Gutter Leaf Guard Installation Is Often Attempted DIY. Here’s Why You Should Reconsider
For many homeowners, gutter leaf guard installation is a project that is frequently tackled as a DIY undertaking. Unfortunately, as our team at River City Gutters can attest from fixing faulty DIY installations, this is not always a wise decision—and can often result in subpar results at best or costly mistakes at worst.
As leading gutter contractors in San Antonio, our team at River City Gutters provides expert leaf guard installation to ensure your gutters keep working and rainwater continues to flow as it should. While seemingly straightforward to install, leaf guards still require skill and practice to ensure a proper fit and to maximize performance. Here are our top reasons why gutter leaf guard installation should not be attempted DIY.
Installation Quality
Even for homeowners who manage to install leaf guards, the quality is not likely to measure up to what a professional gutter contractor could provide. In addition, depending on the leaf guards you’re attempting to install, specialized equipment may be required, without which the installation is unlikely to last.
On the other hand, working with limited resources can also limit which types of leaf guards you’re able to install. At River City Gutters, on the other hand, we work with a wide variety of products as the right leaf guards depend on your home’s drainage system.
Cost Savings
Subpar installation is one thing—but making a major mistake is another. For those less experienced at working on or around gutter systems, mistakes are far more likely—and damaging your gutter system can prove very costly, depending on the extent of the problem.
While completing a DIY project is often done to save money, the reality is that homeowners risk spending more money in the event that a mistake compromises their gutter system. Damaging your gutters could necessitate repairs—or, if you leave damage unaddressed, it could threaten areas of your roof or your siding.
Safety
Any work involving your gutters requires proper safety protocols to minimize risks. This includes equipment requirements, exercising proper ladder safety protocols, and protecting those in and around your home.
Professional gutter contractors must follow these protocols on a daily basis and will therefore be able to complete your gutter leaf guard installation with minimal risks to yourself or others.
Warranty Protection
Completing a DIY project on your gutters could void warranty protections that may otherwise be protecting your gutters.
For example, many gutter installation professionals will provide a workmanship warranty. However, if you damage your gutters yourself, that warranty protection will no longer apply. The same goes for product and manufacturer warranties, which may still be in effect for your gutters or areas of your home such as your siding or roof.
If any damage is done to these areas of your home due to your own actions, the warranty will not provide coverage for needed repairs—and the same goes for your homeowner’s insurance, as well.
Convenience
Lastly, if none of the above reasons are convincing, the convenience of hiring a professional is difficult to beat. If you’re attempting leaf guard installation yourself, you’ll need to acquire all the necessary products, tools, and equipment; prepare your gutters; resize and cut the leaf guards as needed; install the leaf guards; and clean up the entire work area around your home.
If you’re working alone, this could take several hours or even multiple days to complete, depending on the size of your home.
A contractor, on the other hand, will typically be able to complete a full leaf guard installation covering your entire gutter system within a day.
Don’t DIY! Call River City Gutters for Expert Gutter Leaf Guard Installation
Leaf guards can be a smart addition to many gutter systems, providing protection against debris such as dirt and leaves that may otherwise impede the flow of rainwater through your home’s drainage system.
However, while many leaf guard products may seem straightforward to install, you’ll get much better performance—and save a lot of time—by working with a professional.
If you’re interested in minimizing gutter maintenance demands with new leaf guards, reach out to the River City Gutters team for a quote!
