Removing Gutter Guards Damage Shingles

Place a ladder on a level surface when removing gutter covers.

Removing gutter guards damage shingles.

Even if you use a top quality gutter guard it is still recommended that you clean your gutters at least twice a year as clogged gutters can result in damage to the home including flooding. Since it s home show season we ve heard from several of our dealers that companies selling other types of gutter guards are making the point that installing under shingles will void your shingle warranty destroy your roof or is just plain wrong to do in the first place they ll try to convince you it just doesn t make sense to install a leaf filter this way. Fine mesh guards function like screens but they block all but the smallest debris. Align the guard section with the roofline then insert it under the shingles you ve lifted.

Inspect gutters and gutter covers at least once a year for blockages to provide optimal performance of the gutter system. Gutter guards are not a great investment. Most gutter guard systems only solve one problem. You might want to remove a gutter cover for replacement or to remove small debris from a gutter.

The tiny spaces in the mesh won t clog with seeds and needles but they can fill with small particles like shingle grit. When water sits on a shingle like its doing here it can work its way under the shingles at every seam. Most products come in 4 to 6 ft 1 2 to 1 8 m sections. The best ones worth installing are expensive.

When gutter guard systems are installed on a home the purpose is to keep leaves and debris from accumulating in the gutter system and stopping water from flowing down and away from the structure. A gutter guard that traps debris is a bigger problem to a roof since the debris can wick water up the shingles where it can cause problems. If debris gets in if there are seams in your gutters or the guards get damaged moisture will remain trapped. The combination of moisture and a small but of debris can result in mold growth.

Fine mesh gutter guards still need an occasional cleaning but unlike screens fine mesh is easy to blow or brush clean. Continue to lift shingles and slide in the gutter guard until you ve reached the end of the first guard section. Slide the back edge of the guard section under the shingles.