Gutter Guards

  Ten years ago - on May 3, 2013 - we had new rain gutters installed at Pinehaven by Michael's Roofing and Siding. Click here for that story. Since then I wish I had had them install gutter guards. We have two maple trees very close to the house and the gutters clog every autumn (and other times, too) with leaves, limbs and other debris. Last year I told Tom "This is it. Never again" as we hauled the heavy Fiberglas ladder around the house and I climbed two stories.

 Back on August  29 I called Michael Umber and asked if he could give me an estimate on gutter guards. He priced the Shur Flo aluminum gutter protection system. I gave him the go-ahead the same day. But getting enough of the guards to do both the house and garage (261') was a challenge. He had to cancel last Friday's appointment and shoot for today. An order was supposed to arrive yesterday.

 Apparently it did. Today (09/19/23) he and two other men came and cleaned out the gutters and installed the gutter guards.

Before - 08/29/23 - Garage

 After - 09/19/23

Kitchen roof

 

House roof - West edge

Nicely mitered corners with overlap

 Hopefully that'll end the need to climb the ladder and clean the gutters. Of course I expect leaves will often gather atop the guards but I'm also hoping that future rains  and winds will clean them off naturally. It'll be interesting to see how snow responds to the guards. I don't expect perfection: I just expect things to be generally easier.

 Michael's Roofing and Siding is available at 937-835-5200.

 Follow up:

11-04-23

 Above shot is of the east side of the garage.

11-04-23

 Above shot is of the west side of the kitchen roof.

 Now  that the leaves have mostly fallen I've hade a chance to see how well the guards work. I've found the leaves - which certainly do collect there - mostly blow off when there's a wind. That's good. But the maple seeds collect there, too, and - so far - they haven't blown off. I'm wondering what that will mean for winter weather? Will snow and ice collect atop the seeds and prevent meltwater from reaching the gutter?

 The jury is still out on this one.