If you’re looking for a maintenance-free, dependable gutter guard material that works in a variety of weather conditions, we recommend that you don’t settle for foam gutter guards. They can create more work for you rather than relieving you of home exterior maintenance.
Read on to discover why foam gutter guards are not worth it, and what material you should look for instead to ensure you get the long-term, high performance you desire out of your gutter guards.
Foam Gutter Guards 101
Gutter guards were designed to simplify your home maintenance. They should keep debris out of your gutters so they can do their important job of channeling water away from your house. Gutter guards allow you to bypass the risks of climbing a ladder and cleaning out your gutters twice a year.
When gutter guards are made of a spongy material—like foam gutter guards are—they are unable to endure the elements 24/7 or perform their job of keeping debris out of your gutters.
The Problem with Foam Gutter Guards
They Don’t Last
When you add gutter guards to your gutter system, they should give you peace of mind that your gutters will remain in good working order because they are well shielded from unwanted leaves and debris that could clog them. That’s not the case if you choose foam gutter guards.
Foam gutter guards are made of light, flexible material, so they won’t stand up to the elements like other materials. In fact, foam gutter guards start to break down after only a couple of years. They can even start to crack and shrink due to UV exposure after one summer. That’s not worth it.
Freezing Temps Are Tough on Them
Chicago’s freezing temperatures are hard on foam gutter guards. If you don’t remove them during cold winter months, they can freeze and expand in your gutters. Then once spring arrives, they provide optimal conditions for weeds and mold to thrive in.
They Can’t Keep Up With a Downpour
Foam gutter guards may be porous, but they don’t allow water to filter through them as easily as other gutter guard materials (like aluminum). The result? They are faulty during heavy rains because they can’t keep up.
Small Debris Can Slip Through Them
The purpose of gutter guards is to keep debris out of your gutters. Foam gutter guards are made to keep large debris out of gutters, but small things like pine needles or asphalt granules may slip through them. Their openings are small and can get clogged over time.
They Offer Inviting Conditions for Pests and Mold
When water accumulates in foam gutter guards, it can set them up as an ideal breeding ground for unwanted pests like mosquitoes. Mold, mildew, and fungus may also thrive in moist foam gutter guards.
They Are Tough to Clean
When you have gutter guards installed, they should decrease your home exterior’s maintenance. Not so with foam gutter guards. They need to be cleaned periodically, and it’s not an easy task. It’s tough to remove small debris from their tiny cells, causing frustration and motivation to find a gutter guard made of something more practical.
They Tend to Lose Their Shape
Flexible foam gutter guards can be removed to clean them. But their flexibility can cause them to weaken over time. When you clean them, they lose their shape and don’t fit into your gutters as well as they did when they were new. This means they can no longer do their job of keeping leaves and debris out of your gutters so water can flow through them and be channeled away from your home.
Get Durable, Long-Lasting Gutter Guards Installed by Our Experienced Team
Now that you know the downside to foam gutter guards, it’s easy to see that it’s a better long-term investment to contact a reputable contractor (like us!) and have top quality gutter guards that will last installed. At LeafCo Gutters, we offer premium, long-lasting Shur Flo Gutter Guards, which mounts directly to 5” or 6” gutters and comes with a 20-year warranty, giving you peace of mind in their durability.
Made of aluminum that will never rust, rot, or distort, these gutter guards allow water to drain through your system at a high volume while keeping debris out of them. Learn more about how you can protect your home from water intrusion with gutter guard installation by our expert team.
