Servicing Cary, Apex & Holly Springs
......Since 2001
1103 Castalia Dr.
Cary, N.C.
919-201-2992
There are many types of gutters covers available at home stores and from other private companies. All have advantages and disadvantages, but none are perfect for every situation.
ALUMINUM:
There are two main types of these: flat/solid and curved mesh with hinges. The flat solid ones are 3ft. long, come plain or painted black, and have two clasps per section that secure them to the front lip of the gutter. They are the most expensive of all the home store types. Like any solid panel type of gutter cover they only allow a small amount of water through at the very front edge and therefore are not recc. for steep roofs with large surface areas due to the resulting cascading effect of water that shoots over the whole gutter cover during thunderstorms. They do, however, offer the advantage of long life (dependent only on damage due to limbs falling on them) if installed properly. They will need to be cleaned out underneath after several (3-5)years and this can be prolonged even further with installation of aluminum mesh crowns in the downspouts ($2/ea at home stores).
The curved mesh ones are hinged to flip back and clean out underneath....a slick idea, but there many problems with these types. They are inexpensive, but very visible from the ground. They tend to catch and hold a lot of debris and are very prone to wind. They blow off rather easily. Not my favorite type to install.
VINYL:
These come in solid or mesh form. The solid ones are the most expensive (about $1/ft), but last longer than the mesh type. Maybe 10+ yrs depending on roof pitch, heat, etc. They are a good choice for pine needle debris because the needles won't get stuck in them very easily. They have a small disadvantage in that they have 1/2" overhanging lip that protrudes out beyond the gutter edge that is visible from the ground. They come in an ivory color, but can be special ordered in a few other colors as well. Like any solid cover they are prone to cascading during thunderstorms due to the volume and speed of the water flow.
The mesh vinyl are the least expensive (35ct/ft) and come in white or dark brown. They are a better choice for non-pine debris situations. They also come with an additional fine screen layer attached as an option. (This is fairly new and appears so far to be the better of the two). The main difficulty with the mesh vinyl is that they tend to 'saddle' after only a short time. They can be turned upside down a couple times before they have to be discarded, but if you have a steep roof pitch and a lot of debris they can cave in within a couple years. There is also a 6ft long mesh vinyl guard available in some stores that has a soft lip that splits around the front lip of the gutter held only by gravity and pressure. These are easy to install but also tend to saddle in after a while.
COST:
Installation of gutter covers runs between $2.50 to $3.50 per foot, depending on the product selected and the number of corner cuts needed. This price also includes cleaning out gutters if done at time of installation. It also includes one free return visit the first year following installation for any adjustment or corrections needed including downspout unclogging. Installation of downspout crowns is $5 each including product when installed at time of this or any other service.