We had new eavestroughs(gutters) installed about 5 years ago with gutter guards. I really like them as we have pine trees on our yard. The needles that sit on the gutterguards can be brushed off or picked off with leather work gloves.
What does end up in the actual eavestroughs is a fine dust which turns to a mudlike substance plus the crud that comes off the shingles. So the end caps of the gutter guards have to be removed once a year and a hose inserted to flush the crud out.
Can't remember what we paid for the gutter guards but whatever it was was well worth it. Leaves, pine needles etc have a hard time getting through.
Cheers, Guy
