What is a Gutter Splash Guard

Splash guards are material placed in areas of a gutter system—usually valleys, also known as corners—where overspilling may occur. Furthermore, splash guards are installed on open-top gutter systems to keep water flowing through the gutter system in areas that often overflow due to heavy rainfalls. 

If you have traditional, open-top gutters, you may wonder if you need splash guards. If you’re asking yourself, “do gutters need splash guards?” we’ll explain splash guards and whether you need to install them on your gutter system.

Do I Need Splash Guards?

If you have traditional, open-top gutters, then you should have splash guards installed. They will prevent damage from occurring to your home and landscaping.

When your traditional, open-top gutter system is constantly overflowing, water is forced to spill over the gutters. It is left to accumulate around your home in the foundation or garden beds, near your front door, etc.

Benefits of Splash Guards

Splash guards keep water flowing through an open-top gutter system that may overflow due to heavy rainfall. Valleys on traditional, open-top gutter systems tend to slow the water flow since the water has to travel around a corner. When an influx of water flows through the gutter system, these valleys often experience overflowing water, forcing the water to pour over the gutter and onto the surrounding area, not down a downspout like a gutter system is designed to do. 

When you install splash guards on an open-top gutter system, water can move faster through these valleys and aid in keeping up with the heavy rainfall or snowmelt. When you install splash guards on your open-top gutter system, more happens than just keeping the water flowing. Below are some other benefits of installing splash guards:

• Can help prevent landscape damage
• Can aid in preventing foundation damage caused by flooding
• It helps prevent roof leaks
• It helps prevent damage to the entire gutter system, including rotted fascia boards. 

These issues can result in costly repairs, mainly if overflowing gutters cause foundation damage. Foundation damage can cause many severe issues for homeowners, including cracks in the foundation, leaning or tipping, foundation upheaval, and so on.

Are there alternatives other than Splash Guards? 

While installing splash guards is cheaper, they’re not always the best solution for homeowners. Homeowners need a complete gutter system that can keep up with heavy rainfalls and snowmelt to prevent overflowing gutters, not just “help” the issue.

Leafguard does not require splash guards.

Since the Leafguard gutter system is a one-piece, covered system, it does not require splash guards. This is one less thing you will need to worry about if you have Leafguard.