Leaf guard or not?

[recycled sixtie]

We are getting new eavestroughing and roof on our double garage. Do you think leaf guard is worth it on the eavestroughing? I have in the past leaned a ladder against the old eavestrough(no leaf guard) and bent the eavestrough. With the leaf guard it is less likely to do so. What are your thoughts on leafguard? Worth it or not? And I know you can get an attachment to the ladder to spread the weight of the ladder across what you are leaning it on....

[wdfifteen]

There are many types of gutter guards. What type are you looking at?
I have the surface tension type on my house. They work unless there is a heavy downpour, and you have to clean them once a year. When I had screens I had to clean them several times a year.

[sc_rufctr]

I'd recommend not.

I've had bare gutters and two different types of leaf guards. Bare gutters are easier to keep clean.

[VincentVega]

Crazy Canucks, eavestroughs?

I've used most types of gutter guards and none are perfect. I have heavy pine needles and they help but many needles get through. I prefer them but also expect they need to come off once in a while for cleaning. The white plastic version from heme depot are ok but only last me 2-3 years. They are cheap for a reason.

[flipper35]

We were looking at them for our house to keep the maples from growing up there. Does it work for those seeds?

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by flipper35

We were looking at them for our house to keep the maples from growing up there. Does it work for those seeds?

We have removed one fir tree and the neighbor three of them. As mentioned above pine needles may get caught in the small holes. Not sure about maple seeds though. Actually was up opening inspection panels of the house this morning on the leaf guards and found very little crud in there. Mostly muddy crud. So the holes in the gutter guards are quite small and in a big downpour the water may go right over the eavestrough. However I think the guards keep out a lot of crud. As for the garage which have no leaf guards there is quite a lot of crud in there and has to be flushed out regularly.

Having all pine trees cut down between our 2 houses reduces pine needles getting in the eavestrough and reduces fire hazard. I don't see how anything can grow in covered eavestroughs as long as they are flushed once a year....

[recycled sixtie]

Spent the last couple of hours on roof and took off the inspection panels and found about a quarter to half inch of "soil" type substance under the leaf guard. Now being a split level the upper roof is pretty high. Access with open gutter/eavestrough is easy but with leaf guard you don't get the leaves in there.

So it is a trade off. With leaf guard you still have crud in there in the form of soil but no leaves. Clearing it need not be done so often with leaf guard but to do a good job they should be removed to make them squeaky clean.

With leaf bearing trees around an open eavestrough/gutter will collect lots of leaves.

With a double garage I think we will just go open gutter/eavestrough.

[Dantilla]

A building inspector friend hates ever seeing gutters with leaf guards because they cause rot in the eaves.

Any needles/leaves that are kept out of the gutter and lay on top the guards will hold moisture that wicks into the wood under the shingles.

Here in the damp Seattle area, he says leaf guards are guaranteed to cause extensive structural damage.

[stomachmonkey]

Installed them on my last house.

While not perfect they were one of the cheapest, easiest, most worthwhile, upgrades ever.

[Oh Haha]

We had new gutters an whatnot installed about 5 years ago and I bought the plastic ones and diligently put them on every inch of trough. We have large oak,maple and pine trees on all sides of the house so we have tons of leaves and needles.

I found it to be a total PIA to clean them clean with the guards on. I finally just took them off. I just use my leaf blower a few times a year to clean them out. I follow up with a good flush of water from the garden hose. Our house is 2 stories so it takes a good hour or so to complete but I have the time so I can't complain.

I'd box them up and send them to you but you'd hate me for it.

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Installed them on my last house.

While not perfect they were one of the cheapest, easiest, most worthwhile, upgrades ever.

We have had leave guards installed on the house about five years ago. I think they are worth it for the two level high gutters/eavestrough even though they should be cleaned out every 2 years. We are getting a new roof/eavestroughing installed on our double garage. My wife the great grinder(don't go there) that she is managed to get the installers to clean the house eavestroughs for $50 but is normally a $300 can job.

I asked how they clean them. He said with a high pressure hose. The garage we will go without the leaf guard. Much easier for me to access and clean.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

We have had leave guards installed on the house about five years ago. I think they are worth it for the two level high gutters/eavestrough even though they should be cleaned out every 2 years. We are getting a new roof/eavestroughing installed on our double garage. My wife the great grinder(don't go there) that she is managed to get the installers to clean the house eavestroughs for $50 but is normally a $300 can job.

I asked how they clean them. He said with a high pressure hose. The garage we will go without the leaf guard. Much easier for me to access and clean.

My problem with that house was they only got clogged between Fall and Spring.

While certainly not The Great White North there is nothing appealing about being on a ladder cleaning frozen muck out of gutters every 4-5 weeks during a North Shore Long Island winter.

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by Oh Haha

... I just use my leaf blower a few times a year to clean them out.

^ This.

[flipper35]

A leaf blower doesn't work so well with maples. They stay stuck in there and you have to remove them by scooping them out and you have to do it often or they plug the downspouts.

[notfarnow]

Hot tip of the day... the wire mesh gutter guards are a great way to put new rocker panels on an old truck when you're in a pinch. Screw them on, spray foam behind them, trim with a bread knife, and Bondo. Bam, you're done!

[Nordwest]

I had this product installed about 5 years ago and works awesome. I have butt loads of leaves from firs to maples. I have peeked under them a few times and no issues. Cost $1200 installed for about 200ft. I used to have to clean them 4 or 5 times a year.

Dave

[Oh Haha]

Originally Posted by Nordwest

I had this product installed about 5 years ago and works awesome. I have butt loads of leaves from firs to maples. I have peeked under them a few times and no issues. Cost $1200 installed for about 200ft. I used to have to clean them 4 or 5 times a year.

Dave

That looks pretty stout. It might even keep those pesky pine needles out.

[wdfifteen]

^^
I cannot see how those would be of any use. Maybe you have a different situation. Here, maple leaves would land on them, it would rain and mat the down, and they would be like cardboard covering your gutters when the sun came out and dried them off.

[Hugh R]

Single story house, Aluminum extruded gutters, I clean them twice a year, as mentioned the "soil" can be heavy. Lots of oak trees and leaves. I can clean mine, and hose them all down in less than an hour.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

We are getting new eavestroughing and roof on our double garage. Do you think leaf guard is worth it on the eavestroughing? I have in the past leaned a ladder against the old eavestrough(no leaf guard) and bent the eavestrough. With the leaf guard it is less likely to do so. What are your thoughts on leafguard? Worth it or not? And I know you can get an attachment to the ladder to spread the weight of the ladder across what you are leaning it on....

I am happy with the screens on mine...the few maple seeds that stick in it, break off with time and flow through. Have had mine about 7 years now and haven't had to do anything to them. All is good!