yet another gutter leaf guard question

[87GN]

With today's nice rain storm, I see my gutters are overflowing so I assume I have some clogs. I read through numerous leaf guard threads on G.J. and I'm still not sure which ones to get. Some says this brand is good. Then someone says this brand is no good and get to get that brand. Some else says no to that brand get these. So, at this point in time, what is considered a good brand/style to get? Tomorrows job is to go clean out the gutters and downspouts and hopefully buy some guards for next weeks project. Thanks.
Mark

 

[TJMtl]

My house has some good leaf guards, but they failed due to shingle erosion which made it through and clogged the downspouts. No leaf Guard is maintenance free, and the fact that they clogged was because they are not easy to check.

I have T-Rex gutter guards.
T-Rex

 

[Sumboodie]

If it's fairly easy to clean, just do that.
Mine are only ~10ft up. I just rinse them out every couple years. Mostly cottonwood fuzz and silt.

 

[MushCreek]

I'd like to find some that actually work. The ones that advertise non-stop on TV are unbelievably expensive, costing several thousand dollars for a small house. I have some screen-type ones that work OK for leaves, but the oak pollen clogs them up every spring. I blast them out with a hose, but the back of the house is 20' off of the ground. At my age, I barely do step ladders any more.

Before I had gutters, the rain dumped off of my metal roof, plowing a rut in the yard.

 

[FMB4]

I used the cheap flexible plastic screens for 3-4 years. And, as mentioned above, I still had to remove them every year due to debris that made it's way past the screens. Said screens were not hard to remove or install, but I ended up leaving (har-har) them off. Now all I use are the aluminum screens that fit into the downspout openings.

 

[CraigStu]

We have the expanded metal style installed by the builder. He offered us 3 options, these were the least expensive, he has them on his own house and is happy. I am happy too. When I look out our bedroom window I look directly down on the 5 ft front porch roof so I look right at the top of the gutters. They have been perfect over 2.5 years. Ours are similar to these.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Spectra-Armour-Screen-25-Pro-Pack/1003091186

We had the foam rubber ones on our previous house. They were OK until they started to wear out. All the tiny stuff stays in the openings and eventually they are almost a solid top. They are really ugly to remove when they are done.

 

[Showkey]

Don’t think anything changed from the prior posts:

1. certain situations you may have clean the screens once or twice per year, more in the 90* corners.
2. foam or brushes don’t work in certain situations. Don’t last in the sun…..
3. Some of the choices are $$$$$.
4. No solution is 100% maintenance free.

 

[BillK]

I bought these from Home Depot about 10 years ago. They are so cheap it was worth taking the chance. Well they have worked great for 10 years I had to replace one because a small branch fell on it and messed up the screen but otherwise no problems.

Amerimax Home Products Snap-In 3 ft. White Vinyl Mesh Gutter Guard 85270 - The Home Depot

Keep leaves and debris out of your gutters by installing Amerimax Home Products White Snap-In Gutter Guard. Made from high-quality rigid pvc.

www.homedepot.com

 

[FredWanaker]

if one story, special wand that hooks up to your brand leaf blower. You just walk along and blow out the debris whenever you want.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

No leaf Guard is maintenance free, and the fact that they clogged was because they are not easy to check.


T-Rex

I disagree. My Gutter Glove gutter guards have been 100% maintenance and clog free for almost 30 years...

IMO there's no other option.

Gutterglove — American Gutter Guard Manufacturer Since 2000

Gutterglove Inc. is the American manufacturer of patented gutter guards, with multiple brand portfolios protecting over 1,000,000 homes. Made in USA since 2000.

www.gutterglove.com

Tommy

 

[65ranchero]

I had the plastic mesh ones on my other house after getting tired of climbing on the roof and cleaning out all the maple seeds (helicopters) out, then hiring out to clean the gutters ( which I was not happy with the way they did it).
The plastic mesh lasted for a couple of years until the squirrels figured out how to pull the mesh off and get the maple seeds that got passed through the mesh.
Wound up taking them off and cleaning the gutters anyway!
tried the expanded aluminum mesh in the down spout opening , still had to clean them. so I moved!

 

[rburke65]

Well it’s all opinion! I installed the aluminum diamond shaped stuff you screw to the aluminum gutter..?..4’ pieces. So far so good.

 

[FMB4]

My wife and I will never buy another house with large deciduous trees on the lot, or nearby. Problem solved.

 

[Showkey]

They are maintenance free if you don’t live in the woods.

The definition of “woods“ might be………

100% shade in summer
it hard to see the stars
its incredibly dark on moonless night
very difficult to grow grass,
moss grows way better than grass,
you measure your leaf piles in feet,
you shovel acorns when they drop.

 

[HPRifleman]

They are maintenance free if you don’t live in the woods.

The definition of “woods“ might be………

100% shade in summer
it hard to see the stars
its incredibly dark on moonless night
very difficult to grow grass,
moss grows way better than grass,
you measure your leaf piles in feet,
you shovel acorns when they drop.

This might fit your definition.

 

[mv213]

I disagree. My Gutter Glove gutter guards have been 100% maintenance and clog free for almost 30 years...

IMO there's no other option.

Gutterglove — American Gutter Guard Manufacturer Since 2000

Gutterglove Inc. is the American manufacturer of patented gutter guards, with multiple brand portfolios protecting over 1,000,000 homes. Made in USA since 2000.

www.gutterglove.com

Tommy

I like the idea of those—how do you deal with the debris (leaves, needles) that build up on top of the filter? How often do you have to do it? The actual “Leaf Guard” brand is horrible, in a heavy rain leaves can flow right into the gutter and they are tough to clean out then.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I like the idea of those—how do you deal with the debris (leaves, needles) that build up on top of the filter? How often do you have to do it? The actual “Leaf Guard” brand is horrible, in a heavy rain leaves can flow right into the gutter and they are tough to clean out then.

I don't. Nothing builds up. The guards are mounted at pretty much the same pitch as the roof. Keep in mind, I have a Cape Cod, so I have a steep roof pitch. I could see a roof with less pitch have a few leaves or needles on the gaurds until the wind picked up.

Tommy

 

[olytdi]

I, too, have the Gutter Glove stainless covers and they're the solution I'm most happy with. I've used everything else including plastic covers, flip back arched covers, foam and brush gutter inserts, empty gutters, etc., -- except the Leaf Guard which looks like a viable solution for those with no leaves and only light rains.

I bought my Gutter Glove covers a couple of winters ago when there was a Home Depot sale. They ran under $400 for my 1750 sq ft house, garage, and the well house. Was able to install all in a longish day. Very straight forward.

They give you a coupon for a very useful brush in case you need to clear off the top of the guard which I've done twice yearly from the ground with a telescoping pole. I live in the woods. Takes about 10 - 15 minutes to do all of them.

I've not found a sturdier, more cost effective, and low maintenance solution.

 

[Mikeske]

I run nothing on my gutters and have only cleaned them 3 times in the last 22 years I have lived at this location. I think it has something to do with the fact that I bought this land and it used to be a pasture. I liked it after seeing what a tree did to my buddies house it center punched and destroyed the house. I planted trees but they are 30 to 60 feet away from any of the structures. So gutter maintenance is easy for me.

 

[glentre]

As I said in a previous thread on the same subject, no gutter guard works except one. That is the kind with no cap or screen but is hinged and can be swung down to allow the leaves to fall out or hosed out from the ground.

Glen

 

[67carl]

I was looking at one Costco sells and is very popular. Looks like the same design as the Gutter Glove mentioned above. The Costco one is $2.00/ft while Home Depot has the Gutter Glove on sale for $1.75/ft. These have been on my to-do list but ranked pretty low... I may need to move it up.

https://www.costco.com/easyon-gutterguard-5”-version---100’.product.100019377.html

Gutter Guard by Gutterglove 4 ft. L x 5 in. W Stainless Steel Micro-Mesh Gutter Guard (80 ft. Kit) THD80 - The Home Depot

Grant classic style and elegance to your dwelling with the choice of this extra ordinary Gutter Guard by Gutterglove Stainless Steel Micro-Mesh Gutter Guard.

www.homedepot.com

 

[Mr_fixit]

Make sure you consider the snow turning to ice with most better gutter guards. No one mentions the problems of winter, during the sales pitch.