Day: November 3, 2021

Best Gutter Guards Consumer Reports

Elene Chamberlin Gutter Improvement
Best Gutter Guards Consumer Reports

One thing we understand for sure here at The Brothers that just do Gutters is how essential it is to keep your gutter system up and running smoothly. We take great pride in designing systems that are efficient at keeping water flowing away from your home. But it isn’t only the design, it’s in the products that we offer as well. Gutter guards are no exception. We have wisely chosen a guard design that excels at keeping leaves, debris, small animals and pests out of your gutters. We have over 20 years of field experience to help us make evaluations on what our customers need and how to best match them with products to meet those needs. In addition, we continue to do research on available products finding the best on the market. Most recently, we have reviewed the best gutter guards Consumer Reports put out.

Before we speak on the reviews and how they compare to our two gutter guard options we offer here at the Brothers Gutters, let’s remind you why keeping your gutters clear is paramount to keeping your system effective and maintained for optimal water flow.

Cleaning Gutters With or Without Gutter Guards

Bottom line is you need to clean your gutters with or without guards. The difference is, guards will require minimal maintenance, like occasionally brushing off debris from the top of the guard. Whereas, open gutter systems require yearly interior cleanings. If you do not perform regular gutter cleanings the lack of upkeep may lead to water damage to your home. Most common issues arise during season changes. Pollen buildup in spring and leaves in the fall cause the most build up in and on your gutters. One option is to have them cleaned a few times a year to clear out your runs and downspouts. Another option is to have gutter guards installed on your system. This will keep leaves and debris out and drastically cut down the amount of maintenance that is necessary.

There are many reasons why adding gutter guards to your system is highly recommended. To review:

Prevents clogsEliminates most interior gutter cleaningsAble to handle high capacity of rainfallReduces risk of overflow, rotting fascia, mild dew or deterioration of the foundationOnly requires a seasonal dust off to get rid of pollen and/or larger fallen branches and debrisAdds strength to your system during winter for when snow and ice sit on the system

Which Gutter Guards Do We Offer?
best gutter guards consumer reports

One Gutter Guard-This guard’s chassis is made from one piece of aluminum, has a mesh screen on the guard that is interchangeable, and has pre-drilled holes making for a quick installation. This style is recommended for homeowners that live in a high-pollinated area and especially for those near pine trees.MicroGuard-Made of 032 gauge aluminum and has 2000 holes per linear foot, this option is for areas that aren’t as effected by smaller debris.

We highlight some common questions we get on about gutter protection and the options available. Be sure to check out those answers to better help you navigate your decision making process.

The Best Gutter Guards Consumer Reports

As mentioned above, we have been listening to the various challenges homeowners have when it comes to their gutters. We look at the best gutter guards consumer reports on in combination with our own reports and have found that mesh gutter guard designs incorporate all of the best features to create an exceptional system.

Here at The Brothers that just do Gutters we want to provide you with the best contractor service possible. We would love for you to schedule your free gutter estimate so you can meet one of our professional Solutionists© to design a system with gutter guards for your home.

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Gutter Cleaning In Winter

Elene Chamberlin Gutter Services
Gutter Cleaning In Winter

Most of the time when we hear the word winter, we think frigid temperatures, wintry mix and snow. And that is true for our locations in the northern zones. However, for our locations in the southern zone, winter isn’t so cold or extreme. Since gutter cleaning can only be done when temperatures are above freezing, we typically suggest that cleanings take place during the spring and fall. In regions where freezing does not occur, cleaning gutters in winter is not typically an issue. In addition to temperature, environmental changes during those seasons have a greater effect on the collection of debris in the gutter, leading to a greater demand for cleanings.

If you missed cleaning gutters in the fall, you may have issue going into winter. These issues are not always evident in the winter because your gutter is frozen, but during the first thaw they’ll show. The excess debris in your gutters that was not cleaned prior to winter will result in a sort of debris popsicle within your gutter system.

Cleaning Gutters & Products

During an unusual period of winter thaw, you may be able to use gutter cleaning tools to remove blockages from the gutters and downspout areas. However, it is recommended that you let the pros take care of your concerns. Keep in mind that winter services will vary in the winter months in northern regions.

Common Gutter Concerns During Winter

Snow sitting on top of your roofWeight of ice in/on your guttersIce dammingDamages due to added weight from snow and iceWinter storm damage

Ice Damming
Ice Dam Prevention and cleaning gutters

Ice damming is not a situation a homeowner wants to deal with. Despite popular belief, gutters do not cause ice damming. Ice damming begins with your insulation. It occurs when the warm air is escaping from the attic causing the snow on the roof to melt. When the melted water reaches the surface of your cold gutter, it will refreeze on and over your gutters.

Heat Cables
cleaning gutters and heat tape

Your first step to avoiding ice damming is proper insulation. But, you can also take the proactive approach to preventing ice damming by using a roof rake to clear a few feet above the edge of the roof. It can help to eliminate the buildup of ice dams. Adding heat cable to your gutter system is also another preventative measure with little to no maintenance. It will keep your gutters at an above freezing temperature and will slowly melt snow and ice buildup on your system to manage ice damming.

As mentioned above, winter services vary for our northern hemispheres. Here is a list of what can and cannot be done in the colder temperatures to better clarify (weather permitting of course):

What Can Be Done In Freezing Temperatures?

Gutter and downspout installationsGutter & guard installations (must install both for it to be doable in winter)Heated gutter & guard installations (must install both for it to be doable in winter)Snow guards for metal roofsFascia & fascia wrap (if getting full gutter install)

What Cannot Be Done In Freezing Temperatures?

Cleaning gutters (due to freezing, it’s too cold to clean gutters)Gutter guards on existing gutters (due to freezing, it’s too cold to clean gutters, which we do before installing guards)Repairing or resealing existing gutters

While our services may be impacted in some regions during the winter months, we are still open for business. Our warmer locations are typically “business as usual” in winter. And cleanings are generally not impacted much.

How Often Should I Clean My Gutters?

At least twice a year – typically once in spring and once in fall when leaves have all fallen

How Do Gutter Guards Work?

Guards act as a filtration system to keep debris out of your gutters (i.e. leaves, shingle grit, small animals and pests)They prevent the possibility of interior clogs from happening in your gutters and downspoutsThey add strength to the whole system during winterGuards reduce the risk of the system breaking or detaching due to the weight of the snow or branches laying on them.

Do I Need To Clean My Gutters With Guards?

Quality gutter guards work to eliminate the need for interior gutter cleaningsNo products are “maintenance-free” and may require occasional brushing off on top of the guard system

While some of our locations gutters are in the deep freeze of winter’s wrath, not all of them are. We are all open during the winter season, but some of us are impacted more by the cold than others. Your best bet is to contact The Brothers that just do Gutters to discuss your circumstances and get a free estimate.

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Gutter Sizes – 7 Inch Gutter Systems

Elene Chamberlin Gutter Cleaning
Gutter Sizes – 7 Inch Gutter Systems

Here at The Brothers that just do Gutters we offer an array of gutter sizes and styles. 5 inch, 6 inch, 7 inch and 8 inch gutters are used across both residential and commercial gutter projects (gutter sizes offered varies by location). As the industry standard shifts for what is considered to be standard and oversized gutters, we want to provide a breakdown on the different gutter sizes, and how to select the correct gutter size for your home’s needs.

Our Solutionist Talks 7 Inch Gutters

We interviewed our expert, Nathan Hiebert  of the Brothers Gutters NW-SATX. He services the Uvalde and surrounding Northwest side of San Antonio Texas areas and neighborhoods. We were able to discuss further on why he finds that 6 inch and 7 inch gutters are moving to the new standard sizing for residential gutters in his area. He found value in purchasing a 7 inch machine for his truck because he has seen the need for larger gutter systems on residential homes in SATX. We asked Nathan a few questions about why he offers 7 inch gutters, as well as, under what circumstances he recommends them to customers.

What Style Homes Most Commonly Get 7 Inch Gutters?

gutter sizes spanish tile roof with 7 inch copper gutters
7 Inch Gutter on Spanish Tile Roof

Nathan says that Spanish tile roofing is very common in San Antonio. Due to the style roof and how it overhangs the fascia, 7 inch gutters are often the best option. 7 inch gutters allow for a larger width to extend past the tiles, which better collects cascading water. This roof style is very common in this area. This area also gets heavy rains, making the 7 inch system the most efficient in collecting water for these specific style homes.

Concrete slate roofs are another style roof that largely benefits from a bigger gutter system. As well as, flat-roofed homes and buildings. While an inch may not seem like much, the difference between water capacity in a 5 inch, 6 inch and 7 inch gutter is huge.

gutter sizes and volume capacity chart
How Each Gutter Size Effects Capacity To Hold Rainwater?

Each inch added to the gutter system provides an increased volume load of rainwater that it can collect. For example, a 6 inch gutter holds 40 percent more water than a 5 inch system.

When Should You Consider Alternate Gutter Sizes like A 7 Inch Gutter?

With Complicated SystemsIf You Are Interested In Rainwater Collection SystemsIf You Are Looking For Better Protection From Water DamageWhen Your Home Has Any Of The Roof Types Mentioned AboveWhen An Upper Gutter Drains Into A Lower Gutter

Larger systems handle more rain water without causing overflow. For example, when upper gutters drain into lower gutters and other complicated layouts that cause an increased volume of water, a larger gutter handles this much more efficiently. They won’t cause interference with water dropping onto sections with decking below, or where landscaping beds tuck under the eave. Also, often times homeowners want fewer downspouts. With a 7 inch gutter, it provides enough capacity to handle the water to move down the gutter system into one catch area.

7 Inch Gutter With Concrete Slate Roof
7 Inch Gutter With Concrete Roof

A rainwater collection system, like a large barrel for the water to dump into, allows for the collection of the large amounts of rainwater these size systems collect. Allowing for more re-usability in other areas of the yard, like flower beds, gardens and the alike.

Nathan often shows his customers the varying gutter sizes with a demonstration. He does a 5 inch and 7 inch comparison by overlapping the two gutters together. He runs a hose through them to act as rain. This shows how the larger gutter handles a greater capacity of rainwater more efficiently and eliminates overflow.

If you think your home could benefit from a larger gutter and/or you have a style roof like one mentioned above, we can help! Fill out our Contact Us form for a free estimate. A Solutionist will be able to best assist you in making a recommendation for what size gutter system will meet your needs.

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