The Benefits of Having a Micro-Mesh Gutter Guard

Fall colors extends for two months, from mid-September to mid-November. Later in the season, from October to mid-November, you’ll be witness to fantastic foliage colorations. This yearly spectacle of nature is a sight to see, but it also brings with it something that many homeowners dread every year – clogged gutters.

People can, of course, skip the gutter cleaning process, but they will run the risk of clogged gutters that can result in ice dams, which, in turn, can cause roof and gutter damage, water infiltration, wall damage, and even basement flooding, in some cases. Suffice to say, gutter cleaning, though annoying, is critical. Before getting in to the benefits of having a micro-mesh gutter guard to protect your home, lets look at other types.

Types of gutter guards

Gutter guards do what their name suggests – they protect your gutter from getting clogged or damaged. Overflowing rain can cause water damage to your house. If debris clogs your gutters, they won’t be able to move the water away from your home. Also, clogged gutters may sag and pull away from the roof. These problems could cause structural damage or mold growth. Clean gutter guards are the best and most convenient way to protect your gutters. It’s important to know about all the types of gutter guards available.

Reverse curve

The reverse curve gutter guard has side slots and a solid cover. This gutter guard design allows debris to freely fall to the ground. It also prevents leaves and twigs from collecting in the gutter. By following a roof’s natural slope, the reverse curve guard allows water to flow unobstructed.

Gutter brush

Also known as a bottle brush guard, a gutter brush guard is the least expensive and one of the easiest types of guard to install. It resembles an upright bristle brush. Installers insert the guards inside the gutter, which prevents debris from accumulating.

It allows thawed snow and rain to flow freely inside the gutter and away from your house. In case any lightweight debris gets trapped atop the brush, it will be blown away by wind or washed away eventually (without clogging the gutter).

Mesh or screen guards

These types of gutter guards are designed to prevent every kind of debris, from leaves and twigs to small grains of sand, from entering the gutter. They are made of stainless steel and attach to an aluminum frame that is fitted under the roofing shingles. They are easy to install and durable. It’s an ideal solution for people who collect and use rainwater. However, many experts suggest to check and clean the mesh regularly to prevent clogging.

Non-gutter cover

These covers look like window blinds. Their design allows them to replace gutters with very thin aluminum louvers that direct or channel water away from your roof. The rain or thawed ice hits the louvers, which deflects away from the roof and your house. This type of gutter guard is the best choice for people who don’t want to have visible gutters and downspouts on their home’s exterior. They are also known as louvered gutter guards.

Nylon

Nylon gutter guards are not attached to roofing shingles. Their design allows them to slip easily into the gutters. They are ideal for stopping the accumulation of ice and snow in the gutter. They allow more space in the gutter for the water to flow through. Nylon gutter guards are most practical for wintertime.

Foam

Made from a porous polyurethane substance, foam-filler guards fit perfectly into the gutter to block all materials from entering and collecting in the gutter (except liquids). They help minimize the development of molds, mildew, and fungus in the gutter.

Micro mesh gutter guards

If only there were a better way. Something that could prevent gutters from becoming clogged in the first place, eliminating the need for gutter cleaning, altogether. Well, fortunately, there is. HANSONS offers gutter guards with micro-mesh technology to stop the clogging. Nothing – not even a pine needle – gets into your gutters; only the water draining from the roof.

How do mesh gutter guards work?

These gutter covers, as sometimes called, have a fine stainless steel micro-mesh (similar to pantyhose) which will prevent everything bigger than 100 microns (half the size of a grain of sand) from entering the gutter. It’s the surface tension of the water that pulls the water through the stainless steel micro-mesh but leaves everything else behind.

It’s all in the physics, and it’s hard to picture it until you see it. When you first look at these mesh gutter guards, you’ll think that water will only flow over it. But because of the surface tension, it’s pulled through the tiny holes in the mesh. Even in the worst downpours, the mesh will suck the water into the gutter, while leaves and other debris will fall over, to the ground.

Is micromesh the best gutter guard?

To put this question into perspective, we need to understand how other gutter protection systems work. There are dozens of other leaf guard screens available. They use expanded metal, but like the majority of perforated metal or plastic products, they tend to channel the water past the gutter and onto the ground, similar to having no channels at all. It is particularly true in the event of heavy rainstorms or downpours when the volume of water is too high, and the perforated holes of these gutter screens aren’t enough. Here, water’s surface tension works against the system, keeping the water from dripping through the holes. Mesh gutter guards, on the other hand, have an “inseam” that forces water into your gutter, instead of repelling it away.

Things to look for in a micro mesh gutter guard

When you are in the market looking for such a mesh gutter guard, there are several things to look for to ensure that you’re getting the real deal and not some form of a knock-off.

Is the micro mesh stainless steel?
Is the gutter guard strong enough to last for decades? For how long will the vendor guarantee it?
Is the design such that it will not lift or blow away by strong wind?

Don’t spend your time cleaning out your gutters. Let our micro-mesh gutter guards do the work for you. Schedule a free gutter estimate with 1-800-HANSONS today.