5 Benefits of Installing Gutter Covers

Any homeowner who has experienced the frustration of clearing a clog from their gutters has likely wondered if there was a solution. Gutter covers have solved this age-old problem and can provide several other improvements for your gutters. Here are five ways installing gutter covers can benefit your home.

1. Preserve Your Landscaping

Uncovered gutters will gradually fill up with leaves, small branches, and other debris. When this happens, water cannot drain through the gutters as intended and it will overflow over the edges of your gutters. This can be particularly problematic for your landscaping.

Gutter overflow can drench furniture, destroy plant life, and damage other landscaping fixtures around your home's exterior. Gutter guards prevent debris buildup that causes overflows so that your landscaping isn't at risk during periods of heavy rainfall.

2. Prevent Damage to Your Gutters

One important thing to remember about wet debris in your gutters is that it can be very heavy. The weight of wet debris can be enough to cause sections of your gutters to fall.

Gutter covers prevent these common types of damage caused by gutter clogs. Homeowners with gutter covers can worry less about gutters becoming dislodged. Installing gutter covers now can save time and money that would be spent on gutter maintenance and repair.

3. Discourage Pest Infestations

Water in gutters is a major attractant for insects and other household pests. Gutter covers eliminate blockages so that standing water cannot attract pests. Furthermore, squirrels and other rodents will be less likely to build nests in your gutters if covers have been installed.

4. Avoid Roof Leaks

Standing water in your gutters poses a constant risk of roof leaks. Water buildup in clogged gutters can deteriorate the shingles and sheeting around the edges of your roof and rot your roof's wooden frame. Eventually, water from your gutters will be able to seep in through small cracks that appear over time. Gutter covers keep the water in your gutters flowing to prevent stagnant water from rotting your roof and causing a leak.

Roof leaks caused by clogged gutters have a few characteristic signs. You may notice dripping water or water stains on the ceiling near the outer edges of your home. Homeowners should also take notice of musty or moldy smells in the attic that could point to hidden roof leaks caused by clogged gutters.

5. Protect Your Siding and Foundation

Water stains make unsightly blemishes on the exterior of any home. Without functioning gutters, water stains would be unavoidable; every rainfall would cause water to pour over the edges of your roof and run down your siding. Gutters route water away from the exterior of your home to preserve the natural appearance of your home's siding.

When it comes to protecting your siding, overflowing gutters are no better than having no gutters at all. The same is true for your home's foundation. When your gutters overflow, water will pool around the foundation and place pressure on your basement walls that can lead to leaks or structural failure. Gutter covers keep your gutters clear so they can protect your siding and foundation from unnecessary water damage.

Gutter covers are an improvement on traditional uncovered gutter systems that can benefit virtually every home. Contact Allstate Gutter & Siding for professional gutter cover installation and for all your other gutter and siding service needs!