Have you ever wondered how much time and effort you spend on cleaning the gutters?
Yes, this is not the most pleasant pastime, a real challenge.
In addition to debris, leaves, there are dangers. Slippery roof, hundreds of kilograms of leaves after every rain, nests are not accommodating animals, frequent leaks may remain in the past. How?
Install gutter guards! And if you think that it is not easier than cleaning the gutters, keep my advice based on personal experience.
I assure you, my advice will help you make the right choice, leave the house dry and climb the roof just to show your neighbor how cool it works. Just follow our how to install gutter guard tips.
Choosing the Right Gutter Guard
Choosing the right gutter guard, base on the size of your house roof.
After you have measured the length of the roof seven times using a roulette wheel, proceed to the selection of gutter guards. Its size should be identical to the size of the gutters you have.
Pay attention to the material from which the filters are. Steel and aluminum will last a long time and will require a lot of effort to install.
Further, it is important to understand the styles of gutter guards. The market has a wide variety of styles, but there are three constants.
The first style of gutter guards is installed inside the gutter and requires a device for pulling the gutter on top.
The second type is a grid gutter guards, the grid size of which varies from microscopic to large. Such a grid is an average option; it is more expensive than most gutter guards are. The third type is a plastic screen.
Typically, the price depends on the material, so the plastic sample will be cheap and affordable for self-installation.The choice of a specific gutter guard usually depends on the type and shape of the gutter, and also on whether the filter can be installed inside the gutter.
However, do not plan to forget about clearing gutter guards forever. Because of many factors, some debris can leak into the gutter and interfere with the passage of water into the drainpipe. Small debris leaves or a strong storm can play a role in this.
Preparing To Install Gutter Guards
Before installing gutter guards, be sure it works. One of the best ways to check is water testing. Here everything is simple; you only need a hose that can reach the roof and gutter.
Water from the hose will help to check if there are obstacles that will allow water to pass through. Any leakage will not let water into the down pipe via downspout extension and if it is, you must neutralize the problem.
After you have checked the work of the gutter and are sure all the water will drain through not along the walls, measure the length of the gutter.
It is necessary to you can select and install the gutter guard, which will be as if created specifically for your home gutters. That should be so if you do not want problems in the future.
I hope you know the main rule of the builder – measure several times. If the gutter guard is longer, you can cut that of the required size. However, if the gutter guard is already narrower than the width of the gutter, it will only be necessary to tighten the gum with the gaps.
For installation, prepare some tools you might need. Experience suggests that it must be a saw, both as a circular as well as a chipping simultaneously. Next, store scissors that will help you cut gutter guards if it is needed.
Depending on the type of gutter guards that you choose, screws, drill, rivets, screwdriver, and nails may be needed. But it will only be necessary if the gutter guard is the upper part of the gutter.
As you see, many types of filters require none tools for installation at all. Maybe you do not need this. There are no universal rules in the gutter filter setup, which can be followed in any case.
Regardless of the type of filters and the obviousness of the installation, read the instructions from the manufacturer that is included in the kit. If the gutter guards do not include the instruction, google it.
Tips For Installing Gutter Guards
Installing of gutter guards is a very serious task, the success of which depends on your home safety and life comfort. Keep a few life hacks, which will ease the task.
First, before you buy and install gutter guards, be sure of the installation system. To do this, ask the store how this option guard should be installed. When you are informed in this, then you may need more tools or even professional services.
Do not rush to the ladder and install guards, first read the instructions, weigh your strength.
Sometimes it is better to entrust such work to professionals. That is especially if the installation of filters does not seem elementary even to a person with rich knowledge. Professionals know how to install any kind of guards for the gutter by heart.
If you are not sure of your abilities, save time to order services from the pros. Although in some cases, you will not need any tools. First, it can be so because a certain type of guards does not require that.
Such guards, as a rule, are placed inside the gutter. But there is always a nuance, its work may leave you to be desired.
And secondly, you use a snap. The equipment is a universal work piece that is suitable for any kind of guards and gutters.
If none of the above seems appealing, then there is another way to fix the guard screen without using many tools. This type is widely used, so there is a high probability that you will stumble upon it in the store.
Roof tiles hold one end of the guard while the leading edge requires anchoring to the gutter by means of screws.
But keep in mind that all joint should also be fixed. Otherwise, the entire structure will be ineffective in strong winds.
Before installation, it is very important to pay attention to the material of your house roof. The method of installation depends on this. For example, if the roof of your house is tiled, then not all methods will be equally good.
In this case, there is one of the best ways to install a filter. By unfolding the guard grid along the roof, you must first attach the front of the grid to the existing gutter.
Use trim tabs (500 mm long) that will be firmly secured. Each mount should be 250 mm from the previous one.
As for the back of the filter, cuts are needed here, since the gutter filter does not have the ability to stretch. The incisions effectively help the gutter guard to take the shape of the roof.
Everything is very simple. Secure the back of the filter under the tile at home and then trim the ends if that is visually notable.
Yet, some houses have a corrugated roof. The process of installing gutter guards on this type of roof is much like installing on a tiled roof.
First, cut the guard to the required length, and attach the leading edge of the gutter guard with by means trim tabs. The same 500 mm trimmers fixed at a distance of 250 mm will be effective.
The back part must be cut for the same reason (the guard does not stretch), after which you need to fix the clips on every second rib. If you are dealing with a profiled roof, then place the clips on each edge.
Use Proper Safety Precautions
I do not want to sound like a pun-person, but to ensure the safety of the house, you must follow all safety rules when installing. Yes, it is no safer than cleaning.
Do not worry your visits to the roof will be reduced or you will save money on the professional services if you do it right.
Like cleaning the gutter, installing of gutter guards always starts from the ladder. Thus, you must be sure of the strength of the ladder and the complete absence of defects in it. Statistics show that a huge number of people do not follow this rule and became injured.
In order not to join the ranks of sad statistics, do not try to work alone. Such dangerous work at a height should be performed with a partner, or better with a few teammates.
If you have not found a person who can hold the tools during your work, then use the S-hook. It will help to free your hands and have the necessary tools at the same time. Besides, the S-hook does not deprive you of balance, which is quite safe.
And not every ladder is suitable for installing gutter guards. Especially if your roof does not allow you to lower the ladder somewhere other than gutters. Even if the gutters are strong, the weight pressure can deform or break the gutters. But there is a solution.
There are A-frame ladders with a bizarre shape that allows you not to lean on the trough but bend over it. So, both you and the gutter will be OK.
Remember that even the perfect ladder can fail if you do not establish it when moving to the next side of the house.
Conclusion
Install gutter guards by yourself or ask for professional help is your choice. Especially since, you are staffed with knowledge and will cope with everything.
Anyway, the presence of guards in your house gutter is very important, because it is a significant link in the housing infrastructure. Besides, you will be calm about the fact that there will be no leaks and wet walls in your house.
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