Gutters are important to your home’s health in diverting rainwater away from your home’s foundation. A few gutter accessories can assist in this process such as preventing debris from clogging, water from overflowing and pests from invading. Today we will focus on a gutter accessory that helps prevent overflowing water from damaging your home.
What Are Splash Guards?
Splash guards are strong strips of metal connected to a gutter and used to prevent the overspill of rainwater from your gutters. These splash guards can run straight along the length of gutters or on the corners of gutters where there is a higher chance of water spilling over the side. Corner splashes seem to be the most effective and budget-friendly option for homeowners.
Pros and Cons of Splash Guards
A benefit of splash guards is that they can help prevent damage to the roof, foundation, landscape and siding of the home. These splash guards are inexpensive, can be DIY’d and fitted to your gutters. Although splash guards seem like a great option, there are cons to keep in mind. Splash guards are not 100% effective at preventing overflow and do not provide full protection. In addition, splash guards do not block debris.
Signs You Need Splash Guards
Overflow signs are not always obvious and you can’t always notice when you need splash guards. If you can, safely observe your gutters during the next heavy rainfall to determine if you will need splash guards.
Overflowing Gutters
Overflowing gutters are a sign that you need splash guards but determine first if this is happening because of debris clogging your system. If debris is clogging your system, then you may want to consider gutter guards instead. Another sign that you need splash guards could be puddles or a muddy patch underneath your gutters.
Gutter Damage
Gutter sagging or damage to your gutter may signal that a part of your gutters is overflowing with more water than it can handle. If you see signs of gutter sagging or damage, it may mean that you need new gutters before installing splash guards.
Roof and Foundation Leaks
If your gutters are overflowing and leaking, they may get backed up and cause damage to your roof. Backed-up water can damage sealant and seep through your roof. In addition, overflowing water then leaks onto the ground around your home. This can lead to puddles and muddy patches that can cause erosion, shifting, cracking and leaking of your foundation and basement.
Splash guards are a very effective way to prevent overspill and overflowing water from damaging your home and landscape. This gutter guard accessory can be installed professionally or on your own. There are a few pros and cons to weigh before installing, but you cannot go wrong with this home upgrade at a very inexpensive price.
