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Why You Need Gutters That Work: Protecting Your Home from Hidden Dangers

2024-08-26T00:00:00.05Z

Gutters. They’re one of those parts of your home that you probably don’t think about until something goes wrong. Out of sight, out of mind, right? But here’s the thing—gutters play a critical role in protecting your home from all kinds of nasty problems. If they’re not working properly, you could be in for a world of hurt (and a hefty repair bill). So, let’s dive into why you need gutters that work and why keeping them clear and functioning should be at the top of your home maintenance to-do list.

The Unsung Heroes of Your Home

Let’s start with the basics. Gutters are designed to channel rainwater away from your home’s foundation, roof, and walls. Sounds simple enough, but the reality is that this straightforward task is crucial for maintaining the structural integrity of your home. When gutters are clogged or damaged, they can’t do their job, and that’s when things start to go south.

Think about it this way: if you had a pipe carrying water away from your home, and that pipe got blocked, the water would have to go somewhere, right? It might pool around your foundation, seep into your basement, or even cause your roof to leak. Your gutters are that pipe, and when they’re not working, water becomes your home’s worst enemy.

Foundation Woes: The Cracks Beneath Your Feet

Water pooling around your foundation is a recipe for disaster. Over time, this can cause the soil around your home to expand and contract, leading to cracks in your foundation. And once those cracks appear, water can find its way inside, causing even more damage.

Imagine waking up to find your basement flooded after a heavy rainstorm, all because your gutters weren’t doing their job. It’s not just an inconvenience; it’s a costly repair that could have been avoided with a little routine maintenance.

Roof Damage: A Hidden Threat Above

Your roof is another area that can suffer when your gutters aren’t functioning properly. When water backs up because of clogged gutters, it can start to seep under your shingles, leading to rot and mold growth. This not only shortens the lifespan of your roof but can also create unhealthy living conditions inside your home.

Roof repairs or, worse, a full roof replacement is one of the most expensive home maintenance costs you can face. And guess what? A lot of these issues can be traced back to poor gutter maintenance. So, if you’re looking to save money and avoid the headache of a leaky roof, keeping your gutters clear should be a priority.

Landscape Destruction: The Cost of Neglect

You’ve probably invested a lot of time and money into your landscaping, so the last thing you want is for it to be destroyed by something as avoidable as overflowing gutters. When gutters aren’t working properly, water can spill over the sides, causing soil erosion, ruining flower beds, and even washing away mulch. It’s like watching your hard work get flushed down the drain—literally.

Plus, all that water runoff can create pools of standing water, which are a magnet for mosquitoes and other pests. No one wants to deal with a mosquito infestation, especially when it’s preventable.

Ice Dams: A Winter Nightmare

For those of us living in colder climates, winter brings its own set of gutter-related problems. When gutters are clogged, they can cause ice dams to form. These are ridges of ice that prevent melting snow from draining off your roof. The result? Water backing up under your shingles, leading to leaks, water damage, and even structural issues.

Ice dams are not just a minor inconvenience—they can cause significant damage to your home, and the repairs are not cheap. By ensuring your gutters are clear before the first snowfall, you can avoid this winter nightmare altogether.

Pest Invasion: An Unwanted Guest List

Clogged gutters are like a five-star hotel for pests. The damp, decaying debris that accumulates in them is an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes, birds, rodents, and even snakes. Once they’ve set up shop in your gutters, it’s only a matter of time before they start looking for ways into your home.

Keeping your gutters clean and clear is one of the simplest ways to prevent these unwelcome guests from moving in. After all, who wants to deal with a rodent infestation on top of everything else?

Conclusion: Gutters That Work, So You Don’t Have To

At the end of the day, gutters that work aren’t just a “nice to have”—they’re a necessity for protecting your home from a wide range of issues. From foundation damage to roof leaks, landscaping woes to pest invasions, the problems caused by malfunctioning gutters are real, and they’re expensive to fix.

The good news? These issues are largely preventable. By ensuring your gutters are clean, clear, and functioning properly, you’re taking a proactive step to safeguard your home. So, don’t wait until you’re dealing with a flooded basement or a leaky roof. Give your gutters the attention they deserve, and they’ll repay you by keeping your home safe, sound, and dry.

GutterShutter Review

2019-04-29T00:00:00.05Z

GutterShutter Review. Gutter Shutter has all of the aspects one would expect from a quality Gutter Protection System. This gutter guards on houses in Chicago, Illinois system uses reverse curve technology where water follows the nose of the hood section, and leaves and debris can’t get inside. The materials used are of the utmost quality, heavy-duty aluminum, nylon brackets secured with substantial wood screws, oversized downspouts, and more.

Gutter Shutter comes in a true 5″ and an over-sized 6″ version to handle all types of roofs and roof pitches. One of the unique features of the Gutter Shutter is that, unlike other full replacement systems, it looks like a regular K-style gutter so it won’t appear strange on a home.

Gutter Shutter is the Best Choice. No other Gutter Guard system in Chicago offers more strength, more capacity, and more curb appeal for an economical price than Gutter Shutter!

Gutter Shutter is fully supported with a virtually unbreakable nylon bracketing system and is made from the thickest gauge aluminum that can be extruded through a gutter-forming machine. It comes in both a large 5″ version and is the only full gutter protection system that also comes in a super high capacity 6″ version.

The Gutter Shutter is fascia mounted and does not attached to your roof, which means it won’t damage your roof and you can even replace your roof without removing the Gutter Shutter System.

The Gutter Shutter looks like crown molding on your home and maintains the same attractive look that traditional gutter provide.

Best of All, Gutter Shutter is provided to the Chicago area by Innovative Home Concepts…No big TV Ad budget, no huge overhead expenses, no royalty fees added into the price…so you save!

Get the best Gutter Guards on your house for the best value! Have Questions give us a call or check out our GutterShutter FAQ section.

Leaf Guard Chicago Review

2019-04-29T00:00:00.05Z

Leaf guard appears to be the most expensive gutter protection system available. You have to give Leaf Guard some credit; they were a pioneer in the gutter protection industry, but their design hasn’t Leaf Guard gutter system changed much and was a great idea about 15 years ago.

The trough of this system is unsupported and can sag. The sagging can let debris into the system and can lead to an uneven, unsightly opening to the front of the gutter. The brackets for this system are the weakest of the big three full replacement systems. The trough of this product is undersized at 4 1/2 inches (measuring diagonally doesn’t count). With that little hood can it handle the rain in Chicago? And finally, the weird appearance of the leaf guard system is outdated and a poor choice for any home.

It is really hard to justify their super high prices, other than maybe to cover their huge Chicago television commercial budget.

Gutter Covers Review

2019-04-29T00:00:00.05Z

Gutter covers screwed into your roof and are weak. So many covers, so little time! All of them work the same, they attach to a regular gutter and go under your shingles. Gutter covers screwed into the roof are bad.

Nailing or screwing a gutter cover under your shingles is a terrible idea unless you like leaky roofs and water damage in your living room.

Regular gutters are pretty weak, so attaching a cover to them is like building a house on a foundation of sand instead of concrete. Plus, most of these systems are made from thin metal stock that dents and caves in easily.

This product may also affect or void your roof’s warranty.

Micro Mesh Gutter Screens

2019-04-29T00:00:00.05Z

Micro mesh screens clog. The creators of this gutter protection system thought they could reinvent a micro-mesh gutter screen mouse trap that never worked in the first place. Just because you make the holes smaller doesn’t mean they won’t clog. Roof granules, decaying leaves, pine needles, tree sap, and more all clog those little micro mesh screen openings. Plus, these screens can be extremely expensive.

Examples of these types of screens include:

Gutter Glove
Gutter Dome
Master Shield
Leaf Filter

Leaf Filter Review

2019-04-29T00:00:00.05Z

Leaf filter gutter guards are a member of the micro mesh / leaffilter screen category. They are inserts that go on your existing gutters or on a new gutter installation.

Of course like other micro screens, they guarantee that your gutter will notleaffiter gutter guards screens clog. What they don’t tell you is, of course, your gutters aren’t going to clog; the screen will clog long before that. Micromesh screens need to be cleaned off multiple times a year, depending on your tree cover and tree type.

Another issue with leaf filter is the fact that the frame that holds the screen is made of plastic. Other screen products have a thick aluminum frame, which gives them at least a little redeeming value. Leaffilter has a vinyl frame that doesn’t seem to be very sturdy. Over time, with repeated snow, ice, hot weather, and cold weather cycles vinyl breaks downs, weakens, and eventually fails.

Big Box Store Plastic Screens Review

2019-04-29T00:00:00.05Z

Big box gutter screens don’t work. Everyone has tried them, and everyone gets the same results…clogged gutters and clogged plastic screens.

The problem with plastic screens is they let debris into your gutters. Worse yet, the screens themselves clog! So, to clean your gutters, you need to remove the screens, clean the screens, clean your gutters, and then, to continue the insanity, put the screens back on your gutters. In essence, creating twice as much work for yourself!

These types of screens also have a tendency to blow out during heavy wind storms.

Plastic big box store gutter screens are definitely not worth the time or money they take to install and maintain.

Gutter Foam, Gutter Brush, Gutter Worm Review

2019-04-29T00:00:00.05Z

Gimmicky products are a complete waste of money. They may seem like the most economical gutter sponge-clogged choice, but they are actually cheap and don’t work.

Sticking in your gutters tubes with holes in it, huge pipe cleaners, foam wedges that become clogged and brittle over time all are temperory solutions for a permanent problem.

You’d be better off doing nothing than using these gutter protection money wasters!

Gutter Shutter Review

2019-02-15T00:00:00.05Z

Gutters that, more often than not, overflow or leak when there’s rain subject your home to water damage that can result in costly repairs. Investing in a quality clog-free gutter system is the smartest choice to protect the structural integrity of your home’s foundation. Well, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to gutter systems, and one of the popular options you’ll find on the market place today is the GutterShutter.

If you’re looking for a GutterShutter review to make an informed decision, then you have certainly come to the right site.

Introducing the Amazing Innovative GutterShutter System

GutterShutter is an advanced gutter protection system, which is designed to keep your gutter clear of leaves and debris for as long as the structure exists. The system is uniquely attached to the fascia board, ensuring it stays firmly in place and withstands any weather conditions. This could mean reduced risk, as you will no longer need to climb a ladder regularly to clean out the clogged gutters if you live in a neighborhood with lots of trees.

How does the GutterShutter clog-free system work?

It simply works based on the physical principle of water tension. Boasting a superior surface tension, the GutterShutter system design ensures that water streams around its nose and flows into the trough — leaving debris, leaves, and branches to fall to the ground.

It completely encloses your entire gutter with no vertical openings that could allow water or debris to enter, offering the top-notch protection you need. Also, there are no inserts, screens, or filters to clog.

There’s the exclusive highback system that provides an aluminum coating, essentially eliminating the risk for rotting of your fascia board.

GutterShutter Features

Made with 0.032″ thick aluminum material: This is by far the strongest application you can find on the market today. Besides its excellent material and thickness, the system is attached to the fascia board using a GutterStud made from pure nylon material. The stud is applied to the fascia with two 3’’ galvanized screws, which are typically spaced 24’’ vertically. This marvelous engineering offers the strongest gutter protection.
5″ and 6″ gutter trough: GutterShutter offers the highest capacity that can handle even the heaviest rainfalls. Both troughs have exclusive flow reducers that effectively control the speed of the rainwater, allowing for superior flow. The 5″ is the standard system and is ideal for residential applications. The 6″ trough version, on the other hand, is perfect for larger, steeper roofs.
High-end crown molding: Seems like the manufacturer also designed this gutter system with visual attractions in mind. Well, GutterShutter enhances the exterior aesthetics of your home with a rich crown molding, which nicely outlines the eaves of your home. And considering that this gutter system comes in a variety of long-lasting color options, you can easily give your home a better curb appeal.

Pros:

Suitable for any roof
Built for durability
Trough and hood are fully supported
Lifetime no-clog guarantee
Adds to curb appeal and increases the value of your home
Flawless fit to a roof without causing damage to your siding
No need to be removed and reinstalled when you get a new roof

Cons:

It is not the cheapest gutter system, but most would agree that you get what you pay for.

Over 15 years ago, the engineers who designed the Gutter Shutter studied every gutter protection product on the market. They thoroughly tested and assessed the strengths and weaknesses of each product.

The Amazing GutterShutter was designed to incorporate all of the strengths they found in the other products. But more importantly, it was designed to overcome the weaknesses they found in the products they studied.

Combining all the best design attributes and eliminating the weaknesses created the greatest clog-free gutter system ever made.

If you’re looking for a clog-free gutter system that offers the best bang for your buck, then you can’t go wrong with GutterShutter. Get a free quote today!

Benefits of Keeping Your Gutters Clean

2019-02-05T00:00:00.05Z

Gutters are an important part of your house as they protect your roof, foundation, and walls from rainwater by controlling its flow. Because of their positioning, gutters will collect tree branches, leaves, and other debris over time which can lead to clogging. Due to the important roles gutters play in any structure, cleaning them should not be disregarded.

Why Keep Your Gutters Clean

Your gutters should always remain clean because of the following reasons:

Avoid Health Problems
Unclean or clogged gutters form a good breeding ground for disease-causing organisms, such as mosquitoes, which pose a health risk to you and your family. The health of your family is crucial, and therefore you should keep your gutters clean to keep them safe.

Prevent Roof Damage and Mildew formation
The main purpose of gutters is to direct water away from the roof. However, when they are not clean, they will not serve their purpose well, and water may end up being accumulated on the roof. This can cause leaks, which can result in the destruction of items, especially electronics.

Besides, living in a house with a leaking roof will become uncomfortable. Water may flow down the walls damaging the paint and resulting in the formation of mildew. Birds and rodents may find a home in your clogged gutters, where they can cause great damage to your roof. Fixing all these will require more resources than you would have used in cleaning the gutters.

Maintain the appearance and value of your property
Keeping your gutters clean is an affordable way of maintaining the appearance of your property. Furthermore, if you are planning to put your property on sale, you should always keep your gutters clean because to avoid damages that can decrease your property’s value. If the gutters have clogged, caused leaking roof, and damaged walls, you will have a hard time finding a buyer. You will either have to fix the problems before putting the house on the market or sell it at a low price.

Maintain your landscape
Maintaining your beautiful landscape is another motive to keep your gutters clean. If your gutters are clogged, they will direct water in the wrong path which can ruin your landscape. Dirty water may flow on your green, well-maintained grass, or worse, have the flowers near your house uprooted by powerful gushes of water flowing down the roof. A simple and routine gutter cleaning procedure can prevent this.

Avoid damaging the house foundation
Clean gutters not only prevent the accumulation of water on the roof but also prevent it from pooling around the foundation. If this occurs for long, your foundation will become weak and even flood your basement. Doing repairs will cost you a fortune which could have been avoided if the proper cleaning was done on your gutters.

Conclusion
Keeping your gutters clean is the secret to making them last for long. This ensures they serve their purpose well hence keeping you and your home safe. The process of cleaning gutters may seem simple, but leaving it for professionals is the best way to go. They have the skills, personnel, tools, and all that is required to ensure the job is handled appropriately. Get your gutters cleaned today to keep your property safe, healthy, and valuable.

The Importance of a Clog-Free Gutter System for Your Home

2018-12-15T00:00:00.05Z

If you're interested in learning why you need gutters for your home or business, then you're about to find out. Specifically designed to collect and carry away rainwater, a gutter system represents the first line of defense against roof leaks and their negative impact on the integrity of your home or business. It ultimately prevents water from finding its way inside your home or office.

A gutter system consists of the gutter, which collects rainwater shedding off the roof, the fascia bracket, which supports the gutter from below, and the downspout, which helps to convey rainwater from the gutter to the ground.

Without a properly installed gutter system, rainwater would erode the soil around the foundation of your residential or commercial property and possibly leak into your crawlspace or basement, causing some serious damage to your home or business.

A mere inch of rainwater falling on an average size roof can add up to a 2,000 gallon torrent that's uncontrollably sluicing off the eaves of your home or business. This translates to a substantial amount of water that can cause severe damage to your property if you have no gutter system installed or even if your gutters and downspouts don't function properly.

Why You Need the Award-Winning GutterShutter Clog-Free Gutter System

Now that you know why you need gutters and downspouts, it's essential to secure the professional services of a reputable and trusted residential gutter company specialized in custom installing a seamless, clog-free gutter system or replacing your old, clogged gutter system with a new, covered gutter system that doesn't clog.

You obviously cannot stop the rain, but what you can do and need to do is take the necessary preventative measures against raining on your parade. The best preventative measure you can take to ensure your home or business gutters flow impeccably at all times is having the covered, best-in-class GutterShutter clog-free gutter protection system installed on your property.

Truth be told, most homeowners barely think about the condition of their gutters and downspouts until they are seriously clogged and overflowing. Gutters require periodic cleaning in order to function properly, and this is especially true if you have trees on your property towering over them. For instance, pine needles are particularly notorious for clogging gutters.

GutterShutter is your best bet if you want to rest assured that your gutters work in seamless condition 24/7 year round, thanks to the fact that GutterShutter comes with a LIFETIME no-clog guarantee. It incorporates the cutting-edge "high-back" gutter trough, providing a water-tight seal from the roof down for maximum gutter protection.

Rely on our unique, patented gutter protection system to completely eliminate the hassle and risk of serious injuries associated with climbing a ladder to unclog your gutters, for your safety and peace of mind. With GutterShutter, you can conveniently keep your gutters debris and leaf-free, your home dry, and your family safe, while protecting the integrity of your investment over the long haul.
Do not hesitate to get in touch with us by phone at [phone] or online via the contact form for any questions you may have or for a free, no-obligation estimate on the GutterShutter clog-free gutter system.

How Gutter Shutter is Installed

2015-04-15T00:00:00.05Z

Guttershutter is a revolutionary product that is guaranteed not to clog. If it does clog, just call and we will clean it out. This video shows how GutterShutter is installed.

New Gutter Shutter Dealer in Northern Chicago

2024-04-12T12:21:20.05Z

April 2024, Crystal Lake, IL — Gutter Shutter of Chicago is thrilled to announce it is open for business as the new exclusive Gutter Shutter installer serving Illinois. With a mission to provide superior gutter installations and gutter replacements to help homeowners throughout Northern Chicago protect against water damage, the company will serve Crystal Lake, Elgin, Arlington Heights, Palatine, Waukegan, Des Plaines, Dundee, Hoffman Estates, Glenview, Mount Prospect, and neighboring towns.

The Gutter Shutter system comes with many benefits, including greater water capacity, maximum strength, long-term durability, and industry-leading warranties as well as:

Extra-large 6" gutters carry 20% more water than standard 5" gutters
Heavy-duty .032 gauge aluminum gutters
Exclusive high-back design protects fascia boards from rotting
Integrated gutter guards with a rolled hood design keep debris out and channel water into the gutter
No-clog, no-sag guarantees and 20-year paint warranty
No-obligation free estimates

About Gutter Shutter: The Gutter Shutter all-in-one seamless gutter system with integrated gutter guards is manufactured by Gutter Shutter LLC, headquartered in Connecticut, and available through a growing nationwide network of authorized, independent dealers. Dealers benefit from ongoing support and training in best practices in gutter replacements, gutter installations, drainage solutions, and customer services. Gutter Shutter is a registered trademark of Gutter Shutter LLC.

Visit Gutter Shutter Chicago at www.guttershutterchicago.com.