The GutterBrush Blog

So many homeowners make the mistake of ignoring their gutters often at a very high cost to themselves. Because most gutters are well out of sight, people may not pay it much attention until the damage is done. Poorly maintained and ineffective gutters can lead to leaky roofs, damaged walls and unsightly water stains on your property stains. You can improve your chances of  preventing these things from happening by keeping your gutters protected with a gutter guard — but not just any gutter guard will do. You need to do some research to see what the best one is for your particular application. The best gutter guards are easy to install, remove and re-install.

This gives you flexibility, especially if you will be installing the product yourself. The cost of materials and installation of gutter guards can be quite expensive, depending on the brand, size and manufacturer… and the location of your home. If you buy gutter guards based solely on which set has the lowest price, you may end up spending more money than you intended. Not all gutter guards are created equal and low quality gutter guards are likely to get damaged too easily.

If you select only the best gutter guard, you can be assured that what you are buying is durable and reliable. Because it is top quality, you know that your home is protected and that you don’t have to worry about frequent maintenance or replacement. In the long run, you can save a good deal of money simply by investing on the best gutter guards you can buy.The design of the best gutter guards makes roof maintenance easier. Gutter guards are all designed to filter larger debris such as leaves and twigs from getting into your gutters.

Because most gutter guards have openings (usually slits or holes), they will eventually let in minute debris. However, since they significantly minimize the need to clean your gutters, you not only save on time and effort, you also save money in case you hire someone to do the cleaning for you.The best gutter guards come with extras. If you select only the best gutter guards, you will be assured that they will come with an extra service. Manufacturers frequently offer a maintenance service that includes periodic inspection and cleaning of your gutters.

That means you no longer have to climb to the roof of your home in order to inspect and hose down your gutters to unclog and keep them clean. Someone else will do it for you. Protect your gutters!

Water damage resulting from clogged, defective or non-existent rain gutters is estimated to cause in excess of $56 billion per year. This is more financial ruin than all natural disasters combined, according to statistics generated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. For example in 2006 the combined cost in terms of property damage from fires, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes amounted to about $43 billion. That is around 13 billion less than the effect of water damage from ineffective and/or malfunctioning gutters.

Many are surprised by these statistics because the damage occurs silently and usually without any discernible warning. Many times homeowners are not even aware of the underlying damage until they attempt to sell their property. Due to the high elevation of the gutters both homeowners and building professionals are prone to incorrectly identify basement leaks or foundation floods that are actually caused by improperly functioning gutter systems. These errant gutters and downspouts are also a fundamental cause of mold, dry rot, erosion and premature siding, paint and exterior trim damage. So, how does this happen?

Well, it turns out gutters are by far the most important element of the exterior water distribution systems of the home. This system includes the roof, flashings, gutters, downspouts and splash blocks (or sub-drains at the foundation level). Gutters have to collect all the rain being shed off the roof and transport it safely to the ground making them the critical link in the system. A leak or overflow at the gutter level means everything below the leak is a target for damage from cascading, wind-driven water. The usual victims are the windows, doors and exterior trim, but this cascading water can also erode the foundation, flood the crawlspace and find its way into the basement. A leak in a gutter at the back of the house can easily go unnoticed for many years.

These leaks often are a result of the design of gutters and leaving them unprotected. For example, standard gutters are open and exposed to the weather so they clog up easily with all kinds of debris like pine needles, leaves, twigs, bird nests, toys, balls etc. As soon as large debris enters the gutter it is only a matter of time before the downspout is plugged and the water begins to build up and overflow. This can be prevented by using a gutter protection system such as GutterBrush. Using a system like GutterBrush simple gutter guard can also help prevent the heavy weight of the water pulling at the gutter mountings and deforming them causing sagging. This weight will eventually break the sealed joints in the gutters making for even more leaks.

What can you do to make these critical parts work right? First, the gutters need to be designed and installed properly and they need a system like GutterBrush to keep them from clogging and overflowing. The simple gutter protection system like GutterBrush is made to keep debris out and water flowing. Basically filters, this product is a do-it-yourself solution. GutterBrush is worthwhile investments and the California Department of Forestry apparently agrees. The CDF determines fire codes in all urban/forest interface areas and in January 2008 they instituted new building codes requiring gutter protection and proper maintenance in all new construction in these fire prone areas. Apparently, gutters loaded with dry debris can easily catch fire and ignite the roofing substructure, even with fire-proof roofs. Typical gutter protection systems cost about $1500 but GutterBrush costs much less and works much better! However, considering the risks and damage associated with bad gutters and their 90% likelihood of failure, gutter protection should be standard on every building. And, as always, the GutterBrush Guys insist of putting safety first so be sure you take adequate precautions before you climb the ladder to inspect your gutters and/or install a gutter protection system.