Prepare Home for Wildfires: Gutters
Fire mitigation and gutters. Contact Colorado mastication for scrub oak removal, brush clearing and tree removal.
The material of gutters isn’t the only problem when it comes to wildfires. This part of the home collects a lot of debris as well as water, leading to fuel for the fires to spread. It’s important to make sure the materials are just right, but there are also maintenance steps you’ll need to take.
Adding Gutters to the Home
It could be worth replacing your gutters if you’re just moving into a property or you realize you haven’t replaced them in a while. If you’re building a new home, you’ll need to think about the material of the gutters anyway.
You’ll usually find gutters are made of galvanized steel, aluminum, or vinyl. The latter is the worst when it comes to wildfires. Vinyl has a much lower melting point and adds fuel to the fire. If you choose vinyl due to the lower cost, make sure you have a metal drip edge to avoid wood being exposed.
Steel is the best option. It has the highest melting point, but you are looking at higher costs for that.
Maintain Your Gutters to Prevent Fires Spreading
The most important factor is the debris that collects in the gutters. Dead leaves and other tree litter fall into them. They can collect anything that sits at the top of the roof and falls into the gutters. This material is often highly combustible, causing fires to spread.
Even if your roof is made of non-flammable metals, you can still end up losing your home. Manually cleaning the gutters is one of the best things you can do, especially during the fall and early winter.
Could you prevent the material getting into the gutter? Gutter guards are an option, and they will reduce your maintenance needs. You’ll want to think about the material of them, ruling out plastic and foam as they will lead to a higher risk of fire. Watch out for guards with large holes. While they prevent the leaves getting in, smaller needs will still get through and the gutters end up being harder to clean out.
Look for mesh guards such as from GutterRX, GutterGlove Pro, GutterDome, and Leaf Solution. You will need to have them professionally installed. This is something to invest in to keep your family safe. You can’t put a price on the lives of everyone in your house.