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Gutters & Gutter Guards

Question
I had an offer to out up something called Flo-Free Leaf Guard, a nylon-mesh-type cover that goes on a gutter in an arched fashion, allowing water to go into the gutter unimpeded but preventing leaves and other debris from clogging the gutter. The company would install 170 feet of it for $900; there is a lifetime warranty. Do you know anything about this device and how it works?

Answer
That nylon mesh is ¾ of an inch thick, which makes it able to stand up to whatever nature will throw at it but still allows water to flow through it full tilt. The $900 for 165 to 170 feet of Leaf Guard in an existing gutter comes out to $5.30 a foot. That is certainly reasonable.

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Question
I had an offer to put up something called Flo-Free Leaf Guard, a nylon-mesh-type cover that goes on a gutter in an arched fashion, allowing water to go into the gutter unimpeded but preventing leaves and other debris from clogging the gutter. The company would install 170 feet of it for $900; there is a lifetime warranty. Do you know anything about this device and how it works?

Answer
That nylon mesh is ¾ of an inch thick, which makes it able to stand up to whatever nature will throw at it but still allows water to flow through it full tilt. The $900 for 165 to 170 feet of Leaf Guard in an existing gutter comes out to $5.30 a foot. That is certainly reasonable.

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Question
When a young man helped me install new gutters, I noticed that the last gutter does not have a molding under it. Is it critical to have this molding?

Answer
Don't worry, the gutter won't fall down. The molding under the gutter is there mainly to keep the gutter at the right angle, and is decorative, too. It also allows the worker to put it at a right slant for the gutter to follow. If you would feel safer, put a similar molding under the gutter, snuggling it up gently and nailing it to the fascia.

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Question
I am fed up with gutters and I'm going to pull them off. I'm thinking about Rain Handlers…those devices that are set up on the eaves and disperse the cascading water from the roof into a soft rain like sprinkle. Would they stand up to bad weather?

Answer
I think they are strong enough and sturdy enough to stand up to winter ice and snow and other tough situations, although I would be concerned that they could freeze up and cause water to form icicles.

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