Birds don't just damage roofs. They can also damage gutters. If you have problems with birds in your guttering, then installing guards might help. How?

1. Reduce Nesting

Birds sometimes use gutters as a base for their nests. Gutters give them a stable and sheltered place to build a nest, protect their eggs, and raise their chicks.

However, nests can affect the way your gutters work, and they can even cause damage. For example, nests block gutters. They prevent water from flowing through them freely. If bits of an old nest break away, then they can block downspouts.

Your gutters might overflow and push water down the sides of your home. If a nest is too heavy for a gutter, then it might break.

If you install gutter guards, then birds won't be interested in nesting in your guttering. You make it less attractive to them.

2. Reduce Corrosion

If you have metal gutters, then birds can damage them. If birds sit close to your gutters or inside them, then their droppings might fall onto their surfaces. These droppings are acidic. If they don't all wash away in the rain, then they can start to eat into the metal.

So, your gutters might corrode and rust. You might have to replace affected sections if rust creates holes and leaks in your system.

Gutter guards discourage birds from sitting on your gutters. They can catch some of their droppings. Their metal gets extra protection and is less likely to suffer from corrosion damage.

3. Reduce Maintenance and Repair Work

If birds hang around your gutters, then you'll spend more time on maintenance and repair. You'll have to clean out your gutters more often to get rid of feathers and nest debris; you'll have more damage to fix.

You might need to repair areas damaged by droppings. Or, if birds drop seeds into your gutters, then they might start to grow. You'll have to get rid of these plants. They don't look good, and they create blockages.

Plus, if birds mess around in your gutters, then they can damage their surfaces. If birds peck at plastic guttering, then they can scratch the surface and even make holes in it. You will have to repair any damage they make to keep your gutters in good working order.

If you put in gutter guards, then you reduce the number of jobs you have to do to keep your gutters in good shape. The guards help keep them clear, and they are useful bird-proofing tools.

Contact a professional to learn more about gutter guards.