How Do Gutter Guards Work?

Gutter guards create a protective barrier over your eavestroughs that allows rainwater to enter while helping prevent leaves, sticks, pine needles and other larger debris from collecting inside. By reducing the amount of debris entering the gutter system, gutter guards help keep water moving toward the downspouts and significantly reduce the frequency of traditional gutter cleaning.

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Do Gutter Guards Completely Eliminate Gutter Cleaning?

No gutter guard system is truly maintenance-free, and we're careful not to advertise it that way. Gutter guards dramatically reduce the amount of debris that enters your gutters, but leaves, seeds, pine needles and other material can occasionally accumulate on top of the guards. Depending on the surrounding trees and property conditions, periodic inspection or surface cleaning may still be recommended. The major advantage is that you're preventing much of that debris from accumulating inside the gutter system in the first place.

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What Type of Gutter Guards Do You Install?

Bear Property Cleaning installs durable aluminum gutter guards designed to keep larger debris out while allowing rainwater to enter the gutter system. We prefer aluminum because it's durable, won't rust like untreated steel and is well suited for the changing weather conditions experienced throughout Southwestern Ontario.

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Do Your Gutter Guards Come With a Warranty?

Yes. Our gutter guard installations are backed by a lifetime warranty, giving homeowners additional confidence in their investment. We'll explain the applicable warranty coverage when providing your quote so you understand exactly what is included with your gutter guard installation.

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Will Gutter Guards Work During Heavy Rain?

A properly installed gutter guard system is designed to allow rainwater to enter the gutters while keeping larger debris out. Like any drainage system, performance during extremely heavy rainfall can depend on several factors, including roof size, roof pitch, gutter capacity, downspout configuration and the amount of water concentrated into particular areas. Roof valleys are especially important because they can direct substantial amounts of water toward one section of the gutter system. We take these areas into consideration during installation.

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Are Gutter Guards Good for Homes Surrounded by Trees?

Yes. Properties surrounded by mature trees are often some of the best candidates for gutter guards. Maple leaves, pine needles, sticks, seeds and other tree debris can quickly fill an open gutter. Installing gutter guards creates a barrier that significantly reduces the amount of this material entering the system. Properties with exceptionally heavy tree coverage may still require occasional surface maintenance, but the amount of debris accumulating inside the gutters can be dramatically reduced.

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Do Gutter Guards Stop Pine Needles?

Gutter guards can significantly reduce the number of pine needles entering your gutters, although performance depends on the size and design of the openings in the particular system. Pine needles are considerably smaller than ordinary leaves and can be challenging for any gutter protection system. Some may occasionally collect on top of the guards or find their way through openings, which is another reason we don't advertise any gutter guard as completely maintenance-free.

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Will Leaves Just Sit on Top of the Gutter Guards?

Some leaves and debris may temporarily land on top of the gutter guards. Depending on the roof design, surrounding trees, wind and weather conditions, much of this material can dry and eventually blow away. In heavily wooded areas, some surface debris may occasionally need to be removed. The important difference is that the guards help prevent large quantities of leaves from falling directly into the gutter and becoming packed inside.

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Can Gutter Guards Prevent Clogged Downspouts?

Gutter guards can significantly reduce the amount of larger debris entering the gutter system, which also reduces the amount of material capable of reaching and clogging the downspouts. However, no system can guarantee that a downspout will never become obstructed. Proper gutter and downspout maintenance is still important, particularly on properties with significant tree coverage.

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Do You Clean the Gutters Before Installing Gutter Guards?

Yes. We don't want to install a new gutter protection system over gutters that are already filled with debris.

Before installation, the gutters are cleaned so leaves, sticks, dirt and accumulated debris aren't trapped underneath the new guards. We can also check the accessible downspouts when appropriate to make sure the system is ready for installation.

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Can Gutter Guards Be Installed on My Existing Gutters?

In many cases, yes. If your existing eavestroughs are in suitable condition, gutter guards can often be installed without replacing the entire gutter system. Before installation, we'll assess the visible condition of your gutters. If we identify damaged, loose or problematic sections, we'll let you know before installing the guards rather than simply covering an existing issue.

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Do I Need New Gutters Before Installing Gutter Guards?

Usually not. If your existing gutters are properly secured, appropriately sized and in good working condition, gutter guards can often be installed directly onto them. If your gutters are severely damaged, improperly sloped, leaking or pulling away from the fascia, those issues may need to be addressed before gutter guards are installed.

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Can You Install Gutter Guards on Two-Storey Homes?

Yes. Our technicians have professional equipment that allows us to install gutter guards on many single-storey and multi-storey homes. Height, roof pitch, ground conditions, accessibility and surrounding obstacles are considered before installation so we can determine the safest and most appropriate method for the property.

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Will Gutter Guards Damage My Roof or Shingles?

Proper installation should take the roofing system into consideration. We determine how the gutter guards should be installed based on the gutter and roof configuration rather than unnecessarily disturbing roofing materials. Our goal is to securely install the system while protecting the surrounding roof, fascia and eavestrough.

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Are Aluminum Gutter Guards Better Than Plastic Gutter Guards?

We prefer aluminum because it provides a durable exterior solution and won't become brittle in the same way some plastics can after prolonged exposure to UV, heat and cold. For Ontario properties experiencing hot summers and freezing winters, we want to install a product designed for long-term exterior exposure rather than simply choosing the cheapest material available.