Gutters are an important part of your home’s drainage system, directing rainwater away from the roof and foundation to prevent water damage. However, traditional gutters can become clogged with leaves, twigs, and debris, leading to blockages, leaks, and overflow.
To combat this, many homeowners are turning to gutter guards, which are designed to keep debris out while allowing water to flow freely through the gutters. At Noble Roofing, we install gutter guards to help our clients save time, reducing the need for frequent gutter cleaning.
But if you’re here, you’re probably wondering how much time do gutter guards actually save you when it comes to maintenance. We don’t shy away from this question and want to give you an objective viewpoint on the value of gutter guards. In this blog, we’ll explore how gutter guards can cut down on cleaning time, reduce the frequency of repairs, and help you keep your gutters functioning properly with less hassle.
What Are Gutter Guards?
Gutter guards are protective coverings or screens installed over gutters to prevent debris, such as leaves, twigs, and dirt, from entering while still allowing rainwater to flow freely through the system. They come in various styles and materials, including mesh, foam, and solid covers, and are designed to reduce the frequency of gutter cleaning by keeping gutters clear and reducing the risk of clogs, overflow, and water damage. By minimizing the buildup of debris, gutter guards help extend the life of your gutters, prevent leaks, and reduce maintenance time and costs.
Why Homeowners Install Gutter Guards
One of the primary reasons homeowners install gutter guards is to reduce the need for frequent gutter cleaning. Without gutter guards, you’re likely faced with the chore of cleaning your gutters at least twice a year—typically in the spring and fall, when leaves are falling or accumulating. For homes surrounded by trees, you might find yourself cleaning the gutters more often, sometimes even multiple times per season… which can be a huge pain.
How Much Time Do Gutter Guards Save Homeowners?
Without Gutter Guards: Cleaning your gutters by hand can take several hours, depending on the size of your home. You’ll need a ladder, gloves, a scoop or trowel, and a bucket or tarp for debris disposal. For a typical 2,000- to 3,000-square-foot home, gutter cleaning can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours per cleaning session.
With Gutter Guards: With the guards in place, the need for cleaning is significantly reduced. While you’ll still need to inspect the gutters and occasionally remove any small debris that might accumulate on top of the guards, cleaning takes far less time. In many cases, homeowners with gutter guards only need to clean them once every 2 to 3 years—a massive time savings.
By cutting out the regular need to climb ladders and clean your gutters, you could save several hours of maintenance time each year. And for those who have difficulty with ladders or prefer to avoid the risk of injury, gutter guards can provide peace of mind.
How Much Do Gutter Guards Typically Cost?
Different types of gutter guards have different material and installation costs. These total costs also increase or decrease according to the linear feet you need and how complicated the installation may be.
- Plastic screen: Material costs between $0.40–$1 per linear foot, and labor costs between $50–$200.
- Steel screen: Material costs between $1.50–$3.50 per linear foot, and labor costs between $800–$1,500.
- Reverse curve: Material costs between $3.50–$6.50 per linear foot, and labor costs between $1,000–$5,000.
- Micro-mesh: Material costs between $2–$4 per linear foot, and labor costs between $900–$2,000.
Other Advantages of Gutter Guards
1. Less Risk of Clogs and Overflow
Since gutter guards protect your gutters against most debris, they don’t just save you time cleaning—they also save time by preventing bigger problems like clogs and overflow. Clogged gutters can lead to water damage, rotting fascia, and even foundation issues. Without gutter guards, you’ll spend more time fixing these problems, which often require professional help. Let’s recap:
- Clog Prevention: Gutter guards keep leaves, twigs, and other debris from accumulating in the gutters, reducing the likelihood of clogs. This means there’s less chance of water overflowing and causing damage to your home’s siding, foundation, or landscaping.
- Maintenance Savings: The time you save on cleaning your gutters can be used for other home improvement projects, and it reduces the amount of time you’ll spend on costly repairs to your roof, siding, or foundation due to water damage from clogged gutters.
2. Fewer Repairs and Replacements
Standard gutters that aren’t regularly cleaned can quickly wear out or become damaged due to water pooling, rust, or the weight of trapped debris. In extreme cases, clogged gutters can weigh down and detach from the home, causing significant structural issues. If this happens, you’ll need to invest time and money in repairs or even replacing the gutters altogether. So, with a gutter guard installation, fewer repairs lead to:
- Longer Gutter Life: Gutter guards reduce the strain on your gutters, helping them last longer. With fewer clogs, less weight, and less water damage, your gutters will likely last for several extra years, saving you time and money on replacements.
- Preventing Water Damage: The longer gutters can function without issue, the less likely you are to encounter issues that require immediate attention, such as water damage to the foundation, landscaping, or interior of your home. Avoiding these types of repairs can save you a significant amount of time.
3. Easier Maintenance and Inspection
Even with gutter guards installed, you have far less risk of clogs or damage, but it’s still important to occasionally check that your gutters are in good condition. Since gutter guards simplify the maintenance and inspection process, your yearly checkups can be a lot simpler.
- Quick Inspections: With gutter guards, you don’t have to remove debris from the gutters to see if there’s a problem. You can simply check the surface of the guard and remove any larger debris that may have built up. In most cases, this inspection will take just 15 to 30 minutes compared to the hours spent cleaning gutters without guards.
- Reduced Gutter Damage: Since gutter guards prevent most debris from getting into the gutters, you’re less likely to encounter issues such as rust, mold, or mildew buildup, which can create further cleaning or maintenance challenges. This translates to less overall time spent on upkeep.
4. Time Saved from Hiring Professionals
Many homeowners hire professional cleaning services to take care of their gutters, especially if they’re not comfortable doing it themselves (e.g. you have a two-story house and lack the safety equipment or know-how to do the cleaning safely). The cost of hiring a professional cleaning service can add up quickly, and the time spent coordinating with the contractor, waiting for them to arrive, and overseeing the work can be a hassle.
- Cost Savings: Gutter cleaning services typically cost between $100 to $300 per cleaning, depending on the size of your home and the complexity of the job. With gutter guards, you can reduce the need for professional cleaning, saving both time and money.
- Reduced Contractor Visits: While a gutter guard system might still need some professional attention (especially if it requires cleaning or repairs), you’ll save time by reducing the frequency of those visits. Instead of dealing with seasonal scheduling conflicts or waiting for a technician to arrive, you’ll only need to call a pro every few years.
5. The Long-Term Benefits of Saving Time on Cleaning Gutters
Over the years, the time saved from not having to clean your gutters as frequently or deal with damage repairs adds up. Let’s look at the big picture:
- Annual Savings: If you save around 3 hours per year by not having to clean your gutters, and over the course of 10 years that adds up to 30 hours of time saved—essentially the equivalent of almost 1 full workweek. Over the lifespan of your home, this time savings can be significant. If you live in a wooded area, cleaning can happen twice a year, equating to at least saving 2 full work weeks of labor after a decade.
- Sanity Savings: Imagine not needing to pull out your ladder and DIY gutter cleaning equipment every 6 months to a year, postponing fun weekend plans so you can clean your gutters. Sounds good to us!
- Spend Your Energy on Other Things: Instead of spending your weekends on gutter cleaning (or paying for it), you can focus on other home improvement projects, leisure activities, or quality time with family and friends. The reduction in gutter maintenance time is a big win for your overall work-life balance.
Gutter Guards in Northern Virginia
While the initial cost of installing gutter guards might seem like an investment, the time saved on gutter maintenance and the reduced risk of damage to your home make them well worth the cost. In addition to cutting down on the frequency of gutter cleaning, gutter guards can extend the life of your gutters, reduce the likelihood of water damage, and even eliminate the need for professional cleaning services.
When you consider the time you’ll save on cleaning, repairs, and replacements, gutter guards can save you hours, days, and even weeks of work over the lifespan of your home. If you value your time and want to reduce the hassle of gutter maintenance, gutter guards are a smart investment that will pay off for years to come.
