A lot of homeowners do not think about their gutter systems unless they encounter a substantial problem, which often requires a tedious cleanup job or costly gutter repairs from a roofing expert. This is totally understandable since people are busy. But it’s important to take care of your gutters. 
How Gutter Systems Work
A functional and efficient gutter system successfully diverts water away from the foundation of your home. Gutters are the horizontal metal, typically made of aluminum, vinyl or stainless steel, part of your roofing system that captures water from your roof. They are generally installed along the eave edges of your roofline or another roof feature like the dormer, which projects vertically beyond the plane of a pitched roof. Gutters are open at the top portion to catch rainwater, directing it into another component in the roofing system called downspouts. Downspouts are the vertical and enclosed sections of the system that guide rainwater until it reaches the ground level, where a drainage system is located. The water is normally funneled to a sewer or allowed into the soil through seepage. Ideally, this entire process is swift and uninterrupted so the water from your roof surface can flow away from your home without the hassles of overflowing, flooding and staining the siding.
The Purpose of Gutters
Gutters play a vital role in reducing the water and moisture damage to homes. They help prevent an array of water issues on your roof. These include rot and decay of plywood decking and other wood-based roofing components, premature deterioration of asphalt shingles, soffit, fascia and masonry, and growth of mold across the roof surface. A functional gutter system also extends its benefits to the rest of your home exterior and interior spaces. It helps diminish moisture problems in windows, particularly condensation, that can damage sills, interior walls and flooring – which all may lead to warped wood and dissolved drywall over time.
Why Gutter Protection Is Important
Everyone knows that once a year during the fall season, after orange to brown leaves have dropped from large and overhanging trees around their homes, homeowners need to climb up their ladders to clean out their potentially clogged gutters. This is why gutters are infamous for their often laborious and time-consuming upkeep requirements. Luckily, it does not have to be this way anymore. More and more homeowners are becoming increasingly aware of the advantages that gutter protection, in the form of gutter guards, deliver to their homes. Gutter guards serve as a cover installed over your gutter pipes in order to prevent leaves, twigs and other windswept debris from collecting in gutters. This is to allow the free flow of rainwater from the roof surface to the drain located into the ground.
Benefits of Installing Gutter Guards
Gutter guards are designed to block debris and organic litter from entering the gutters and, therefore, downspouts and drains. This eliminates the chances of clogging gutters to the point that water cannot flow freely anymore, causing the water to spill onto the sides and damage the wall cladding in the process. Here are the key benefits of installing gutter guards: 1. Gutter guards save more time and money. Gutter guards prevent debris and dirt from accumulating in your gutters and clogging up the system. Installing them will significantly reduce the number of hours spent on removing litter from your gutters. But that is not all. It also eliminates repair and maintenance costs. This allows you to save more money for other roofing maintenance projects Some debris may still collect on top of your gutter guards. However, the surface of gutter guards are exponentially easier to clean than the varied corners found inside the gutters. You do not need to dig awkwardly to scoop out handfuls of twigs, seeds and leaves. It is recommended to get your gutters cleaned at least twice a year. But, if you have gutters installed, you may reduce the number of necessary gutter cleanings. 2. Gutter guards help eliminate mice and insect infestations. Gutter guards prevent vermin and insect infestation. This is due to the fact that gutter guards minimize the amount of stagnant water that sits in your gutters. Less water means it is more difficult for animals or insects to utilize your gutters as a breeding ground. All of this denotes that you can stop bats, birds, mice, mosquitoes, spiders and squirrels from breeding or nesting in your gutters. In addition, gutter guards also work as an adequate physical barrier to halt possums and rodents so they cannot crawl and navigate their way behind the fascia boards and into the roof structure of your house. 3. Gutter guards prevent rust and corrosion. A gutter swamped with wet and soggy leaves is more likely to rust and corrode. And, since gutter guards are designed to prevent leaves, pine needles, and other organic litter from collecting, they offer a unique and impressive type of protection against rusting and corrosion. As a result, gutter guards can help prolong the expected lifespan of your gutters as well as the siding and entire roof structure. 4. Gutter guards offer protection against fire. Are you currently residing in an area that is prone to bushfires? If so, gutter guards will provide you with additional protection against one of the most enduring elements that can damage residential and commercial buildings in a tremendous way. But how exactly? Embers, or pieces of glowing hot coal or wood in an ebbing fire, can easily travel a long distance through the air. If those embers come in contact with dry leaves or twigs stuck inside your gutters, it may ignite a small fire that can spread rapidly to the rest of the roof. In fact, even wet leaves can spontaneously be consumed by fire, creating a safety hazard for homeowners. Fortunately, there are certain types of gutter guards that can provide sufficient protection for your home by acting as a physical barricade between debris lighted embers. 5. Gutter guards help alleviate ice dams and freezing. If rainwater gets trapped inside the gutters due to clogs and blockages, it will freeze and create ice dams during the frosty winter season. Though gutter guards alone may not completely eliminate the occurrence of ice dams, they will surely prevent the collection of debris in your gutters, which may make ice buildup less severe.
Contact Paddy’s for Your Gutter Protection Needs
If you are thinking about giving your roofing system a needed upgrade, make sure not to forget about installing gutter guards for your home. Luckily, Paddy’s is here to assist you! Our team of reliable technicians can provide you with a smooth and stress-free experience of gutter installation. Paddy’s is one of the leading providers of superior quality Leaf Relief® gutter guards. They’re made from aluminum or copper, which improves the durability of gutters and helps resist damage from ladders, wind, snow and ice without voiding your roof warranty. This patented gutter system is the best gutter solution that you can find on the market. To learn more, call us at (302) 208-9510, or fill out this contact form to set an appointment.