A gutter guard is a specialised product; therefore, finding a suitable installer who can correctly affix the product to your gutters and roof is essential. There are several installation options: roofing companies and specialist gutter guard installation companies. There are several things you should consider when choosing either gutter guard installation option.
Roofing companies
Many new homeowners choose to use the roofing company involved in the home's construction to install the gutter guard at the end of the project. This is often ideal for many projects because it minimises costs and simplifies project management. However, some roofing companies do not install gutter guards or may not have the experience needed on more complex guttering installations, such as those involving box gutters or bracing. In that case, a project may require a specialist gutter guard installation company.
Specialist gutter guard installation companies
Specialist gutter guard installation companies are ideal for significant housing developments to ensure quality control across the project, especially to comply with building standards and requirements.
For example, the Aquarevo Housing Project in Melbourne, featuring landscaping by Spire Architects and collaboration between different building firms in close cooperation with South East Water, was completed entirely by specialist gutter guard installation company, Aussie Gutter Protection.
Working in collaboration with South East Water, ScreenTech supplied an AS4020 drinking water gutter guard system fitted to each home to maximise rainwater harvesting to meet the Aquarevo Estate goal as Australia’s first-ever sustainable development of its kind.
The estate offered homeowners several unique design and layout options in land and home packages. Therefore, the gutter guard was supplied and fitted to dozens of different housing and roof types.
The installation was undertaken by Aussie Gutter Protection, which coordinated the fittings with building firms.
Aussie Gutter Protection is one of Australia’s largest gutter guard installers and a market leader in custom gutter guard solutions using ScreenTech Tuffmesh aluminium products to meet the standards for drinking water. Furthermore, the integrated gutter guard mesh product delivers high strength, durability and modern aesthetics for homes with box gutters or parapets.
Gutter Guard Installation Techniques
A gutter guard installation is typically straightforward on most roofs. However, your gutter guard installer must understand the proper application including not drilling holes that might allow water to ingress into the roof.
Ensuring the mesh is cut at the correct angle on a ski slope gutter guard system is essential. Gutter guard installers must ensure the water does not sheet over the top but filters through the mesh gutter guard and into the gutter. It also needs to be situated so that leaves and debris are encouraged to fall from the roof rather than pile up on the top of the gutter guards.
A quality gutter guard installer understands how guttering systems work and can see where potential problems may occur rather than leaving them for the owner to discover later.
Speciality products and materials such as ember guards installed in bushfire-prone areas require expert installation techniques to ensure there’s no gap bigger than 2mm. This installation requirement ensures that embers cannot penetrate through the guard in compliance with AS3959. Therefore, the guard must be installed precisely, especially at joints and corners.
Other speciality installation techniques include box gutter mesh installation that requires sufficient strength to support the product. Aluminium mesh with a thickness of 0.6mm is recommended for any gap over 500mm wide or more significant. Gaps greater than 750mm require bracing to support the gutter guard mesh.
Roof valley installations also require specialist techniques. It's crucial the mesh has sufficient overhang and is secured on both sides to help resist tears in the mesh in the long term. ScreenTech suggests a minimum 330mm wide mesh for a metal roof and 1000mm on a tile roof to allow sufficient length underneath the tiles.
Vetting gutter guard installers
There are several questions to ask any gutter guard installation company:
- Do you supply the gutter guard materials? What gutter guard supplier do you use for your products? Do they meet Australian Standards?
- Do you have the correct Colorbond colour gutter guard to match the roof and gutters?
- How familiar is the installer with the supplied gutter guard materials and their unique installation techniques?
- What experience do they have with working with the specific roof and gutter type used? (This is especially important if using rare materials such as copper or galvanised steel.)
- Does the installer provide workmanship guarantees?
- What other certifications and insurances does the company have?
- Do you have examples of previous work on a similar project? Can you provide pictures etc.?
Gutter guard protection, if incorrectly applied, causes problems such as water sheeting over the top. Poor workmanship leads to costly mistakes, such as gaps in the ember guard or an uncomplimentary aesthetic.
If you would like help finding a gutter guard installer, please don't hesitate to contact ScreenTech. ScreenTech has a network of installers throughout Australia with experience and diligence in their work and who we trust to install our products.
