Gutter guards prevent twigs, pine needles, and leaves from clogging your gutters. They also help with fire safety by keeping combustible debris from your home’s roof and walls. Read this first!

Before you begin installing the gutter guards, make sure your roof is free of any debris and that you’re comfortable working on a ladder. Then, follow these steps to complete the project successfully:

Metal Hangers

While some gutter guards are simple enough to snap into place, others require a bit more work. Some designs use metal hangers to help them stay in place, while others may be attached with screws, nails, or pop rivets. Before you begin, be sure to have the proper tools for the job. These can include a ladder, tape measure, screw gun, and more. It’s also important to choose a ladder that you feel comfortable using. Make sure to find one that can stand on its own and doesn’t rest directly on the gutters; this could break or damage them.

If your gutter guards are made of metal, you’ll need a pair of tin snips to trim them. For those made of plastic, you can use a utility knife or box cutter. You may want to work on one-meter sections at a time, and be sure to secure each section before moving on. It’s also important to cover inside corners caused by roof valleys.

Ladder

Clogged gutters cause water to build up, causing roof and foundation damage. Gutter guards help prevent clogged gutters by keeping debris from entering the gutter. Gutter guards also make it easier to clean. Precariously balancing on a ladder while manhandling a garden hose isn’t necessary, and cleaning the debris that accumulates on top of the gutter guards is as simple as using a brush.

While a gutter guard may stop large debris like pine needles and leaves from infiltrating your gutter, smaller debris can still slip through the barrier. The more debris that builds up inside your gutter, the more difficult it will be to spot, and a clogged gutter can easily become unusable. Moreover, if you damage your shingles in the process of installing gutter guards, it could nullify your roofing warranty. It’s best to hire professionals for gutter guard installation. They have the experience, equipment, and skills to get the job done quickly and safely.

Safety Precautions

Gutter guards are a great way to save money on cleaning your gutters and keep water flowing properly. However, installing them is dangerous work from a ladder. It’s important to take the proper safety precautions and follow all manufacturer guidelines to avoid falling off of a ladder or getting injured.

A ladder stabilizer is an excellent way to make sure you are stable while working on the ladder. Also, be sure to wear a hard hat and protective eyewear. It is not worth putting your health or life in danger to save a few dollars on a gutter project.

Gutter guards will not eliminate all maintenance and cleaning, especially with pine needles or seed pods that can get stuck in the screen and clog the gutters. But, they will help a lot to reduce the frequency and severity of problems. And, they will definitely save you some time and stress. And, a professional will help you to choose the right guards for your home.

Tools

Some gutter guards require screwing or nailing in place, and you’ll need a toolbox full of tools to work with them. Others use a clipping mechanism to attach to the outer edge of your gutters, and you can install them without breaking out the drill or the ladder.

Most metal gutter guards come in 4 to 6-foot (1.2 to 1.8 m) sections, and the manufacturer’s instructions will tell you how to cut them to size. For example, a pair of tin snips may be needed to trim the last section of your gutter guard, so you have an exact fit at the roofline.

If you’re installing your gutter guards on a steeply pitched roof, you may need a gutter-cleaning tool to remove any debris stuck in the shingles. It’s also a good idea to use an S-hook on your ladder to hang a bucket so you can collect the debris you clear as you go. This will minimize the number of trips up and down the ladder, which can be a dangerous proposition. Click here for more interesting articles.