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We have a list of common questions about gutter guards. Our Solutionists have help to compile questions they hear from customers. We want to best answer your gutter guard faq.
Gutter Guard FAQ
Q: I live in a home with a lot of trees, and have wasted my money on several different expensive gutter guards. How do I know that your guard will work?
A. Mesh guards have been on the market since the early 2000’s. Since that time, we have sold millions upon millions of feet. They can take large volumes of water, yet prevent anything as small as a piece of sand from entering. We also stand by our product with a warranty (ask your Solutionist for more details).
Q. Are mesh gutter guards maintenance free?
A. There is no such thing as a maintenance-free gutter guard. If a representative from any gutter guard company in the world makes such a claim, RUN FAST. Your gutters are the defense against extensive water damage. Above all, our job is to protect your home from having clogged gutters and to prevent you from having to clean the muck from the interior. Mostly, the product will self-shed with the wind, but on some homes, you may need to easily brush the debris off from the surface.
Guards In The Winter
Q. How do mesh guards handle snow & ice?
A. Mesh guards help to prevent the gutter from filling up with snow and ice and becoming extremely heavy. We use a guard product constructed with an under structure 4x stronger than any other guard on the market. This creates an ability to significantly increase the strength of your gutter system, allowing it to withstand the weight of the snow and ice. Similarly, the mesh design freezes rather quickly, causing a bridge between the snow/ice and the inside of the gutter.
As a result, the sun warms the roof, the snow will melt off the front edge of the gutter. So once the snow has melted completely, the mesh will begin to allow water through. Clients may experience icicles during the melting process and throughout the winter. It is thought by many installers and home owners that mesh guards can help alleviate ice damming, because it allows the snow and ice to melt off the front of the gutter. Rather than filling the gutter and growing higher and higher up the roof-line.
Q. I heard mesh guards cause ice damming. Is this true?
A. We hear this comment often in regards to gutter guard faq. If a home is experiencing ice damming, it is typically the result of poor attic insulation. A home with asphalt shingles will have ice dams even without gutters. It is important to properly insulate the home before looking at your guards. If you have insulated the attic space and are still experiencing ice damming, we offer a heated gutter option to help deal with the challenges of ice damming.
Style & Sizes
Q. What sizes are available?
A. Our guards are available for both 5″ and 6″ gutters.
Q. How are they installed on the gutters?
A. The guard we use are designed to overlap, preventing the gaps found in some alternative guards products. The front of the guard is zip screwed into the lip of the gutter and the back is zip screwed to the fascia of the house under the drip edge. This prevents water from dripping behind the gutter.
Q. Can I install mesh guards myself?
A. Professional mesh guards needs to be installed by an authorized dealer. Our crews must pass an installation training session the manufacturer conducts just to install the guard we use. Some of the reasons professionals need to do this installation is due to their ability to prevent unforeseen problems. It is imperative that your gutters are 100% in working order before installing Guards. It is also very important that an experienced installer do the installation to make sure that all panels are installed and pitched correctly.
Q. Is there anything I should do after my guards are installed?
A. We ask that you grab a raincoat and an umbrella on the second good rain after installation. (We say 2nd because the product sometimes has oils and greasing agents from the manufacturing process. This will self-clean during the first rain after installation) You are looking for any area on the house that may have water overshooting the gutters. If you have any areas where the water is coming over the gutter, make a note of the location. For that reason, we will come back out and make the necessary adjustments. After that, it always important as a homeowner to make sure that there are no issues with any problems on your home.
Sales Experience
Q. A salesperson from another company said they have a lifetime guarantee also. Why do so many companies offer a lifetime warranty?
A. This is a common marketing strategy. Typically, when a gutter guard company offers a lifetime warranty, it means they will come back out to clean your gutters for free. This puts you on their schedule. That could probably mean weeks of your gutters being clogged.
Q. I have seen a couple other products that use stainless steel mesh. What’s the difference?
A. Each product has a specific set of features that makes it different from every other guard. Therefore, we have made it our job to research all products we offer to our clients in depth to make sure we are offering a product with the best combination of features to protect and strengthen the gutter. We are always keeping up to date on gutter guard faq. The specific guard we use features an interchangeable mesh to allow the guard to adapt to different situations. Hence, the mesh can be exchanged without reinstalling the guard.
Q. Some of the sales people that have come out have been very pushy. Are your salespeople like that?
A. It is quite a shame that some of the companies out there encourage their salespeople to do whatever it takes to make a sale. Seems like a poor choice, doesn’t it? We decided to take a different approach by solving, instead of selling. This meant meeting with and listening to the homeowner to determine the best solution for their unique situation. Therefore, we decided to change their title from Salesmen, to Solutionists. The Solutionist will measure up your gutters, examine your gutters, and provide you with a written proposal. We prefer that all homeowners be present for the estimate to not only hear the presentation but to help the Solutionist by listening to any problems that you may be experiencing with your gutters. Most noteworthy, this can go a long way in ensuring your 100% satisfaction.
