Do-It-Yourselfers Guide to Gutter Protection
Posted: Thursday, June 29, 2006
by Timothy Staub
Elko Products Co. Inc.
Protecting Your House From Water Damage
Tired of watching water cascade over your gutters every time it rains, even though you just scooped the debris out a few weeks ago? Most people know the importance of clean gutters in order to prevent water damage to their home, but keeping gutters clear of debris is a time consuming and continuous task. Instead of spending weekend after weekend cleaning your gutters, end the gutter clutter problem once and for all. Get gutter protection!
A good definition of "gutter protection" is any product that keeps gutters and downspouts free of debris. There are dozens of products on the market today that could be adequately described as gutter protection. They range from inexpensive DIY screens and wire guards, to foam fillers and brushes, all the way to expensive branded products sold exclusively through authorized dealers. So what is the right product for your home?
The least expensive way to go is with plastic mesh that can sell for as low as 15 cents per foot at the hardware store. Once the product is installed on top of the existing gutters, it’s supposed to allow water in while keeping out debris. The biggest problem with this type of system is that it can become clogged very quickly and overflow. Most are difficult if not impossible to clean and they’re not very durable either. Since they’re made of either plastic or vinyl, they tend to crack, bend or fall apart quickly. Whether due to clogging or breakage, they’ll usually need to be replaced within one to three years.
Another approach is to use a gutter “filler" product that is supposed to prevent debris from entering the chamber but allow water to get through. With these, you have two options: fill the gutter cavity with some kind of foam material or with a brush. Both are easy DIY options that generally cost around $3/foot. The drawback is that they allow debris to accumulate on top of the gutter, which can be even more unsightly than a clogged gutter. They also often clog in a short amount of time, so you’ll soon find yourself back on the roof clearing away debris just like before, or pulling wet dirty foam out of your gutter.
So what’s a homeowner to do? Pay the high prices for branded gutter protection, or resign themselves to frequent trips up the ladder?
“The only time-proven way to truly prevent leaves and other debris from entering the gutter chamber and clogging it up is to install a solid panel shield over the opening," says
The Elko GuttaGard, first introduced in 1983, costs about $1.25 per foot for the Do-It-Yourself homeowner and between $3 and $5 per foot if you hire a professional installer. It’s so popular more than 22 million feet have been installed on more than 200,000 homes across the country.
“We have a very loyal following of professional gutter installers and handymen, but most of the installation jobs have been done by the DIY homeowners because GuttaGard is so easy to install," says Staub.
In 2003, Elko redesigned the GuttaGard clip system and introduced the new Gutter Genius clip. “The Gutter Genius clip made installation a snap for just about anyone that can hold a screwdriver," says Staub.
All the installer has to do is slide the aluminum panel (.018" inch thick) under the first shingle at the edge of the roof and attach it to the front lip of the gutter with a Gutter Genius clip. The only tools necessary are a flat head screwdriver which secures the clip, and a pair of tin snips or heavy scissors to trim away any excess material.
“I put up over 200 feet of GuttaGard on my own house last year in just over an hour," says Staub. “I used less than $275 worth of materials. The same job done by one of the professional companies would have cost over $2,000."
In fact, he liked the product so much, that like Victor Kiam at Remington Shavers, Staub bought the company.
GuttaGard is available in four-foot sections and in four different colors: black, royal brown, white and mill finish (aluminum). It works well on all kinds of roofs (tile, asphalt, metal, steep, shallow, etc) and comes with a 15-year product warranty. For more information or to find a retailer near you, call (800) 331-4273 or log on to www.elkoproducts.com.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Good general overview but obviously weighted in favor of his own product.
another alternative is to install raw stock 8 mesh Galvanized woven wire...6 inch by 100 foot roll is about $27 plus shipping from various wire mesh suppliers (do a web search to find one closest to you). Standard gutter is 5 inch wide...could zip screw screen to gutter lip and let extra overhang rear of gutter or tuck under shingles at drip edge...Yes, but you'd be cleanig the screen rather than the gutter. Screen works fine with broad leaf trees, but pine needles, pollen, maple helicopters and roof debris will clog it. Add water and sunlight, and in 3 years time you'l have a garden in your gutters. Unfortunately, screens simply do not work.
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