If you’re a first-time homebuyer or have owned your home for decades, you’re probably familiar with how crucial it is to have a gutter system, especially living in the Heartland. We experience all four seasons including a rainy season, severe thunderstorms, ice/snow storms, and high humidity. 

Without a properly functioning gutter system, our roofs would retain moisture and pour water over the sides of our homes, causing significant damage like siding damage, foundation damage, and even structural damage. To prevent drainage issues, it’s paramount to have a high-quality gutter system installed. But what about gutter guards? 

Plenty of gutter guards are available, yet in this post, we’ll focus on foam inserts and how they compare to K-Guard Gutters. Keep reading to learn if foam inserts or K-Guard Systems are better for your home so you can choose the best option for your home and budget.

 

Comparison of Foam Inserts vs. K-Guard Gutters

To determine which gutter guard, foam inserts vs. K-Guard, is best for your home, you’ll need to compare durability, performance, maintenance, and lifespan. Below is a comparison of foam inserts vs. K-Guard Gutters and how they rank in each category:

 

Durability

Durability refers to how well the gutter guard will hold up when exposed to the elements, like winter storms, hail, high humidity, and frequent precipitation.

 

Foam Inserts

Unfortunately, foam inserts are one of the least durable gutter guards on the market, and we’ll explain why. For one, foam is naturally a soft material prone to crumbling and wearing down over time, much like a foam ball. Foam inserts don’t have a protective layer so they often need replacing multiple times per year after being exposed to moisture. Therefore, they’re not durable.

 

K-Guard Gutters

If you’re searching for a gutter guard system that will never need replacing, choose K-Guard! Our gutter product is so durable that it’ll last for the life of the home. Made from heavy-duty aluminum with a weather-resistant coating, a base material that will never warp or corrode, and a hood that never needs replacing, K-Guard is the most durable gutter guard system on the market.

 

Performance

Performance refers to how well the gutter guard aids in keeping debris out of the gutter while allowing water to flow freely through the gutter system.

 

Foam Inserts

Unlike K-Guard, foam inserts are placed directly inside half-round gutters or K-style gutters, taking up a fraction of space and limiting the amount of water that passes through the gutters. While they can block large debris from entering the gutters, they don’t allow nearly enough water to pass through the system, especially during a torrential downpour, a common weather occurrence in the Heartland during our rainy season.

 

K-Guard Gutters

Again, no other gutter guard system outperforms K-Guard. K-Guard gutters and downspouts are oversized, allowing more water to flow through the system with more than enough space to keep up with torrential rain – up to 22 inches of rain per hour! Our gutter guards have front and rear drainage channels that allow only water to enter the system, never blocking the inside of the gutters like foam inserts do.

 

Gutter Maintenance

Gutter maintenance refers to how often you need to replace components, deep clean gutters, etc.

 

Foam Inserts

Foam gutter inserts don’t require frequent cleaning, yet they do need a good rinsing each season, provided they are still fully intact. Smaller debris like silt, roof sediment, pine needles, and rocks that birds can drop can get lodged inside foam inserts. Therefore, they need frequent rinsing. However, cleaning or rinsing them often can cause the foam to crumble and lose shape.

 

K-Guard Gutters

If you’ve ever had traditional, half-round gutters without gutter guards on a home you owned, you know maintenance is required to keep them functioning properly. K-Guard is different; our gutter guard system never needs cleaning because debris can’t enter the inside of the gutters or accumulate on top of our curved hood. You’ll never need to clean, replace, or fix loose bolts or screws with your K-Guard Gutters.

 

Warranties

Warranties refer to warranties offered on the product or installation.

 

Foam Inserts

Foam inserts that were a DIY installation do not have warranties, so any expenses paid to install them will not be covered for a replacement, which needs to be done frequently. Foam inserts installed by a professional gutter installation company might have a warranty, but with the short lifespan of foam inserts, it wouldn’t be very long.

 

K-Guard Gutters

Did you know that K-Guard is backed by not one, not two, but three-lifetime warranties? Our product is so durable, we offer a no-clog, no-pull-away, and paint warranty. We guarantee your K-Guard Gutters will never corrode and ensure paint will never chip, gutters will never clog, and the system will never pull away from the home during severe weather. What’s even better is that K-Guard is guaranteed transferable for the life of the home.

After comparing major categories like durability, performance, maintenance, and warranties, it’s clear that foam inserts aren’t a wise choice and K-Guard wins by a landslide. No other gutter guard or system can match or surpass K-Guard.

 

Install K-Guard Gutters, the Premier Gutter System

Contact K-Guard Heartland to install the K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System. Why choose K-Guard? Our gutter guards save you money and give you peace of mind, protecting your home from water damage and drainage issues.

Contact K-Guard Heartland today for a free estimate, a detailed analysis of your current gutter system, and estimated costs for installing K-Guard on your home. Our installation process is simple with three easy steps to get lifetime gutters.