Gutter covers and gutter guards can be inexpensive--down right cheap or they can be very expensive.How do you know if cheap gutter guards will work for you or if you really need the best leaf guard?Answer. it depends on how much tree debris you have and the design of the cheap leaf guards.If you're only dealing with leaves and tree debris from distant trees then you can go with cheap gutter guards.But would you want a cheap one that easily dislodges with wind or heavy animals such as raccoons or squirrels that can chew through them or dig them out of the gutter? Don't think so!The one that dislodge are flimsy screens made of plastic mesh or wire mesh.They usually get installed on top of the gutter and in some cases actually get screwed or clipped to the gutter.One such type is actually a solid top that is held in place with a clip that is the size of a quarter.The clip works loose and the gutter cover collapses into the gutter.They usually sell installed for around $6.00 per foot or more and are really worthless.After the first wind storm, they get blown to the ground or collapse into the gutter.Another style of hinged screen looks substantial.The problem is that it accumulates debris on the roof and when you lift it to remove the debris, the debris falls into the gutter.In summary, even in light debris conditions, all flimsy leaf guards require yearly inspections and maintenance.In light debris conditions you want an inexpensive one that gets directly screwed to the gutters or has clips that are screwed.Google Niagara gutter covers you'll find the type of single fin leaf guard you can use.Let's talk about heavy debris conditions.This is where it pays to find the absolute best gutter guard that you can possibly find.Why?Answer. because you don't want to choose an expensive one only to find it's a night mare.In fact most expensive leaf guards can be a night mare in heavy debris conditions.Despite their claims many pass debris into the gutters of sufficient amounts to clog the gutters--especially the single fin types that look like the Niagara system mentioned above.Their water collectors will also clog requiring maintenance--someone has to go up a ladder to clean them.For medium debris conditions, the best leaf guard is a hybrid of a single fin type gutter guard.Google Care-Free gutter covers and you'll find a single row louvered moderately priced system.Yet for heavy debris conditions the best gutter guard to get the job done is a double row louvered gutter guard.Google "Waterloov Gutter Guards" to find such a device.No matter how much debris or how heavy the debris, the gutters inside never clog and when the louvered water collectors clog, it is easily seen from the ground and can be easily serviced by the homeowner with a telescopic pole and brush.This type of gutter guard has been used since 1989.It's the only one if its kind with over a twenty year track record.
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