Beware of spring debris: Now is the time to cover your gutters

By Mitch Allen

When we think of gutter cleaning, many of us immediately think of fall leaves. But springtime can be even more troubling. Flower pods and petals from my Japanese magnolias are excellent cloggers, as are the whirly-bird-style seeds that will soon fall from my maple trees. Perhaps worse, however, are the pollen-filled tassels called “catkins” that drop from my oak trees and collect in large clumps inside of my gutters.

“Gutter cleaning is easily a twice-a-year job if not three times,” says Anthony Alberino, the founder of Northeast Ohio’s The Gutter Boys. “It depends on which species of trees are in your yard and when they do their thing. I may have been a philosophy major in college, but I’ve learned a lot about trees after all these years of cleaning gutters,” he adds, laughing.

As we all know, gutters must be cleaned. A properly-functioning gutter system sends thousands of gallons of roof runoff safely away from your home. But when clogged gutters overflow, all that water pools at the foundation of your house, which can result in a wet basement and a damaged foundation. Standing water in your gutters is also a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Surprisingly, the best way to clean your gutters is not to clean them at all.

Cover them instead.

Dirty, Dangerous Work
“Gutter cleaning is a dirty and dangerous job that the average homeowner should not attempt,” Anthony cautions.

“Although our technicians are well-trained, experienced professionals, we, too, have to be extremely careful up on the ladder. It’s much safer to simply cover your gutters and end gutter cleaning for everybody forever.”

The Top-Rated Gutter Cover
NCR Consumer Advocacy Group—the nation’s largest publisher of independent third-party testing, ratings and reviews for the gutter cover and home improvement industry—has ranked Valor Gutter Guards number one in all categories it measured: value, effectiveness, industry reputation, strength, water throughput, durability and “overall.” And not only is The Gutter Boys the exclusive dealer for Valor in Northeast Ohio, they were the number one Valor dealer in the U.S. in 2020, installing more than 60 miles of the top-ranked product.

• A high-flow, stainless steel micro-mesh that lets water in but keeps debris out. This effect is enhanced because the mesh features a raised S-curve that increases the surface area, allowing for the self-shedding of debris.
• A vertical louvered frame improves drainage so—unlike horizontal frames—it cannot clog with moss or algae.
• The light-weight, aluminum frame won’t warp and doesn’t add extra weight.
• The cover is attached to the fascia, not the shingles, so it can’t void your roof warranty. This also adds structural integrity when covered in heavy ice. Plus, it’s attached with stainless steel screws that don’t rust.
• A fully-transferrable, lifetime warranty.

Gutter Repair, Too
In addition to covering gutters, The Gutter Boys also repairs them, including dented, broken or damaged gutters as well as hanging, fallen or missing downspouts.

“With our component replacement system, we can replace just the damaged section without replacing the entire system,” Anthony explains. “And many homeowners are wisely opting for 6-inch gutters instead of the standard 5-inch, and 4x5-inch downspouts instead of 3x4. These larger gutter systems can handle a significantly larger volume of water.”

The Gutter Boys is headquartered at 1090 West Bagley Road, in Berea. They have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and are bonded and insured. Call 440-671-7657 to schedule a free on-site consultation and estimate, or visit TheGutterBoys.com for more information. They also offer 12 months same-as-cash financing.