FINALLY! A solution to roof valleys!

Every year I do estimates for Eavestrough and gutter protection. At every home I go to that has a roof valley (see picture below for a picture of a roof valley), I point out the likely and inherent problems that this area will cause.

The majority of home owners do not realise how much water is concentrated in this roof valley by the end of its run when it gets to the eavestrough! It can be enormous! Now think of all that water hitting about a 4"-6" area of your eavestrough!

Another inherent problem with valleys, is that they are debris collectors. Wind movement comes across the roof from different angles and literally traps the debris in the V area of the valley. Like in the picture below.

Now place gutter protection in the eavestrough and you compound the problem. Most people that sell gutter protection promise the stars and how theirs is the best and you will have 0 maintenance, etc...
EVERY gutter protection restricts the opening of the mouth of the eavestrough. So when you place gutter protection in the valley, now you are giving less room for the water to go through and over it will come! That's why I am a fan of a roof valley splash guard and install them on every house I do eavestrough on. However, splash guards have their own problems.

If you look at the picture above, you will notice that the benefit of the splash guard is that any water that wants to over shoot the eavestrough will hit the back of the splash guard and drop into the gutter. HOWEVER.....one BIG problem is that now the debris gets trapped behind the splash guard. So it solves a problem and creates one at the same time! It looked like there was no good solution. Until.....

Last year I was introduced by a friend to the Barnett's Valley Controller. He is in the gutter business in the USA and said he had been using them for several years and they work like a charm! I bought some and did a few installs, one for a neighbour just a few doors away from me. I have been monitoring it for a year and it is unbelievable how flawlessly they work! Here is a picture of the Valley Controller:

Here are the details about Barnett’s Valley Controller:

• It incorporates a patented cheese-grater style top and louvred sidewall design. Water flows through the open slots into the gutter, and debris washes over the top of the surface and falls to the ground.
• It’s made of Kostrate®, the same material as plastic water bottles.
• The plastic is pliable, will stand up to sub-zero temperatures, and has a memory so that it can take and hold a shape.
• It will fit on any asphalt shingle roof with or without a metal valley, and secures under the second course of shingles.
• It’s guaranteed for 12-years, and can be painted with any acrylic paint to match your roof and gutters.

Here is a picture of what it looks like installed!

My neighbour who is surrounded by trees has these on her house loves them! The debris works its way over the edge, the water goes through and into the eavestrough where it's supposed to! Problem solved! This does not guarantee that you wont have to clean the valley out at somepoint, but it will prevent all the water from coming over the edge.

To conclude this article, here is a youtube video from Barnett's Valley Controllers.

For all your eavestrough needs contact The Eavestrough Company at www.theeavestroughcompany.com or phone us at 905-966-2564.