Chapter 4: Types of Gutter protection on the Market Today
Vinyl Gutter Covers
Whatever the brand name, vinyl gutter covers are the generic knock offs of the original metal dome systems.
Typically, these knock offs cost much less than the more quality options on the market and typically there is only a material warranty for five years and is covered at the manufacturer level. Meaning that should the local dealer go out of business in you area and you get a clog (very likely over a period of 2 years or so) you will have to try and track down the manufacturer.
Vinyl covers in some cases are worse than screen and filter gutter covers due to a single line of vertical openings for the water to run through. This single line fills up with debris. The slots in the through system hold debris in and the system becomes clogged. Water spills over the gutter. You now have a worse problem than you had before this product was installed.
It is up to the installer's discretion to close off the end caps. But even if the end caps are closed off, squirrels can easily chew through the plastic, create a home, and cause a major clog. Birds will join the squirrels in building nests once there is a hole made.
There usually isn't a very strong warranty with these kinds of products because what manufacturer would want liable for the multitude of service issues that will happen with this type of design and material.
