We have previously looked at the various types of gutter guards on the market as well as the overall costs of each one, but we have yet to look at whether they are worth the investment and installing them to your property…
When looking at the effectiveness of gutter guards and deciding whether you should undertake the DIY project of installing them, it can be broken down into three key areas:
We have previously looked at the various types of gutter guards on the market as well as the overall costs of each one, but we have yet to look at whether they are worth the investment and installing them on your property.
When looking at the effectiveness of gutter guards and deciding whether you should undertake the DIY project of installing them, it can be broken down into three key areas:
1) Time
The time factor comes in two different aspects; the first being the time taken to install them on your property initially and then also the time it will help save you by reducing the number of times you have to climb a ladder to clean the guttering out.
There are many different options for gutter guards on the market, all of which come with varying requirements to install to your gutters. Some simply slot in and require very little fixings (if any), whilst others do take a little more time and care; however, every single option is suitable to be installed at home and do not require large amounts of DIY knowledge.
The biggest benefit to installing gutter guards on your property, though, is the time it saves you from needing to clean out gutters when they get blocked by dead leaves and other debris. If you have ever had to climb that ladder and empty out a blockage, you will not want to repeat that too often!
It is important to remember that no gutter guard solution offers complete protection against dirt and debris though and will still need to be emptied and cleaned at certain periods; however, the better the guard and the more care you take in installing it, the longer apart those periods will be.
2. Safety
Cleaning out your gutters is a dirty task, there is no denying that, but have you thought about how dangerous it could be? Every time you climb that ladder and don those gloves you are risking serious injury – every year, between 4-5,000 Australians are hospitalised after falling from a ladder, whilst on average 19 people are killed by a direct result of their injuries. That is a huge risk to be taking, so installing gutter guards will significantly reduce the number of times you need to clean your gutters out.
Of course, the safety improvements of installing gutter guards are not just in terms of the number of times you climb a ladder, though. If you live in an area prone to bushfires, installing a gutter guard specifically designed to protect against burning embers, known as an ember guard, can protect your home and family.
Made with non-combustible materials, these guards prevent burning embers from entering your gutter system or property and igniting flammable debris. This is a very real risk, with the majority of homes destroyed in a bush fire first igniting from a burning ember being carried by the wind.
Even if you do not live in an area likely to suffer from a bushfire, a well-installed gutter guard can protect your home and family. Leaving your gutters exposed to debris and the elements will eventually become blocked, resulting in water building up on your roof.
That stagnant water will cause harmful mold to grow on your property which can cause respiratory problems to young children and older family members. Pooled water does not just cause health problems, though; over time, that water can cause significant structural problems, too, from cracked walls to damaged foundations – which are very expensive to fix!
3. Money
Expense is the third area to think about when examining whether installing gutter guards on your property is worth it. One of the biggest factors that put homeowners off installation is the outright cost. Depending on the style you choose, fitting guards to your entire property can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars all the way up to a few thousand.
This is a huge cost for many people to pay out in one lump sum, which is why many choose not to do so. However, when you take the overall costs of hiring someone in to clean out your gutters each year, then it will only take a few years for the costs to become more than installing guards.
The biggest saving of installing guards, however, is the preventative factors it can provide. If your gutters do get blocked, the damage that the build-up of water can cause can run into huge costs to repair. From damaged foundations to rotting wood, these are problems that are not fixable through DIY methods and will require the skilled work of professionals.
Reckon you will be covered by insurance if something does go wrong? If you read the small print, then you will find that many home insurance companies do not cover damage caused by a blocked gutter!
When you do take these three factors into account, it is clear to see that installing a gutter guard is a worthwhile investment for any homeowner looking to protect their property and the safety of their family.
Whilst the outright cost can be high to begin with when you factor in the rising costs of the maintenance and potential repairs that not installing guards can cost, it is a worthwhile financial investment to make in your home.
You are able to reduce the costs of fitting and installing the gutter guards on your home by undertaking the task yourself. Here at Aussie DIY Solutions, our range of fitted mesh guards is specifically designed to be as simple and easy to install, without needing specialist skills or knowledge.
Capable of protecting your guttering system from dirt, debris and vermin entering it, our guards are made from high-quality aluminium so will not rust or be affected by sunlight and UV rays. To ensure fitment is as easy as possible, we will supply you with exact sizes for your property – so don’t wait around, protect your home today with Aussie DIY Solutions!
At Aussie DIY Solutions, we offer a wide range of gutter guards to suit every possible DIY budget. We provide gutter guard kits & ember guard kits for corrugated, tiled, trimdek® and Klip-Lok® roofs and kits for box gutters and roof valleys.
We also provide solar panel mesh for solar panel protection from birds.
