks.
- External mesh: Can be installed in plastic or steel gutters.
- Steel mesh: Ideal for custom box gutters because they can be bent to suit the shape required.
- Box guard: Best suited to boxed or concealed gutters.
- Internal mesh: The most popular type of gutter that’s both cost-effective and suited to most varieties of gutters.
Speak to your gutter guard supplier for an analysis of the type of guards that will be best suited to the gutters you have. Keep in mind that you can also have a variety of guards, depending on your home’s needs.
Final Thoughts
Gutter guards are well worth the investment if you consider the benefits. Since cleaning roofs is not the easiest home maintenance job around, why not make it simpler by adding a few effective gutter guards? With the time and effort you’ll save, you’ll enjoy your property so much more!