A damaged gutter can lead to expensive repairs. In fact, a damaged or failing gutter is often one of the first things that homeowners will notice. Fortunately, there are many affordable ways to protect your home from storm damage and keep your gutters in tip-top shape. This article will show you how to install foam gutter guards.
What Are Foam Gutter Guards?
Foam gutter guards are thin strips of foam that fit inside the edge of gutters. They are used to prevent debris from falling into the gutter and clogging it up.
The foam will also help reduce noise and water runoff by preventing debris from hitting the ground below your home.
Foam gutter guards are made of foam that has been specially treated to be non-absorbent. It is placed on the gutter before any water goes down it and prevents it from leaking through. The purpose of this type of guard is to prevent leaves, dirt, and other debris from getting into the gutters and causing damage to the roof or clogging them up.
The Benefits Of Using Foam Gutter Guards Include
- Lowers the cost of your roof repair or replacement.
- Prevents damage to your home’s exterior and foundation.
- They can help keep your gutters clean, which reduces the amount of work you have to do in order for them to look good
- Increases the life expectancy of your roofing system.
How To Install Foam Gutter Guards
Before you install foam gutter guards, you’ll need to prepare the area. This includes removing any debris or plants that may be in the way and cleaning the surface. Make sure the area is free of oils, grease, or other contaminants that could cause the foam to not adhere properly.
There are several ways to install foam gutter guards. One of the easiest methods is to use a ladder, which is what I did when I installed my foam gutter guards. However, you can also use other tools such as extension ladders or step ladders for this job.
The next thing you need to do is cut your gutter guard so that it fits over the entire length of your gutters and then secure it with screws. Once you have done this, take off the excess piece from around your gutter’s opening and then reinstall your gutters back onto the roof. Finally, make sure that all sides of your house are dry before re-installing any other items on your roofs like rain gutters or downspouts.
You may want to add a fascia or drip edge around the edge of the guards or paint them to match your home’s color scheme. You can also add venting if desired, by drilling small holes in the guards and installing elongated vents into the roof or attic space.
Where Can I Buy My Own Foam Gutter Guard, And How Much Does It Cost?
There are many places where you can buy your own foam gutter guard. You can either purchase it online or in a store. The cost of a foam gutter guard will vary depending on the brand, size, and model. The foam gutter guard that you purchase should be suitable for the size of your gutter. In general, it will cost $2 to $5 per linear foot.
Are Foam Gutter Guards Worth It?
Foam gutter guards are designed to keep rainwater out of gutters and downspouts. They are made from a durable, low-density polyethylene foam that is non-toxic and moisture-resistant. The foam gutter guard is flexible and adaptable to a variety of gutters and downspouts.
Foam gutter guards can be installed quickly with no need for cutting or welding. When they are not in use, the pieces easily collapse into a compact size that fits inside the attic or crawl space where they will not be damaged by sunlight or humidity. The rigid foam design prevents water from leaking around the perimeter edges and helps prevent clogs caused by leaves, twigs, ice, dirt, etc., which could cause damage to your roof’s shingles if left unattended for too long.
How Effective Are Foam Gutter Guards?
The main purpose of using these products is to help protect your home from any kind of damage caused by heavy rains during hurricane season when there is an increased risk of flash flooding in the area where you live. In addition to helping prevent damage from heavy rains during hurricane season, they also offer other benefits like:
- Keeps debris out of gutters
- Helps keep tree branches off gutters
- Protects against frostbite on downspouts
- Prevents mold growth on spouts
- Prevents damage due to corrosion
- They are easy to install and remove, so you can make repairs or changes as needed
Do Foam Gutter Guards Work?
If you are looking for a quick and easy way to clean your gutters, then the answer is yes. Foam gutter guards do the work.
You can use foam gutter guards as an alternative to traditional metal or plastic gutter guard that extends from the bottom of your roof all the way down to the ground. If you have ever used this type of guard, you know it takes a long time to install, and then take off when you want to clean your gutters. With foam gutter guards, they are reusable so there is no need for them every year. The guard also protects your home’s exterior by keeping leaves and debris out of your gutters while still allowing water drainage into the yard.
The only drawback with using these guards is they may cause more damage than necessary if they fall on concrete steps or driveways during cleaning. It would be best to place them at least two feet away from hard surfaces like sidewalks and driveways during installation because this will prevent accidental falls onto any part of your house or garage that could cause harm if damaged by falling foam gutter guards.
Gutter guards are an effective way to prevent leaves and debris from entering your gutters. However, they do not work well in all cases.
For example, if you have a steep roofline or long overhangs on the sides of your house that would cause leaves to fall directly into the gutter instead of being channeled around it, then a gutter guard will be ineffective. If you are looking for the best gutter guards for steep roofs this article can help you make an informed decision.
In this case, you should consider purchasing a leaf catcher and rake system instead.
Related Article: Best Gutter Guards Consumer Reports
How To Insert Foam Into Gutter Guards?
How to put in foam gutter guards? First of all, you need to remove the old foam gutter guards and then apply the new ones. Then take a piece of foam that is at least one inch thick. You can buy it from a home improvement store or you can get it from your local hardware store.
Once you have the foam, cut out an opening on each side for installing it into the gutter guard. Then just slide the foam into place until it covers every bit of your gutter guard. You will need to use some tape or glue to hold it in place so it doesn’t move around while working with your roofing material.
Once you are done installing the foam, you can use a shovel to fill up any gaps where there is no foam, and that way water won’t be able to come through anymore and cause damage to your house’s exterior wall or roofing materials.
Related Article: How To Install Menards Gutter Guards Effortlessly
Conclusion
Foam gutter guards are an effective way to prevent damage to your home’s roof and gutters. The installation process is relatively simple, but it does require some planning and preparation before the work can begin. We discuss in detail how to install foam gutter guards in this blog. Just follow the tips and you will be able to install foam gutter guards successfully in your home.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask us. We will be glad to help you!
Dave Johnson is an 18-year veteran of the gutter guard industry and has experience with all types of gutters, from small residential units to large multi-unit buildings. Here he shares necessary tips to help homeowners choose the right gutter guards for their needs, install them correctly, and maintain them properly to ensure a leak-free installation.