Gutter guards are useful in preventing the build up of debris in your gutters. With these in place, you won’t have to worry about water pooling up and causing damage. You’ll also prevent long term damage to the roof and gutter itself.
Theoretically speaking, gutter guard installation will allow you to clean your gutters by hand less often while still maintaining the integrity of your home. However, their usage isn’t as widespread as you would think. With that in mind, the question must be asked: is it really worth the investment?
The answer is quite simple. Gutter guards are very worthy purchases. That said, you really have to make sure you get the best possible style to fit your home.
The Dangers Of Clogged Gutters
Gutters tend to get clogged up with twigs, leaves, and other debris quite quickly. A small amount of this type of obstruction is generally safe enough, but allowing them to pile up will only lead to bigger problems in the long run. Gutters with a lot of debris will naturally retain a lot of water. As such, the gutters themselves will begin to stress and strain under the additional weight. Ultimately, they may fall off of the home altogether.
An excess amount of debris can become problematic at any time, even if it seems your gutter mounts are holding on without maintenance. If water isn’t draining properly away from your house, plenty of issues are soon to follow. For instance, the water can pool on the roof and begin dripping inside. Further structural damage is only inevitable from there.
A blocked gutter can also freeze over in winter, especially in climates such as Chicago. Ice dams will form and begin pushing against the roof. The wood underneath the shingles is then prone to immense damage. The potential cost of repairs necessary in that scenario can reach truly burdensome heights.
Choosing The Right Gutter Guards
Leaf Guards are able to help you avoid a lot of these problems. You can install them and safely step back from regular maintenance. Their mere 
presence is also something of a cash saver in the long run since you’ll have less repairs to worry about. That said, not all guards are made with the same level of quality.
There are a lot of DIY options for gutter guards out there, particularly those made with foam and screen inserts. Guards of this nature fail to keep out the likes of flower buds, seed pods, and pine needles however. In many ways, it’s much better to utilize a professional installation service.
Professionally installed protection systems will be incredibly effective at keeping debris out of your gutters. Some of the systems even include a 100 percent clog-free promise. The Gutter Shutter Protection System is one of the primary examples.
Making Gutter Guards Fit The Aesthetic Of Your Home
There’s no doubting that professionally installed guards are the most effective in staving off clogs and ice dams. They also have the added bonus of not taking anything away from the curb appeal of your home. When installed, you can even make sure that the gutter protection system is designed with the overall architectural look of your home in mind.
The finish and color can both be whatever you happen to choose. You can choose to either make the gutters look like a naturally extension of the roof, or even accentuate them to stick out with contrasting colors. Many different shades, including standards such as black, red, brown, green, and silver are all in ready supply. You can also have guards custom built to best suit your tastes.
Of course, the best aspect of professional guard systems is their integrity. They’ll hold up to the weather and elements for many years to come after installation. When it comes to the choose to install gutter protection or not, it should be obvious that the former is the only acceptable option.
