"Gutter Guards - My Experiences"

 By Ron Stultz

30 Nov 2012

Summary: there is no "magic bullet" when it comes to keeping house gutters clean. Some types of gutter guards will help keep gutters clear and water flowing while others are more cosmetic than functional.

Background:

At 66 years of age, have now owned 3 houses.

Have tried every gutter guard type except for "Gutter Helmet" and the type that is a foam block that fits down into gutter.

At this point, sure there is no "magic bullet" or perfect solution when it comes to gutter guards.

If you live in an area that has trees, leaves, sooner or later, you going to have to clean out gutters no matter what type gutter guard you use.

My experiences:

All gutter guards are made for 4 or 5 inch gutters. I have 6 inch gutters and no gutter guard wants to fit correctly as all sag over time.

Metal, open weave: rusts; mesh holes so large that small needles (pine, other) get through; guard is arched and debris collects along roof edge but because of large open weave, good water flow into gutter.

Vinyl, looks like "Gutter Helmet": thought because it looked like "Gutter Helmet" would be perfect solution BUT (1) if gutter not just right height in relation to roof edge, guard forms a lip upward that traps water before it can make it to slits along front edge of guard (2) slits in front of guard are so small, pine needles and other debris clog them and (3) most roof water not going to go into gutter defeating whole purpose of gutter. Not recommended. Note here that I have a sneaky suspicion that "Gutter Helmet" going to act the same way in that small tree needles going to clog from water slits. Demonstrations of "Gutter Helmet" always with clean, flowing water and no slit clog.

Vinyl, flat, open weave: similar to metal mentioned above but weave is closer, tighter, limiting amount of debris that can get through, into gutter; depending on height of gutter off of roof, guard can put upward pressure on roof shingles.