Does a LeafGuard Gutter System Work?

Owning a home inevitably comes with a list of responsibilities you’re required to oversee to ensure your property remains in good shape all year round. And while many homeowners tend to focus on the potential issues found throughout the interior of their homes, ensuring the features on the exterior of their property can be just as important. One key area of focus on the exterior of your home is your gutter system.

As you probably already know, your gutter system functions by collecting water when it rains and diverting it away from your property to help ensure your home is protected against water related damage. And while there are several types of gutter systems available for you to purchase, a popular one amongst homeowners is LeafGuard®. However, despite its popularity, you may be wondering, “Does a LeafGuard® gutter system work?” and “is it worth purchasing?”. 

Therefore, today we are going to provide you with a complete guide on the many features and benefits LeafGuard® gutters offer, so you can make an informed decision on whether this system is right for you. Keep reading below to learn more or book a free consultation with our gutter installers today!

Does a LeafGuard® gutter system work?

Before we get into how and why LeafGuard® gutters work, let’s go over some fundamental aspects of how these types of systems work. Generally speaking, if you were to look at the gutters that are currently installed on the exterior of your home, chances are you have open faced gutters.

An open faced gutter system is installed right below the edge of your roof horizontally and is attached to downspouts. Therefore, when it rains, the water drains from your roof, and into the open faced gutter channel before being diverted away from your home. And while this appears to be a sound system, open faced gutters have several downfalls. Let’s take a closer look at these below:

1. They May Allow for Clogging to Occur

Due to their open faced design, these types of gutters are prone to get clogged throughout the year as leaves, twigs, and other debris can easily fall into the gutter system. Over time, these clogs can become more serious as they may prevent water from draining away from your property. As a result, water can begin to pool, and you may run the risk of water leaking into your roof as well as into your basement, potentially causing flooding, staining, and other damage.

2. Non-Seamless System

While there are seamless open faced gutter systems available, some of them are pre-cut to specific lengths. This means that you would need to connect each piece together and then seal it in order for your gutters to work. While this doesn’t seem like such a big deal, the more seals you have throughout your gutter system, the more chance you have of leaks occurring, should the sealant begin to detach.

3. They Often Require More Maintenance

As previously mentioned, open faced gutters are often prone to clogging and leaks. Therefore, they may require more maintenance throughout the year in order to function properly. While you may be able to tackle this maintenance work yourself, it can be dangerous and time consuming. Therefore, you may have to hire a professional gutter company to maintain them, which of course, can be costly.

4. Not Ideal for Heavy Rain 

Moreover, due to their design, open faced gutters can have difficulties draining water during heavy rainfall. As a result, the water may spill over the edges of your gutter system and pool in areas that it is not supposed to. Thus, leaving your home vulnerable to water damage.  

Gutter Guards

Homeowners also have the option to install gutter guards onto their open faced gutters. These guards come in various different styles, and act like a shield to help prevent your gutters from clogging throughout the year, to help water drain properly. However, because these features are secondary add-ons, they don’t guarantee that debris won’t fall into your gutter system, and they can cause damage to your home if they are not installed properly. Therefore, this is something to keep in mind if you are looking to upgrade your gutter system on your home. 

LeafGuard® Gutters Systems

Keeping these disadvantages in mind, LeafGuard® gutters are a patented one-piece gutter system designed to keep debris from falling into your gutters when it rains to help protect your home from water damage. Using a scientific liquid adhesion principle, rainwater that drains from your roof is forced to adhere to the top of the LeafGuard® gutter system before smoothly draining into your gutter channel below in a controlled manner.

Furthermore, LeafGuard® gutters are guaranteed not to clog. This innovative design also prevents you from having to maintain your gutter system throughout the year, which not only saves you time, but also saves you the trouble of hiring a professional company to help clear out your gutters. Moreover, unlike some traditional gutter systems, LeafGuard® gutters are made from a seamless design that is measured to the unique dimensions of your home, which means you are also protected against leaking and dripping water at connecting pieces.

Are LeafGuard® gutters worth it?

While there are several aspects to LeafGuard® gutters that may appear advantageous, we understand that some things just seem too good to be true. Therefore, if you are on the fence about whether purchasing LeafGuard® gutters for your home is a good decision, here are some more benefits that you can experience as a homeowner when installing these types of gutters onto your home, that you may not be aware of. Take a closer look down below.

LeafGuard® Gutters are Durably Built

Unlike other gutters available on the market, LeafGuard® gutters are built using a durable aluminum that is 20% thicker than industry standards. In addition, LeafGuard® gutter downspouts are 30% larger than other gutters available which allows them to withstand heavy rainfall without overflowing.

Heavy-Duty Paint

Another benefit of LeafGuard® gutters is that they are made using a heavy-duty paint that is guaranteed not to crack, peel, rot, or rust. This way, you can maintain the curbside appeal of your home without having to replace or touch them up in the future.

Fully Customizable

LeafGuard® gutters are fully customizable to your home. From the length of each piece to the color you choose your gutters to be painted in, each customization allows you to pick and choose a final design that will blend well with your existing exterior design.

Easy to Install

The installation process is easy and efficient - LeafGuard® gutter installations are often completed within a day, which allows you to get back to your daily routine without further renovation disruptions.

Save Money in the Long Run

Furthermore, LeafGuard® gutters are an investment for your home that may end up saving you money in the long run. Not only does a new gutter system help increase your home’s overall property value, but LeafGuard® gutters require no maintenance throughout their lifespan. Therefore, you can save money on hiring a professional cleaning and replacement company. 

More Stability Throughout Your Gutter System

Lastly, while traditional gutter systems are often supported every couple of feet with hardware, LeafGuard® gutters are reinforced every two feet, which is twice the industry standard. This not only helps ensure that your gutter system will be able to handle heavy amounts of water that is collected, but it also helps prevent your system from detaching from your home as a result of water weight and high winds. 

Does LeafGuard work in heavy rain?

While a gutter system may be less important in areas of the United States that don’t receive heavy amounts of rain, in states that do, having a durable gutter system can be important. And luckily, LeafGuard® gutters can handle up to 32 inches of rain per hour, which is three times the amount of the heaviest rainfall that has ever been recorded within the United States.

As a result, you can help protect your home from water related damage including:

• Erosion and flooding of your landscaping
• Leaks in the upper levels of your home
• The growth of mold, mildew, and rust
• Flooding in your basement
• Rotting of your home
• Insect and pest infestations
• Staining on the sides of your home 

Not only can these types of water damage put the health and safety of you and your family at risk, but it can also require you to be displaced from your home for long periods of time, should your home need extensive renovations. Therefore, when looking to update your gutter system, it is important to consider all of the potential problems you may face when installing a specific gutter system onto your home.

How long do gutters typically last?

When looking at the lifespan of traditional gutter systems, homeowners can expect them to last on average between 20-30 years. However, keep in mind that this lifespan can vary depending on how well you maintain your gutter system throughout the years. Something to remember when considering installing LeafGuard® gutters is that they are built with quality and durability in mind, which is evidenced by the strong and durable aluminum used, as well as the crack, peel and chip-free paint.  

What size are LeafGuard gutters?

Moreover, as we mentioned earlier, LeafGuard® gutter systems are a form of seamless gutter system that is fully customizable to the dimensions of your home. Therefore, upon consulting with the professional contracting team that will install the LeafGuard® gutter system, they will measure the exact specifications of your home to ensure a precise end result.

How to Tell Your Gutter System Needs Replacing

Unlike other features in and around your home, your gutter system is something you may forget about due to its placement on the exterior of your home. That is until a problem occurs that may result in potential damage to your home. With that being said, there are several signs that homeowners can look out for to help determine whether it is time to seek out the help of a professional gutter installation company to replace their current gutters. It is important to pay attention to potential warning signs to help prevent your home from experiencing water damage. Therefore, the next time it is raining in your area, take a look outside and see if you notice any of the following gutter problems that may be occurring:

1. Your Gutter System May Have Holes

If you notice water leaking throughout your gutter system, it may be because they have holes in them. This can happen over time as the metal can begin to corrode and crack due to weather conditions. Ultimately, this can end up causing them to drip water and not drain properly from the downspouts and away from your home. Further, while smaller holes throughout your gutter system can be patched up using a sealant, if you notice any larger ones or cracks you may want to consider replacing your gutters altogether to help avoid any further damage.

2. Your Gutter Hangers Have Become Loose Overtime

Furthermore, most gutter systems are installed and secured using heavy duty hardware to help ensure they do not shift over the years. However, if they have not been installed properly, have become loose due to the weight of collected water, or have detached during severe weather conditions, then you may notice detachment of your gutter system along your home and damage to the surrounding area. When this happens, the rainwater can spill over the edges of your gutters and drip into your property, potentially causing flooding in your basement and water leaks on the upper levels of your home.

3. The Joints of the Gutters are Loose or Improperly Sealed

As we said, not all gutter systems are seamless even though when fully installed, they may appear to be. In reality, each piece of your gutter may be connected and sealed using a heavy-duty, water resistance solution. However, overtime, these connecting joints can separate, especially in the corners where your gutters connect to the downspout features. On the other hand, they may have been improperly sealed during the installation process which can also lead to water leaking.

4. Your Gutters Have an Incorrect Slope

Although it can be hard to tell, your gutters should be placed at a natural downward slope to make sure the water is able to drain into the downspouts. However, your gutters may become prone to sagging over time, especially when they collect water causing the direction of the gutters to shift and spill over the sides rather than drain. Therefore, if you see pooling occurring, your gutter angle may be off and need adjusting or replacing.

Final thoughts on LeafGuard® Gutter Systems 

As you can see, there are several benefits to purchasing a LeafGuard® gutter system for your home that may not be offered by traditional gutter replacement companies. Therefore, if you are contemplating installing new gutters onto your home, the expert team at Local Home Pro and our trusted contractors are ready to help you upgrade your system. Book a free consultation with us today and have the peace of mind knowing your home is protected from heavy rainfall with the help of LeafGuard® gutters.