With winter around the corner, many homeowners are getting ready to do their seasonal roof maintenance. In most instances, this tiresome task involves getting up onto the roof and clearing out leaves and debris from the gutters and downpipes.
How many tall trees you have in the area combined with how often you clear out your gutters will determine how big a task roof maintenance is. You can streamline this process even further by oping for the gutter guard installation Melbourne roofing specialists recommend.
What are Gutter Guards?
Essentially, gutter guards are protective coverings that fit snugly over your gutters. They can be made from mesh screens, foam, or even brush-like materials. Their primary purpose is to act as a barrier between the inside of your gutter and the leaves, twigs, and other debris that may fall in there. They can easily be customised to fit any shape of gutter and can be installed in both old and new gutters.
Roofing Specialists Love Them
Every roofer knows that the number one reason for blockages in guttering systems stem from a failure to routinely clean out the gutters. This is especially the case in high-rainfall areas or regions where excessive winds blow leaves straight onto the roof. When gutters aren’t cleaned out often, a build up of organic materials causes a blockage which can damage the roof, the home, and the entire guttering system.
1. Reduces Blockages in Your Gutter
The most significant reason your roofing specialist will always recommend adding gutter guards is that they will drastically reduce the amount of leaves, twigs, and other organic materials that fall in there.
When this happens, rainwater is more likely to flow smoothly through the gutter and out through the downpipes. This in turn reduces the likelihood of water turning organic material into mud and creating a blockage. With no blockages and pooled water, your gutters ae also less likely to tear away from the walls, sag, and cause water damage to your home.
2. Reduce Those Dreaded Roof Maintenance Chores
We’ve already established that most people don’t enjoy roof maintenance. Why then not look for a solution that makes the task quick and easy? Roofing specialists also advise that the number one cause of all roofing issues happens when maintenance isn’t performed properly.
With gutter guards, you’ll be keeping your roof maintenance to a minimum, and you’ll also reduce the risk of water damage to the rest of the roof when rainwater is left to pool. It’s important to point out that gutter guards won’t keep your gutters 100% leaf or debris-free, but they will keep the bulk out. If the wind doesn’t blow the leaves off the guards, you can easily brush them off or use a pressure washer to clear them off.
3. Minimises the Risk of Water Damage
Your home doesn’t have to experience a once-off flood or burst water heater to suffer extensive water damage. Blocked gutters cause water to pool and overflow down onto the walls. With significant rain, this overflow can pool on the ground, causing potential damage to your foundations.
In some cases, water can also seep into the walls, which can lead to mould and dampness. Homes with flatter roofs will see water pooling on the roof, which can eventually get into your attic or through any openings in the roof. When this happens, you’re looking at damaged insulation and mould. Both of these issues can be costly to repair.
4. Keep the Pests Out
Another lesser known fact is that pests such as rats and mice can easily make their way into your home through an opening in your roof. The reason they find their way up onto the roof in the first place is that they are attracted to a potential nesting spot.
Leaves and other organic material in the gutter make cosy nesting materials for all sorts of pests, who, once settled, will soon look for openings in the roof. Insects such as mosquitoes are also attracted to the pools of water on your roof and in your gutters.
This is because they lay their eggs in the water, and once the larvae are grown, they fly into your home through open windows and doors. Make your roof less appealing by using gutter guards to prevent them from nesting. There’s also considerably less chance of them damaging shingles and eaves if they aren’t on the roof in the first place.
Final Thought
If you want to make your roof maintenance tasks easier and more effective, it’s a good idea to install gutter guards. Not only will this reduce the amount of work you have to do on the roof, but it will also go a long way toward keeping your home dry.
In addition to this, keeping unwanted pests from nesting on your roof is a huge plus. Since gutter guards are highly customisable, you roofer will easily be able to find or create the best guarding solution for your gutters. Keeping your gutters clean has never been easier!
Also read: Gutter Installation: Tips on How to Install Rain Gutters
