Is Gutter Guard Installation a DIY Project

1. Is Gutter Guard Installation a DIY Project? If you’ve been thinking about installing gutter guards for a while but you haven’t yet pulled the trigger, now is a good time to start considering it in earnest. Spring will be coming in a few short weeks, and that means it’s time for critters, winds carrying debris, tons of rain, and more. Is gutter guard installation a DIY project? That depends on a few factors. The Benefits of Gutter Guards Gutter guards aren’t a new invention. They’ve been around for decades in one form or another, and homeowners all across the nation swear by them. You can find them in a variety of types, including traditional screen gutter covers, mesh, micro mesh, and even a foam-like substance that fits inside your gutters. They can provide a number of benefits, including: Keeping animals out. Believe it or not, your gutters are the perfect home for various types of animals, and this is especially true in your downspouts. Critters get inside from the roof, then find their way down to the edge of the home where the downspout is and build their nests inside. This is problematic for numerous reasons, but gutter guards can prevent it. Preventing leaf buildup. Leaves inside your gutter have a negative effect on its ability to move rainwater effectively. Though you can always reach in and pull the leaves out, if you have several trees in your yard, this could turn out to be a monthly task – something no homeowner really wants to do. Gutter guards keep leaves out of your gutter and allow them to fall onto the ground instead. Keeping all other debris out.Leaves aren’t the only things that can get inside your gutters. Twigs, seeds, various pods and berries – anything that is either above your roof as well as things that can be carried by the wind can inevitably find its way into your gutter where it can cause a clog. Should You Install Gutter Guards Yourself? Gutter guards come in various styles. Some are designed to simply fit over the top of your existing gutters, and others are designed to be cut to shape and fit down inside the gutters. Whether or not your gutter guard installation is a DIY project depends primarily on two factors: The extent of the installation. Do you need to cut pieces to fit? How difficult will it be to install? What kind of gutter cover or guard did you choose? Some gutter covers are significantly more difficult to install than others, and some simply take a great deal more time. Your knowledge and expertise. If you have installed gutter guards before – or even if you have assisted someone with the task – you may be able to do the job on your own. Snap-on gutter guards are relatively easy to install. Your comfort. Finally, ask yourself if you are really comfortable with walking around on the roof to get the job done and whether your current physical condition will allow it. You should never install a gutter guard on your own if you do not feel 100% comfortable and confident, and no one should ever attempt to climb a ladder or get on the roof in rain, snow, ice, or wind. Gutter guard installation ranges from relatively simple to quite complex, and no two installations are exactly the same. The best way to determine whether you can do it on your own is to learn more about the gutter guard type you have selected and how to install them. Calling a professional is always an option, too.