What do you know about gutter guards?

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

I had the surface tension type on my old house. Had to clean them once a year. I got a quote from a guy who wants to use Leaf Relief brand aluminum covers that have holes in them. I haven't had great success with this type in the past, but I only used the cheap vinyl ones. Anybody use these, or anything like them? (skip the first 30 second of bs in the video)

dad911 · 06-08-2019, 08:37 PM

I find they get in the way when you have to clean the gutters........

Haven't seen one yet that lets the water in, keeps out debris, and doesn't restrict water during hard rains.

biosurfer1 · 06-08-2019, 08:54 PM

I had some aluminum one with small holes when I bought the house.

COMPLETE garbage. All they did was plug up, then water would pour over, completely negating the while reason to have gutters, plus they left fine materials through so you have to clean them out anyways and they just get in the way when you try to clean.

Now I get up there once a year with the blower, job done, no issues.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

I never had to clean out the gutters with the surface tension type, but they accumulated dirt and mold that kept them from working, so the cover itself had to be scrubbed.

I'm very skeptical of these things, and hoping going to 6" gutters and downspouts will help the problem. I don't want to have to be cleaning 3rd story gutters.

rfuerst911sc · 06-09-2019, 03:56 AM

I have never used any type of gutter guards on any house we have owned . I also am not a fan of trees being too close to the house for a variety of reasons . Having said that I was in Home Depot the other day and saw an interesting solution . They were pieces of a very open foam or like a furnace filter material . The pieces were about 5 ' long and we're extruded to the shape of the gutter .

It looks like you just set them in your gutter end to end and done . Rain would go right through it but debris would not . But I would think at some point enough debris would be caught in it and on it to restrict flow . Not sure how to clean them , my guess is pull them out and reverse flow with a garden hose .

KFC911 · 06-09-2019, 04:08 AM

I have a few houses to deal with....and LOTS of trees....big oaks, pin (willow) oaks, maples' whirly birds, etc.

I've used the short 4' flat aluminum ones that cover the gutter....screwed into the wood and also into the top front of the gutter...on shorter runs at several houses. Also had the same installed over new larger gutters at parents' house a few years back....pros did those....the gutters were continous (90'), but the leaf guards were 10' sections. Not perfect, but after a decade or so...I'd do the same thing again...just sooner

.

KFC911 · 06-09-2019, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dad911

Haven't seen one yet that lets the water in, keeps out debris, and doesn't restrict water during hard rains.

When Dylan sings....Niagra Falls....no matter what

KFC911 · 06-09-2019, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

I have never used any type of gutter guards on any house we have owned . I also am not a fan of trees being too close to the house for a variety of reasons . Having said that I was in Home Depot the other day and saw an interesting solution . They were pieces of a very open foam or like a furnace filter material . The pieces were about 5 ' long and we're extruded to the shape of the gutter .

It looks like you just set them in your gutter end to end and done . Rain would go right through it but debris would not . But I would think at some point enough debris would be caught in it and on it to restrict flow . Not sure how to clean them , my guess is pull them out and reverse flow with a garden hose .

A gutter tree farm eventually...mebbe? Cool

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

I have never used any type of gutter guards on any house we have owned . I also am not a fan of trees being too close to the house for a variety of reasons . Having said that I was in Home Depot the other day and saw an interesting solution . They were pieces of a very open foam or like a furnace filter material . The pieces were about 5 ' long and we're extruded to the shape of the gutter .

It looks like you just set them in your gutter end to end and done . Rain would go right through it but debris would not . But I would think at some point enough debris would be caught in it and on it to restrict flow . Not sure how to clean them , my guess is pull them out and reverse flow with a garden hose .

That’s what was on our house when we bought it last year. The foam was totally clogged with algae and what looked like mud. It might be good for a couple of years but it can clog completely.

fastfredracing · 06-09-2019, 04:42 AM

I finally found a way to keep them from blowing off in big windstorms. I have them neatly stacked in the back corner of my shed.

Halm · 06-09-2019, 04:44 AM

At my previous home, it had the open cell style that rfeurst911sc described when we bought. Terrible product. Seemed to be a magnet for every leaf within 400 yards of the house.

Because of a water problem with the house, I tried 3 other styles at the critical (for me) area. All in all, it came down to the installer. Seems that these have to be installed at a specific angle to work and most are just put in place, not properly positioned.

When I found the right combo, I was pleasantly surprised at how well they worked.

YMMY

cabmandone · cabmandone's Garage

I have the vinyl ones that clip on the gutter, have holes and mesh... The keep the big stuff out of the gutters but they also cause icicles to form in the winter when it thaws a bit.

KFC911 · 06-09-2019, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

I finally found a way to keep them from blowing off in big windstorms. I have them neatly stacked in the back corner of my shed.

I have also removed some gutters...making sure the drainage, etc. is fine. Do not like 'em....nope. Just gotta find something that works....

Oh yeah....as Hal posted...it's in the details of the install...I've ripped out a few leaf guards too....good riddance

!

porsche tech · 06-09-2019, 05:54 AM

I was bragging at the golf club that I had just installed gutter guards. Then some guy says, " just gives the squirrels a place to nest". A couple of days later see the end of one of them chewed up so I got on a step ladder to see what I could do about it and out pops mama squirrel...almost fell off my ladder. She wouldn't leave, kept hanging around the edge of the roof. Then I got the guard off and found out why...2 babies. I have since removed the guards and got this shop vac attachment for my blower.

recycled sixtie · recycled sixtie's Garage

We have gutter guards. I believe they are metal and have tiny holes to let the water in and keep the leaves out. They actually work well. I get the garden hose in the eavestroughs once in a while as there tends to be a sludge buildup eventually.

KFC911 · 06:25 AM

When I installed all of my 4' sections...ends over-lapping, I made sure to leave a few (corners, etc.) so that I could easily flush. We're talkin' heights, LOTS of leaves...step ladders and toy blowers....meh

. If I can (and am willing) to walk the roof line..my big azz Stihl or Echo backpack blowers (beasts) are the best way....on uncovered gutters. I just don't get on some roofs though

dad911 · 06-09-2019, 06:29 AM

I was given one of these for the power washer, some day I'll try it:

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200610635_200610635?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Pressure%20Washers%20%3E%20Pressure%20W asher%20Accessories%20%3E%20Pressure%20Washer%20At tachments&utm_campaign=Power%20Fit&utm_content=35489&gclid=CMP_sfjN3OICFQyKyAodZM0EVQ

Halm · 06-09-2019, 06:39 AM

The talk about leaf blowers reminds me. . . What I found was that even with properly installed guards, they would not work if there were heavy leaves on the roof that would eventually wash onto the guards. And our house was under a canopy of old growth hardwoods so that was a common situation for me.

So I ended up on the roof with a gas blower keeping the roof clean so the water would be properly diverted when it rain. My ultimate solution was to move.

Chocaholic · 06-09-2019, 06:42 AM

I’m tempted to remove gutters all together. Have never had guards that work for any duration and we are in a thickly wooded area. When it rains hard, water just pours over the sides of the gutters anyway.

May pick up the 10’ extension tubes for the Stihl blower and try that as an interim step. There’s only one stretch along the back that I won’t be able to reach.

porsche tech · 06-09-2019, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

I’m tempted to remove gutters all together. Have never had guards that work for any duration and we are in a thickly wooded area. When it rains hard, water just pours over the sides of the gutters anyway.

May pick up the 10’ extension tubes for the Stihl blower and try that as an interim step. There’s only one stretch along the back that I won’t be able to reach.

I have considered going without also. Lots of pines and live oaks around so they fill up fast. I agree that with the gully washers we get around here that it pours right over them especially if you have guards. My only concern would be the splash on the ground getting back on the siding and rotting it out. There are plenty of shrubs around the perimeter of the house so it might be okay. Also most houses around here have a big overhang and chain downspouts.