Why Maintenance Calls Drop So Dramatically
Rental property management gets complicated fast; gutter issues always seem to happen at the worst times. But that dynamic is changed completely by gutter guards. A barrier is created by them that prevents leaves, twigs, and debris from entering your eavestroughs while water is still allowed to flow through freely. The difference is noticed by most landlords within the first few months after installation.
The science behind it is straightforward. Water flows over the guard surface and enters through small openings. Larger debris gets deflected away from the gutter opening. About 90% of the clogs that typically cause problems are eliminated by this simple mechanism. Plus, ice dams aren’t dealt with as often during Ontario winters.
Reducing Emergency Water Damage Calls
Some of the most expensive repair bills landlords face are created by water damage. Foundation problems, basement flooding, and exterior damage that costs thousands to fix can be caused by overflowing gutters. Properties with gutter guards rarely experience these issues, from what we’ve seen.
One landlord in Hamilton told us about a property that had flooding problems every spring until gutter guards were installed. Heavy rains used to cause the basement to flood because clogged gutters would overflow and pool around the foundation. After installation, no more flooding calls. That kind of peace of mind is worth quite a bit when multiple properties are being managed by you.
Lower Insurance Claims and Tenant Complaints
Patterns are starting to be noticed by insurance companies too. Fewer water damage claims are filed by properties with gutter protection systems, which can help keep your premiums manageable over time. Not having to deal with water issues is also appreciated by tenants, especially in basement units.
The reduction in complaints is noticeable. Instead of getting calls about water stains on walls or musty smells in basements, normal maintenance requests are what you’re dealing with. The whole landlord experience is made much more manageable, sometimes, especially during busy seasons when something seems to need fixing by everyone.
Cost Analysis That Makes Sense
Numbers don’t lie when it comes to gutter guard ROI. Between $150-300 per property for professional gutter cleaning is spent by most landlords, and that’s needed 2-4 times per year depending on the trees around the building. Emergency service calls during storms are added, and costs add up quickly.
Gutter guards installation typically runs $8-15 per linear foot for quality systems. For an average rental property, that’s usually $1,200-2,500 total. When reduced cleaning costs and avoided emergency calls are factored in by you, the payback period is usually under two years. After that, it’s basically money in your pocket every year.
Installation Considerations for Rental Properties
Getting gutter guards installed properly matters more than what is realized by most people. Problems can actually be created instead of solved by poor installation, especially if water doesn’t flow correctly or if your existing eavestrough system isn’t fit properly by the guards.
Everything is ensured to work as designed by professional installation. The guards need to be positioned correctly to handle Ontario’s weather patterns; heavy snow loads and ice formation are included. Plus, their work will be warrantied by quality contractors, which gives you protection if issues develop later.
Making the Decision Work for Your Portfolio
Gutter guards are approached by most successful landlords as a portfolio-wide upgrade rather than a property-by-property decision. The maintenance savings compound when multiple buildings are being dealt with by you, and per-unit costs are often reduced by bulk installation.
Your most problematic properties should be started with first. Those are usually the ones with lots of trees nearby or buildings that have had water damage issues in the past. Once the results are seen by you, expanding to other properties becomes an easier decision. Our website can be visited to learn more about gutter guard options for your rental properties.
FAQ:
Q: Do gutter guards actually work for rental properties? Look, they’re not magic, but most debris is blocked by them from getting into your eavestroughs. Leaves, twigs, and smaller particles get filtered out. Works especially well. That still surprises people.
Q: How much do landlords save with gutter guards? Fair point to ask about numbers. Their gutter-related service calls are seen to drop by about three-quarters by most property owners after installation. Plus those middle-of-the-night emergency calls are avoided when tenants report water pouring over gutters during storms.
Q: What happens if gutter guards get damaged? Funny enough, most quality systems are pretty durable; Ontario weather can be handled by them without much trouble. Minor repairs happen occasionally. But major replacements are rare if proper installation is done from the start.
Q: How long do gutter guards last on rental properties? Quality systems typically last 15-20 years with minimal maintenance required. Much longer than what is expected by most landlords when they first hear about them.