Frequently Asked
Questions
How does Gutter Cap work?
Gutter Cap is a metal dome system that covers the gutters. The
majority of rooftop debris is shed by the wind, while the remainder is
shed during the rain. The rainwater is still able to navigate through
the gutter system by means of water surface tension. The rainwater
adheres to the rounded metal contours of the panel and drains into the
gutter once it hits the straight edge in the trough system. Some
debris will pass through the system, but there is plenty of room in
the patented channeling system for the debris to be flushed out of the
downspout.
Why should I choose Gutter Cap over
other products?
There are subtle differences in the Gutter Cap design that make it
superior to other products. Gutter Cap is made of an X-10 metal alloy
for sturdiness. The panels are painted with a Kynar finish and will
not fade or chalk. The finish on the majority of the other systems
will bleach out within 2-5 years. There are no vertical openings in
the panel for debris to fill in or mesh together, clogging the system.
The system is low profile and with proper color matching to the roof,
almost invisible. The warranty is double lifetime for materials,
performance, and most importantly, labor.
How much will the cost be to install
Gutter Cap on my home?
Gutter Cap dealers only quote exact figures. Beware of companies
that will quote over the phone. There are far too many variables
involved such as pitch of roof, type of roof or gutter, conditions of
gutters, number of inside and outside valleys, etc. Hence, pricing can
only be determined by a visit to the home and inspection of the roof
and gutter system. Free no-obligation quotes are available at your
convenience.
How much rain can Gutter Cap handle?
Almost every gutter protection system can handle what ever Mother
Nature can dish out in terms of volume of rain fall. The real focus
should be on whether the gutter protection system will clog. That’s
when rain-flyover is a problem. Most systems will eventually clog, but
Gutter Cap will not. So rain flyover will not be an issue.
What kinds of roofs can Gutter Cap
be installed on?
Gutter Cap can be installed on asphalt, metal, flat, slate, cedar
shake, and under proper conditions half barrel tile roofs. Pitch
usually isn’t an issue since Gutter Cap has even been installed on
steep Mansard roofs.
Will the installation of Gutter Cap
under my second row of shingles void my roof warranty?
There is a great deal of propaganda being spread by our competitors
that are envious of our superior mounting system. We don’t know of any
case where a gutter Cap dealer has had an insurance claim filed for a
leaky roof. Common sense dictates that it shouldn’t be a concern. Your
roof wasn’t glued on. It was nailed. We have sent our installation
techniques to the four major roofing manufacturers. They are satisfied
that our installations methods will not compromise the integrity of
the roof.
Does Gutter Cap prevent ice-damming?
Gutter Cap will minimize ice-damming under the fascia or under the
first row of shingles. This is because Gutter Cap is mounted over the
first row of shingles and under the second row. Ice-damming under the
second row of shingles is uncommon because there is insulation under
that portion of the roof, and the melt-freeze cycle is less likely to
occur in that spot. But you will see icicling sooner with Gutter Cap,
as you would with any gutter protection system. Formerly, the ice had
to fill the gutter first before spilling out over the gutters.
However, considerably less damage will occur with ice on top of Gutter
Cap than when it was in the gutter. Only
Heater Cap
will totally eliminate ice-damming in the gutter area.
Will Gutter Cap prevent icicles from
forming on our roof?
Due to the winter process many homes have icicles form on the on the
outside edges of roof lines and gutter systems. (Downspouts are
included as part of your guttering system) When a homeowner chooses to
install Gutter Cap, or any hard cover gutter protection product, over
the top of their gutters to solve to solve their leaf problems, they
need to know that icicles will/may continue to form due to the winter
process.
Is there anything we can do about
the snow and ice build up we get on our gutters? We’re concerned about
falling and injuring ourselves on the ice that forms on our sidewalk
under the gutters.
Yes, there is. Ask your local dealer about our patented
Heater Cap
product. This is a unique heating product that can be included with
your Gutter Cap at the time of installation or added to Gutter Cap and
or any other hard cover gutter protection product, as a viable option
to melt snow and ice formations, keeping your gutters free flowing and
ice free throughout the winter months. Heat your entire guttering
system or install it in the safety areas only.
We seem to get an accumulation of
leaves where two sections of roofing come together; will Gutter Cap
eliminate this?
These are called valleys. Homes that have valleys in their roofing
system are more likely to experiencing a build up of leaves and
debris. Eventually this debris will blow or wash of the roof system.
However, accumulation of this debris in the valleys will not be cured
by installation of Gutter Cap. On rare occasions, homeowners may need
to clear out their valleys so Gutter Cap can continue to work
effectively. Some gutter protection companies install “v” shaped
diverters in corners just above the gutter, at Gutter Cap we do not.
Over the years we have found this simply causes a build-up of material
that will definitely require cleaning.
Shortly after our Gutter Cap was
installed it rained. We noticed that not all of the rain was getting
into the gutter, as some of it spattered over the cap; is this normal?
Gutter Cap must be uniformly wet in order for it to work properly.
Let Mother Nature do her job. Gutter Cap works very well initially but
actually becomes even more effective with additional use.
We have a section of our roof that
is quite large and very steep. Even though we have gutters, the water
will run over or past the gutter in a super hard rain storm. Will
Gutter Cap correct this?
Your gutters may be clogged with debris and or they are under sized.
Most homes today use a 5.00” “K” style gutter. On steep or large roof
sections you may need to have 6.00” gutters installed, particularly if
your region has a lot of rain. Although Gutter Cap can handle heavy
rainfall, homeowners need to realize that gutters by themselves have a
limited capacity. (Note: Architects and Home builders often times do
not design the proper guttering system to accommodate for water
run-off from the roof.) Gutter Cap will not decrease or increase the
capacity of your existing gutters.
Some companies in our area have
“Special Offers” to include cleaning and a tune-up of our existing
gutters with the purchase of their system. Does Gutter Cap have these
“specials” also?
At Gutter Cap we always clean your gutters and downspouts, reseal
gutter joints and connections and check your gutters for proper
drainage pitch. These are standard procedures by our factory trained
certified installers. Don’t be fooled by other companies “special
offers”.
Heater Cap Questions
How does Heater Cap work?
Heater Cap is an encapsulated low voltage wire mounted in gutters,
down spouts, and fastened to Gutter Cap. The temperature of the wire
is just warm enough to melt ice and snow to keep the gutter system
free-flowing during the colder months.
Do I need to have it on the whole
house?
No. If you have Gutter Cap on the whole house, ice-damming may not be
an issue. Icicles and ice melt in walkways may still be a hazard. Many
of our customers have Heater Cap installed only in problem areas.
Is it hard-wired or do I just plug
it in?
Heater Cap is hard wired into the circuit box. The system is turned on
and off with a switch when needed.
Is it turned on all year?
During times of cold weather and continuous snow fall, it's best to
have it on all the time. Otherwise, it will take longer to melt the
snow out of the gutter System, then if it was warming while the snow
was falling. We suggest turning on when the temperature is forecasted
to fall below 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
Do I need to have Gutter Cap on my
home to have it installed?
Heater Cap can be installed on homes that have no need of gutter
protection, such as new construction.
What if I have a gutter protection system other than Gutter Cap on my
home?
Heater Cap can be installed on the majority of other gutter protection
systems. However, putting Heater Cap on may void the warranty of the
other gutter protection system.
