So I had my roof recovered with new shingles a few months ago. I had cheap, plastic leaf guards on the gutters which were removed for the new installation. They were too old and brittle to reinstall, so they went into the trash.
Well, Fall is here and so are the leaves. Cleaned half the gutters today that were already full. Started researching leaf guards and see a lot of mixed reviews on whether they are worth it or not. I know that even with a guard system installed, you are still going to clean them and the gutters.
Any experience with the latest products and if they are worth it? Or, gutter leaf blowers and how they work? Or any other helpful tips besides cutting down the trees or moving?
Twice a year! My neighbor has 4 large Norway maples and all the helicopters (samaras) fall on my roof. In the fall I get all his leaves as well. Leaf gaurds work well for leaves, but the helicopters come straight down seed first and stick up straight out of the guards.
Yes, I think gutter guards are worth it.
But metal, not plastic, and make sure the tops are not flat, but have texture.
What we have is a dearth of proper comparative test results. A few people have tried, and posted online, but not for a wide enough swath of the market. The competing claims are over the top on gutter guards, with everyone claiming to be be the best.
What I’ve observed is guards working very very well, but not for all leaf and climate types.
If you don’t have them already, consider installing the larger downspouts. That helped tremendously on my home. And I got rid of my gutter screens because it was more work cleaning the screens than cleaning the gutter, lol.
The rail water peculates through the pine needles and gutter guards.
Typically wind blows pine needles away.
Even if worse comes to worse you brush the pine needles down to the ground and mulch.
Just my opinion, Scott.
You will have to clean most guard systems. The problem is in cold regions with a freeze cycle. Ice damming can take place and cause roof leaks. I know of two homes in the Chicago area with this problem. Not a fan
Don’t have ‘em myself but I’ve heard that leaves can still get trapped in the open slot making the gutter useless. Not so easy to clean if that happens.
The style of leaf guard that relies on surface tension of the water looks super clean, and when new seems to work amazingly well. Like magic, the water curls over.
However, eventually a bigger leaf will find it’s way to the relatively narrow opening, and start a cascade of debris. Heavy rains the water jets right over the coved opening. And, did I mention, they can’t be cleaned?
I was enamored with this style of leaf guard for a while, but I’m over it.
I’d still like to see real on the roof tests of all these systems, by a truly independent testing party.
Ditto that. I installed the cheapo plastic ones about 3 years ago and was back on a ladder twice a year. So this summer I took the dive and went with Leaf Filter. So far so good. Have been going thru the season when the Ash trees drop their seeds, by the millions, and not getting stuck. Leaves are just blowing off, so the next test will be in the spring with the Oak tree tassels.
As you can see, I do have a few trees!
Of course, Leafguard gutters are nice but expensive for sure. Plastic gutter guards are nice but they are no substitute for cleaning. They just keep all the crap up where you can get at it. I’ve found if I can get at the stuff before it decomposes and gets all tangled up in the mesh it’s 100X easier.
Of course, this advice is all based on 50 years in Oregon and I just moved to Maui so I think my gutter cleaning days are over. Aside from a small section over my front entry, my house doesn’t even have gutters! It still looks strange to me.
I’m getting too old for that chit!