If you're serious about protecting your gutters...
There are dozens of schemes designed to protect gutters and reduce gutter maintenance. We have finally approved a product that delivers on its promise and even helps protect your gutters against pesky fir needles!
Monzi Corporation's products are our preferred line of open cell gutter foam inserts. They work by keeping debris out of your gutter entirely. Most debris landing on top just dries out and blows away on the wind (even fir needles!). The illustration at right shows the principle.
- Keeps your gutters clean and free of all leaves, seeds, pine needles and insects
- Handles the highest water capacity of any gutter protection system on the market
- Fits standard 5” and 6” gutters
- Flexible design won’t bend, dent or crack like aluminum guards, helmets or shields
- Invisible protection from street level
- Eliminates mosquito breeding and bee's nests
- “Quiet” soundproof material minimizes noise
Monzi's "Safe Flow Wave" products are the most popular here and, in our opinion, the best value for our area. We have never been asked to clean a gutter that has "Safe Flow Wave" or companion gutter foam products installed (We are a 27 year old company). We offer free estimates and our installation includes thorough cleaning of your gutters, installation, and a written warranty based on the gutter foam style selected. Easy. Simple. Problem solved.
Click here for "Safe Flow Wave" brochure in PDF format.
Click here for white paper in PDF format.
Click here to visit a page comparing of several common gutter protection products.
About Downspout Strainers
We don't have a high opinion of downspout strainers, but they do have a place in gutter maintenance. Downspout strainers are an inexpensive way to contain debris in a gutter instead of letting it into the downspouts and other parts of the drainage system. If you have had gutter overflows due to clogged downspoutst, if you have already had underground clogs, or if you have a french drain system that services your gutters/downspouts, these may be a welcome option.
Most folks have seen these in hardware stores. Priced at about $3 each, the most common style is formed of wire mesh and shaped sort of like a light bulb. When installed, they surround and stick up above the downspout opening. There are also plastic styles,styles that look like brillo pads, wire mesh styles, etc. Almost all of these do the job of filtering the debris out while letting the water through to the downspout.
Now, here's the "catch." The strainers themselves can become clogged with debris that dams up against them in the gutter. Just as with a downspout, the dammed water can back up and overflow the gutter itself. However a homeowner or professional crew can put things right in a few minutes as the problem is contained in the gutter where it is relatively easy to access. No more having to fiddle with or disassamble downspouts. Plus reduced debris making its way into underground systems--particularly old systems or French drains.
Downspout strainers can make gutter maintenance easier and less expensive. They do not reduce the frequency at which gutters need cleaning; in fact they may increase the frequency. Every building is different in this respect.