Gutter guards do a job-they keep tree debris in the form of blossoms, twigs, and leaves from clogging your gutter. Choosing the best gutter guard should be easy, but it’s not. They can all be made to look good and they are all advertised to be the best gutter guard. As a consumer, it makes the most sense for you to do some investigation. While they all advertise to be the best gutter guards, the design of each of them is different.

The oldest design of gutter covers is that of a screen device. They’ve been around since the early 1900′s. The less sophisticated earlier designs have larger openings which allow debris into the gutter of sufficient quantity to clog the gutters. They must be routinely accessed to be cleaned and often times require more labor to clean and reinstall than it is to simply clean gutters. Of late they’ve gotten more sophisticated in terms of using foam inserts, or surgical steel fine mesh. All of these gutter covers collect debris on top of them which means that eventually rain water can not get into the gutter.

More sophisticated designs were invented later on. If you google “Niagara gutter guard” you’ll find an example of the early design of solid top gutter covers. This type of gutter cover has a rounded front nose. The water adheres to nose and goes into the gutter. More recent designs have openings in the solid top to collect water which makes them a screen hybrid. What do you think happens to debris that gets washed onto the gutter cover from the roofing or debris that falls onto the gutter cover as it’s raining? That’s right, it sticks to the cover and goes into the gutter. If the leaf guard also has openings on the top, those openings clog. As a potential owner of this type of system, you might want to know how it’s cleaned or maintained. Well, it can’t be done from the ground. You’re either at the mercy of the installing company to come and remove the covers, clean the gutters, and reinstall, or you have to go up a ladder and clean them yourself.

The problem with the single fin type of gutter guard design is that it allows all sizes of debris to flow into the gutter. Whatever can stick to the surface of the gutter guard can flow into the gutter. This design is available both as a cover to cover existing gutters or as a complete all-in-one system to replace regular gutters.

The question is how can this design be improved? If you Google “care-free solid top gutter guards” you’ll find the next improvement. The next generation either has one row of openings (with louvers in each opening guiding water into the gutter) like shown on the care-free gutter or it has a trough with sieve openings to limit the size of the debris. While this type of gutter guard is an improvement, it will not successfully keep out debris under heavy debris conditions. Debris that comes down the face of the gutter can still wash into the gutter from the gutter lip. While it’s less debris and smaller than in the previous design, in heavy debris conditions, someone has to go up a ladder to remove the gutter covers and clean the gutter. The gutter cover with a trough is nailed into the roofing which adds a complication to maintenance.

Is there a maintenance free leaf guard? What would the best gutter covers look like? How can the single row louvered gutter guard system or the trough gutter cover system be improved? Google “waterloov gutter guards” and take a look at that design. Notice it has two rows of openings. In each opening is a louver which guides water into the gutter. Of all designs, it is the best leaf guard recommended by Consumer Reports for two reasons.

1. Nothing larger than 3/4″ can ever get through this gutter guard.

2. Nothing can be washed in from the lip of the gutter.

After twenty two years in practice, this design never clogs inside. But how about maintenance? And why would maintenance be required. With the double row louvered best gutter cover design, the cover never needs to be removed to clean the gutter. However, as with all the designs we’ve looked at the openings of the leaf guard can still be clogged with small leaves and blossoms. Because it’s visible from the ground on the double row louvered design, it can be easily brushed with a telescopic pole and brush from the ground by the homeowner.

How much does the best gutter guard cost? The irony is that in some areas of the country the first solid top design type (Niagara) and the second (Care-Free) are often a few dollars more than the double row louvered system. So while the best gutter cover system is actually worth two or three times as much as the other leaf guard systems, it’s comparably priced.

Plumbers, builders, electricians and locksmiths are all vital trades for domestic and business situations. However, finding a skilled and affordable professional who is also reliable and trustworthy isn’t always a straightforward process. Most tradesmen and women meet these criteria, but sadly their industry’s reputation has been tarnished by stories of unscrupulous behaviour.

From starting, but not completing, projects to adding extra costs to the bill once the work is finished, these individuals and companies have been a common source of investigation from the likes of TV programmes like BBC’s Rogue Traders. However, not all of them have been identified, making your job of choosing a plumber, builder, electrician or locksmith a potentially tricky task.

1. The first step is to avoid anyone who knocks your door offering to do work for you. This is not how professional organisations tend to court businesses and, in most cases, the better professionals will have plenty of work to keep them going without the need to door-to-door.

2. If you do get approached, it’s a good idea to get as many details about the company as you can. Get an address, a phone number, website address, a full name of the contact and even the licence plate of their vehicle. This will come in handy later on.

3. Avoid giving them your details at this stage. If they’ve knocked your door, then obviously they know your address. But avoid giving out your phone number until you feel comfortable to do so.

4. However, where possible, you will be in a much stronger position if you are able to launch your own search for your builder, electrician, plumber or locksmith. A great place to start is by using an online business directory. You can narrow your search by location, so you can use a company that’s located near where you live and get all the details you need to do some thorough research. Plus, it gives you chance to do some research before any pressure comes from the companies you’re considering.

5. Even if you have been approached by a tradesman, it’s a good idea to compare them with others, so use a directory to add more names to your shortlist.

6. It’s also well worth asking the people you know whether they can recommend a tradesman to you. Perhaps they’ve used a plumber that offered exceptional service, or a builder that did a great job on budget and in time.

7. They may also help to steer you away from tradesmen that may not be suitable. They may have had a bad experience with a particular team of builders or feel they don’t have the expertise to help you. This insight could be massively helpful in finding not just a reliable tradesman, but the right tradesman for the job.

8. Once you have a shortlist of names, it’s time to do your homework. Google the names of the businesses and individuals you know about. It’s also worth contacting the relevant trade body, such as the Federation of Master Builders or the Electrical Contractor’s Association to make sure the business is registered with them.

9. Which? recommends checking whether the firm you’re talking to is approved by TrustMark – a scheme that checks a firm’s financial situation, dispute resolution scheme and technical ability.

10. Make sure you get any quote in writing and, before you agree to any work, have them draw up a contract that you read fully. Make sure the quote that’s in place cannot be increased as the job progresses.

As a property developer or architect, you are likely to be aware of the legal requirements for sound control (aka ‘sound reduction’) in new buildings. However, meeting the minimum legal requirements is no longer satisfactory. Here are eight reasons why you should be taking sound control seriously.

1. Sound control should be taken seriously if no other reason than the health and safety legislation that dictates that everyone has the right not to have their normal day-to-day activities impacted by unwanted noise. Therefore all new and refurbished buildings require sound control.

2. It’s vitally important that property developers are fully aware of the differences between the sound reduction requirements for new builds compared with refurbishment. By taking this seriously, properties can get the right sound control solution and guarantee satisfaction for the end customer.

3. There are many different types of properties, from residential and corporate to public sector. Building types such as homes, offices, factories, schools, colleges and care homes all require very different types of sound control, from acoustic flooring to wall insulation, so it needs to be carefully factored into the property’s plans.

4. Imagine the impact of a hotel where guests could hear other guests’ conversations. Or a school where lessons can be overhead in other classrooms. The right type of sound control can be the difference between a building that meets the legal requirements and one that also meets the expectations of the customer.

5. Choosing one type of sound reduction solution for an entire building may seem okay, but the impact on residents or workers may not be ideal. Take the home, as an example. Residents will require extra sound reduction to ensure they do not disturb neighbours, a different degree of privacy between rooms and possibly additional reduction for rooms that feature loud equipment like washers and dryers.

6. Good quality sound reduction means understanding the difference between impact sound and airborne sound. It involves a solution that addresses both to minimise disruption for the customer.

7. People use their homes in many different ways, from watching their home cinemas to playing musical instruments or band practice. If the buildings you’re developing or designing do not offer adequate sound reduction for the majority of uses, it could lead to neighbouring buildings suffering.

8. As well as having the freedom to use their home in the way they choose, people also want to know they have sufficient levels of privacy – even for something as simple as their neighbours not being able to overhear conversations or know when they go out.