Never Clean Your Gutters AgainGutter Guard Installation in Prairie City, IA

Trimming branches versus covering the gutter

If a branch hangs directly over the roof, cutting it back is the cheapest gutter protection there is, and it should be considered before spending anything on hardware. Removing the source removes the debris, reduces what lands on the roof between cleanings, and cuts down on the shade that keeps a roof damp. It also has limits. Trees regrow, so this is a recurring cost rather than a one-time one. Cutting back a mature limb badly can damage the tree and cost more in the long run than the gutter work. And the material that fills gutters is not only from branches directly overhead: wind carries seeds and needles a long way, and roof grit comes from the roof itself. The sensible sequence is to deal with anything genuinely resting on or scraping the roof, then protect the gutter for everything else. Doing only the trimming leaves the gutter exposed; doing only the guard leaves a branch abrading the shingles.