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Subject:
A LeafGuard (& Gutter Helmet) Dilemma
Category: Family and Home > Home Asked by: azure64-ga List Price: $10.00 |
Posted:
10 Jun 2003 18:36 PDT
Expires: 10 Jul 2003 18:36 PDT Question ID: 215847 |
I am considering having either Gutter Helmet or LeafGuard installed and cannot seem to find anyone who has had them installed and that can give me an opinion. I don't know if this is a question you can even answer, but I would like to know if these so called, "high tech" gutter systems really work. In searching for info myself I have come up extremely short handed. I am leaning towards having LeafGuard installed, so a focus on that gutter system would be sufficient. I am desperate for information, due to the high cost of a Gutter Helmet/LeafGuard system. I would appreciate any insight into LeafGuard (and even perhaps Gutter Helmet) you can provide, and if these high tech systems work as they say they do and so forth. Thank you in advance for even reading this question. |
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Subject:
Re: A LeafGuard (& Gutter Helmet) Dilemma
Answered By: wlk115-ga on 10 Jun 2003 21:10 PDT |
Apparently if you do not have maple trees or pine trees and you don’t have two roof sections that come together at an angle "high tech" gutter systems might be worth the cost. However, according to most of the folks on the forums and message boards I found these systems can cause as many problems as they solve, Mainly: * "Gutter trees" (tree seeds that get caught in the slots and sprout) * Leaves that lay on top and cause the water to go out over the gutter or cause ice dams in the winter * Small pieces of leaves and pine needles going in and decaying, forming a sludge that is harder to clean out because of the guard. * They are also poor at collecting water at roof valleys, where downward-sloping sections of roof meet and water runoff is heavy. All that said there are still people who swear by them. Questions & Answers from the Sound Home Consultant http://www.soundhome.com/consult/131to140.shtml When asked if he would recommend LeafGuard, Gutter Helmet, or something similar part of his answer was... "...In other words, no, I don't know of a gutter system that can handle leaves and needles, and not clog or dump the storm water next to the house. I also suspect that some of these systems cost more than several years worth of professional gutter cleaning, and are often harder to clean once they are clogged." The entire article can be read here. http://www.soundhome.com/consult/131to140.shtml I suggest you read the posts on some of these Forums: Home Repair Forum Pros and cons of LeafGuard, Gutter Helmet, etc? http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/repair/msg0320104132498.html Here's a sample "...they are prettier than my row of seeds but guess you can scratch my comment about removing the screens! Isn't it amazing that those slick little seeds can grab a hold of a slick aluminum gutter while water gushes over them and stay there long enough to sprout. I'd say something like "isn't Nature fascinating" if it didn't cause so darn much work." "We have gutter helmets on our ranch house, and we have huge maple trees. We still have to clean the gutters out every year, too! The sprouted maple trees in the screening sure are pretty, though!" (Here’s a pic of the Gutter Trees they speak of in the forum) http://cakili.image.pbase.com/image/17017168.jpg On the opposite side of the spectrum most of the respondents at Home Improvement section of Real Cities.com liked both LeafGuard and Gutter Helmet Do high-tech rain gutters really work? http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/living/home/home_improvement/exterior/gutters/2399283.htm "...said he had paid more than $2,000 for his LeafGuard gutters but was very pleased. He said: "A few leaves occasionally get stuck in the gutter openings, but they either blow away or disintegrate after a while." "...was "very satisfied" with his LeafGuard system, but he has found that it does not work well if there is "extremely high runoff," such as at roof valleys in steep roofs. Dilloway said he had to use conventional open gutters at such a point in a LeafGuard installation at a relative's home." "...said he also had problems with his covered gutters at roof valleys."I have a steep roof in places, and where the roofs come together at an angle, the water cascades down and really splashes off the rear deck and front porch," Graham said. "It is much worse than when I had open gutters." He said that leaves also piled up on top of the covers. "But they are very effective in keeping leaves out of the gutters," he added." Lake-Link's Discusion Board http://www.lake-link.com/forums/boards/viewposts.cfm?Thread_ID=17744 Leafguard gutter systems....Do they really work? "…I looked at 3 companies. They all have their little models with water rolling over the shingles and into the gutters. They don't, however, show what a REAL thundershower is like; the water goes OVER the opening and over the edge just like not having gutters. Many siding companies have gotten away from selling them because they don't work. I'm not bitter 'cause I never bought any, but I know people who have. Then there's the varmints. The people I know have had birds build nests in the gutter in one day. The opening where the water goes in is only about an inch and the birds feel protected..." "I have to disagree with the previous posts. I live in the woods and was up on a ladder 4 or 5 times yearly. I had a gutter helmet installed 3 years ago and have not been on a ladder since. The company that installed them guarantees that if your gutter would ever plug up they would come out and clean them for no charge. Also they had little aluminum adapters on the slight end openings that keep the small birds out. The only downside is that they are not cheap, but as far as I'm concerned it was some of the best money I have ever spent." | |
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Subject:
Re: A LeafGuard (& Gutter Helmet) Dilemma
From: poolplayer-ga on 03 Aug 2003 12:42 PDT |
I've tried different guards with the main problem being that yellow jackets build nests underneath these safe little guards-creating somewhat of a bigger problem. |
Subject:
Re: A LeafGuard (& Gutter Helmet) Dilemma
From: homerepairexprt-ga on 30 Nov 2004 18:24 PST |
My clients have installed just about every kind of gutter protection product on the market on their homes. Most are very happy with it, but some much more than others. The key to most of these systems and their success is the reliability of the company behind them. Most have a "never clean out a gutter" guarantee, but getting some of these 2 and 3 year old companies to show up to clean them can be a more than difficult. By the time you finally get them there, the water damage to your home can have already occured and you are actually worse off than you would have been. I recommend that you look at the companies that have been carrying their gutter protection product the longest. Not just how long they have been in business, but how long they have been carrying the product. A 50-year old siding company might have just recently picked up the gutter protection product line, and have no track record as far as maintenance on that particular product. They can drop the product line the day after you purchased it, and force you to go to the manufacturer, and trust me you do not want to go that route. Stay away from those guys, unless of course you want to be their guinea pig. Another thing to be cautious of is the one-piece systems. They will charge you a price per foot for the entire gutter system which will include the downspouts which do not come protected. The bottom line is that most systems will solve your problems. But it is my recommendation to spend a little more money and go with the guys who have the best tract record. If you look closely, you will find that one of the brands has been installing for over 20 years, and has over 50% of the entire market. That says a lot to me. |
Subject:
Re: A LeafGuard (& Gutter Helmet) Dilemma
From: jarrods-ga on 13 Jan 2005 09:12 PST |
I had LeafGuard installed this past November and after our first big snow fall about 1.5 to 2 inches of ice accumulated on the tops of my leafguard gutters. They state in their contract that you will see an additional accumulation of icicles, which we did. But the real problem is when this ice releases and comes crashing to the ground. I was able to maually remove the ice from my first story gutter fairly easily, but the second story i will simply have to wait for it to fall until in can install a gutter heater in the spring or summer. Even the gutter over my garage opening had a massive amount of ice build up, so I don't think that better insulating my attic will make a huge difference. If anyone has had this problem and has any other ideas for solutions i would love your input. |
Subject:
Re: A LeafGuard (& Gutter Helmet) Dilemma
From: polishgirl-ga on 07 Feb 2005 10:10 PST |
I purchased Leafguard a month ago. I am really unhappy with the product. When it rains, water pours OVER the top of the gutters. In winter, the icicles reach from the gutters to the bottom of my window sills. As they melt they continually drip over the top of the gutters which causes you to get wet each time you pass through your door. The puddle that accumulates on your deck or porch then becomes ice and you have a skating rink in front of you door. the worst part so far has been when the 2ft x 30ft block of ice that has formed on top of the gutters decides to fall and smash everything in it's path. My mailbox was smashed and all of my shrubs were split down the middle. I had only just walked into my house when it let go. Had it been a few minutes earlier, it would have hit me. I called the Leafguard company and was told there is NO RETURN POLICY! I was told that the I should have been raking my roof after each snow to avoid ice. My question is this....didn't I buy Leafguard so that my gutters would be MAINTENANCE FREE!!!? |
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