If you have ever had a roofing job done, chances are that the contractor also recommended that the gutters be replaced as well. Most people are unaware of the purpose of having gutters or how to assess gutter condition, so most would agree to the gutter replacement. While this is not a bad practice per se, sometimes these replacements are unnecessary.

For those that are not well-versed in assessing the condition of gutters, a general rule of thumb would be that if the current gutters are still straight and thick and do not leak, then there is no need to replace them. With this in mind, what causes gutter damage?

Gutter damage usually happens due to a clogged gutter system. Clogs occur when there is an accumulation of debris, such as twigs and leaves, due to an exposed gutter. If left unattended, the backed-up water accumulated by the clog can cause gutters to rust or warp due to the added weight of the water. Sometimes, the weight is enough to detach some gutter systems (in which case replacing the gutters would be a good idea). This scenario can easily be avoided by clearing debris from your gutter every few months.

Or you could always invest in a gutter guard. Not only does this save you time spent in cleaning the gutters, it can also spare you from having to replace your gutters, thus saving you money in the long run.

Gutter cleaning is one of the most annoying and monotonous household chores you could probably take on. What does it matter if a couple of twigs are in the gutter, right? In reality, you can prevent the need for major home repairs by keeping your gutter system clean.

When gutters are blocked, water overflows and gathers underneath the foundation of a house, thus, resulting in a leaky basement. The same holds true for leaking ceilings, as water build-up in clogged gutters can easily make its way through your house. Clogged gutters can also cause water to overflow in sections that are not supposed to get wet.

Wooden sections of your home that get constantly exposed to moisture become a favorite target for pests, especially termites. Meanwhile, clogged gutters during the winter can be especially troublesome as they can trap varying amounts of water. As the temperature drops, the trapped water can freeze an inevitably weigh down on the gutter causing it to detach altogether.

Gutters should ideally be cleaned out twice a year; although this might need to be done more frequently if you’ve got many trees in the vicinity. If such task proves too troublesome, you’re probably better off investing in gutter guards.

Not all homeowners are fit and fabulous twenty-somethings who have the capacity to administer routine maintenance procedures on their roofing systems. In the neighborhood, there are bound to be residents who have seen better days, so much so that they would just prefer to take things easy. While in the past, many retirees were forced to climb shaky ladders to work on their gutter issues, now homeowners can escape the dangers of roof climbing with the help of gutter guards.

A gutter guard is a component made of aluminum, and doesn't easily chalk, crack, or peel. It's specially designed to prevent matter from blocking the gutters of a roof. While gutter guards don't necessarily make gutters impervious to the elements and objects like leaves and pine needles, these materials do reduce the gutter's need for intensive care. With gutter guards installed, homeowners can just peek at the gutters once in a while to make sure that the roofing system is still in good shape.

Gutter guards provide protection, not only to gutters, but also to residents who may not have the ability to regularly check their roofs. Gutter guards grant peace of mind, especially to older homeowners who dread ascending rickety ladders to ensure that their gutters remain debris-free, risking their necks in the process.

In places where rain and wind storms are commonplace, many people might find it difficult to ensure that their gutters are constantly clean and free of clogs, especially if the homeowners are busy and away for most of the day. This is where gutter guards come in: they are systems that ensure a clean flow of water by trapping debris and keeping them away from the downspouts.

An efficient gutter guard keeps the risk of water damage low. A clogged up downspout might end up getting cracked due to the water pressure that's collecting. As a result, it would spray rainwater all throughout your home's exterior wall or siding, instead of leading the flow away like it was originally built to do.

Most gutter guards are designed to be placed on top of the gutter's opening. Keep in mind that even with their practical function, gutters are not immune from the need for cleaning and maintenance. They can only handle so much debris before they get worn out and become a nuisance to your gutters instead of an asset. Instead, they should simply serve to lower your cleanup rate.

In short, gutter guards are an excellent addition for home exterior protection, but it is not an invincible material that doesn't need upkeep. If installed properly and maintained well, it could serve your household for many years to come.

Gutter guards are capable of more than just keeping leaves out; they can also tell the furry ones to go away. Squirrels, birds, insects, and (on rare occasions) snakes can make it into the gutter and establish their nests there. As dealing with animals is different from dealing with inanimate objects, cleaning gutters infested with animals presents its own set of challenges. Nests make it more difficult because animals can fight back if you try to remove them forcibly.

For this matter, you'll need the help of a wildlife control service that can remove animals from gutters without drawing flak from animal rights groups. After they've cleaned the gutter, get a gutter guard as a preventive measure; it'll keep the rest of the animal world from making your gutter their home. Gutter guards are commonly built with inorganic materials such as metal. Of course, metal is hardly on any animal's normal diet.

Gutters are definitely no place for wildlife. However, changes in the environment often force them out of their natural habitat and into the urban setting. If you're anywhere near a patch of forest or natural feature, best critter-proof your home, especially your gutters. It's difficult enough to get rid of them as there are certain guidelines that must be followed when doing so. 

Gutter guards keep leaves and other big debris from clogging up your gutter when the heavens rain down on your home. Debris and leaves are welcome to try and block your gutter, but the small holes along the length of the gutter guard will make their efforts futile. Gutter guards are an innovation that can reduce the frequency of cleaning gutters, but not eliminate the task completely. In fact, don't think of installing gutter guards with the intention of leaving your gutters alone for good.

This is true for homes with asphalt shingles, as the granules erode the longer they're exposed to the elements. The granules can slip through the perforations of the gutter guard, and the heavy rains will hasten the process. With enough granules in the gutter, they can make the gutter shallower, decreasing the gutter's overall capacity to drain storm runoff. Gutter guards make more sense with roofing materials that don't erode, such as metal roofing.

In addition, gutter guards also need regular cleaning. A layer of fallen leaves or debris on top of the gutter guard defeats the purpose of draining nothing but storm runoff. Remove anything blocking the gutter guard's many perforations to ensure the smooth flow of runoff from roof to ground. Always keep that ladder handy even if you don't need it often.