Battle Of The Gutter Guards
If there’s one industry that pulls no punches in calling out the competition on perceived design flaws, it’s gutter guard vendors. The various manufacturers and distributors love to talk about how their own product works great and rarely (if ever) gets clogged. Then, they go on to point out all the customer complaints about competing products. Here’s a sampling of some of the claims made by Leafless in Seattle about typical reverse curve gutter guard designs and why they don’t work as well as they should:
The surface tension of the flowing water is supposed to guide it over the leading edge of the reverse curve and into the gutter trough. Debris should slide off the edge and onto the ground. However, it is sometimes possible for flexible, waterlogged leaves, pine needles, and catkins to enter into the gutter along with the water flow. Dirt and grit may also enter and create sludge in the gutters.
In addition, nesting insects such as wasps can creep in through the gap where the water is supposed to enter the gutter. If they take up residence inside, it can be very difficult to eliminate them. Although some guards make allowances for the need to clean the system regularly, others make the trough very difficult to access.
According to the folks at Leafless, their system avoids all these issues because it is literally impossible for any animal, vegetable, or mineral to enter the gutter through their fine steel mesh. This claim is backed by a money back warranty if the system ever clogs, so maybe there’s something to it!
Related posts:
- Gutter System Protection – Realistic Expectations
- Wasps and Gutter Maintenance
- Coping With Clogged Gutter Downspouts
- Gutter Maintenance Tips
- Gutter Liners Offer A Quick Fix
Tags: Gutters
