Choose gutters for your home
.eeping water away from the foundation of your home is essential, as standing water can cause severe damage to your house. A quality gutter system can divert water away from the foundation. Gutters consist of several types of materials, including plastic, aluminum, copper and steel. Each material has advantages and disadvantages, so examine each choice carefully before making a final decision. Bradley Wright of LeafGuard of Arkansas, a local company that has been installing LeafGuard in Arkansas for 18 years, said, “When choosing gutters for your home, it is important to consider why you need them so you choose the appropriate gutter that will work for your home.” The most inexpensive and lightweight choice is plastic gutters, and they are often DIY and easy to install. Plastic gutters, however, do not hold up as well as other materials would in extreme conditions and could more frequently need maintenance or replacements. Wright said aluminum gutters are the most common type of gutter in Arkansas. These gutters are normally made on-site to fit the length of your home, and the profile and size should be enough to capture your roof water so it can be directed away from the home. Copper gutters not only give a more attractive appearance; they are also stronger than other materials and have a tendency to carry water better. However, copper gutters can be expensive and require regular upkeep. If left untreated, the material can dull with age. Steel can withstand a variety of extreme weather conditions that could be detrimental to other materials. However, as a result of the fact that steel gutters are not seamless and require a lot of maintenance, they are no longer used on residential structures, but rather on commercial and industrial structures. Without proper maintenance, steel gutters will look unsightly and become porous and ineffective because of steel’s tendency to rust. “If you have trees or bushes that are causing more than water to come off your roof, then you must either clean out your gutters regularly or consider a cover to keep debris out of your gutters,” Wright said. Covers come in a variety of options that are customizable to your home and attach to the top of existing gutters. The screens that cover the gutter come in plastic, aluminum, steel and combination material, and can be DIY or installed professionally. LeafGuard of Arkansas provides a cover that is based on the principle of liquid adhesion, or a reverse-curve cover, that allows water to flow through the gutter while leaves fall to the ground. “LeafGuard is a one-piece reverse-curve system that is made onsite in custom lengths and professionally installed,” Wright said, adding that it is the only one-piece shedding gutter on the market. “The LeafGuard Gutter System also has high load-supporting brackets, wider outlets and oversized downspouts,” he said. LeafGuard comes in several colors to complement your home, along with additional customizable options for your gutter system. The LeafGuard gutter system has a Lifetime No Clog Warranty and Limited Life Paint Warranty. For more information on LeafGuard of Arkansas, visit leafguardandmore.com.