My mind is in the gutter

[rockfan4]

Fall is upon us.
The leaves are turning.
The leaves are falling.
Into my gutters.
Again.

Anyone have any experience with gutter shields, gutter guards, the screens that go over them, the foam blocks that fit inside them? Anything that works?

[stevej37]

I had the metal screen type covers installed a few years back.
They work great.
Some of the maple tree seeds stick...but only for a few weeks and they break off.

[Zeke]

I've seen them in SoCal and if they aren't maintained in their own right, finer leaves get stuck and then decompose blocking the gutter. But we don't have weekly storms to blow the leaves off, so it's likely a local problem. My point is only that if you have some kind of tree with real fine leaves and debris, you might still need to clean them.

Nothing's perfect when it comes to gutters, IMO.

[Nordwest]

I had this product installed 7-8 years age and am very happy. I have tons of leaves and needles and never had an issue...

[1990C4S]

Subscribed. I was planning on adding this:

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/alu-rex-basic-protection-20-ft-black-aluminum-gutter-guard/1001033236

[matthewb0051]

My neighbor in VA had them installed. They brand that clips over the gutter and is more like a hard mesh.

Our house in VA had some that had holes shaped like diamonds sort of and holes were way too large. The whirly birds would fall and get stuck in them vertically. They pre-dated us on that house so no idea the brand, sorry.

[ckelly78z]

We are expecting 3"-5" of rain over the next two days, I did secure the downspouts, but wish I had cleaned all the gutters last week, so many pine needles.

[fastfredracing]

I wish I knew the brand, but I have never had to clean the gutters at my house. They snap into the gutters, and go up under the shingle edge. The have a small channel to catch the water , with small oval holes.
A few of them have blown off in heavy winds, but never clogged . Love them

[Aurel]

I have no gutters, works for me.
That is quite common in New England, prevents ice dams formation.
Stones for drainage all around the house instead.

[VillaRicaGA911]

I don’t recall the name of the ones I have, put on last year. They are metal and one edge goes under the first 2 or 3 rows of shingles. They work great, prior to we had to have gutters cleaned 2 x a year. Our house is surrounded by mostly hickory, poplar, and the odd white oak. Mountains of leaves every fall.

[Brian 162]

Originally Posted by Nordwest

I had this product installed 7-8 years age and am very happy. I have tons of leaves and needles and never had an issue...

I have the same product, very happy as well. Before the installation I had to clean my gutters once a week in the fall. Lots of big old trees on my street

[Venetian]

What keeps the leaves or pine needles from piling up on these screens?

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by Venetian

What keeps the leaves or pine needles from piling up on these screens?

That can happen. Then the next storm washed them off. That's what I've experienced.

[URY914]

Originally Posted by Venetian

What keeps the leaves or pine needles from piling up on these screens?

I installed a few sections of screens on mine and I have huge pine trees. Damn needles would stick straight up in the openings and hold back the rest of the needles on the roof. My roof pitch is very flat so the rain would not wash them off. PITA.

Wife and I went to a "home show" a few years ago. You know the ones, convention center with rows of sales people trying to sell you everything from spas to cooking knives/pans to kitchen cabinets. There must have been a dozen gutter screen booths there. Each one "fully guaranteed"

[rockfan4]

Thanks for the responses so far. Sounds like
Metal over plastic or vinyl.
Small holes are better than big holes.
Going under the bottom row of shingles will help prevent debris collecting between the edge of the roof and the gutter.

I don't have trees with small leaves, but I do have a big elm tree that drops a bazillion seeds in the spring. I have to use a snow shovel to clear them off the driveway. They will usually wash out of the gutters on their own, but I worry they would get stuck in a screen.

There's one section of roof near the front door that I worry about. Three planes of the roof converge there, and in a heavy rain there's a lot of water that flows in that one place. As is it sometimes overwhelms the gutter. I'm worried any sort of covering would just make that worse. When that gutter is clogged I can get 2-3 inches of water right next to the front step.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by rockfan4

Thanks for the responses so far. Sounds like
Metal over plastic or vinyl.
Small holes are better than big holes.
Going under the bottom row of shingles will help prevent debris collecting between the edge of the roof and the gutter.

I don't have trees with small leaves, but I do have a big elm tree that drops a bazillion seeds in the spring. I have to use a snow shovel to clear them off the driveway. They will usually wash out of the gutters on their own, but I worry they would get stuck in a screen.

There's one section of roof near the front door that I worry about. Three planes of the roof converge there, and in a heavy rain there's a lot of water that flows in that one place. As is it sometimes overwhelms the gutter. I'm worried any sort of covering would just make that worse. When that gutter is clogged I can get 2-3 inches of water right next to the front step.

I believe you can install oversized gutters. You can also install 'deflectors' higher up on the roof slope.

[island911]

Originally Posted by Zeke

...
Nothing's perfect when it comes to gutters, IMO.

^ THIS^

Even the cheap rolls of vinyl gutter guard will help keep flow going and decrease the maintenance a bit. The more expensive products have less and/or easier maintenance, but all have issues.

Having the right tool for making quick work of that maintenance is this...





~$31 for that. Works with shop-vac... Add extensions for higher reach - no ladders needed.

[flipper35]

Wife bought a robot that goes down the gutter to fling enverything out. Uses a regular RC car 6 cell battery.

When we had new gutters put in we had a large spruce that was dying and dropping tons of needles. They said when it is gone put the leaf guard in for the maple trees.

[911 Rod]

Larger down spouts helps a lot.

[dad911]

https://www.amazon.com/Tool-Daily-Attachment-Pressure-Rotating/dp/B081W2CQQB

Above attachment on a power washer with an extension pole.