You’ve decided to spend a little money and put a gutter cover on your gutters. After all, you’re tired of having to clean your gutters at least twice a year, because you despise not only scraping muck and debris out of your gutters, but also climbing up and down on your ladder and worrying about a fall.

But since you’re investing in a gutter cover, you probably want to know how it will stand the test of time. More importantly, you want to be confident that someone will stand behind the gutter cover in case something goes wrong. In other words, you want a gutter cover warranty that you can feel good about.

So what kind of gutter cover warranty should you expect?

DIY

If you’re being budget-minded, you may choose to purchase gutter covers at a hardware or home improvement store. Of course, you’ll then need to get up on your ladder and install them yourself. So obviously, the labor won’t be covered in any warranty; and as for the products themselves, the manufacturers probably won’t offer you much more than a year or two. So be prepared to have to reinstall them in a few years’ time.

Installed

Another option is to call a contractor and have them install a gutter cover for you. In these cases, the contractor will be able to offer you a more permanent solution for your gutter protection needs. Plus, many contractors are trained by the makers of the products themselves, so they probably know how to install the gutter covers correctly.

Be that as it may, mistakes do happen; so you’ll need to ask your contractor about a warranty for the installation of the product. After all, if a worker fastens the gutter cover improperly, your gutters could fill up with debris and/or water will overflow onto the ground next to your home. So be sure to get the contractor’s warranty in writing.

Products

Finally, there is the warranty offered by the gutter cover manufacturers themselves. You may have seen some claims made about a “25-year guarantee” or a “no-clog gutter cover.” But some of these companies still require you to perform some type of regular maintenance on the gutter covers in order for the product to live up to its billing. This may even mean using a special brush to clean a filter or mesh cover periodically. (Isn’t this the type of work that you’re trying to avoid by purchasing a gutter cover in the first place?)

Fine Print

That’s why it’s vital for a homeowner to read the fine print in a guarantee or warranty that’s associated with any gutter cover. In addition to the possibility of some standard maintenance, there may be certain events which void the warranty entirely. Or it may spell out a remedy that’s unacceptable, like hiring another contractor to unclog your gutters or offering to reimburse you for hiring one after you’ve already paid for the service. Finally, some warranties are prorated, meaning that after a certain period of time, you may not be able to get all of your money back.

Gutter covers can be a godsend. Even so, it’s essential that you have a thorough understanding of any guarantee or warranty that pertains to your gutter protection system. Otherwise, you may be left feeling swindled and frustrated.

Image credits: Vectorportal