Gutter guards- what works best?

[Thall303]

Very attractive look.....but look to be very expensive?

 

[ultrarunner]

I've been using GutterBrush for five years now. We've got a lot of maples around the house and the gutters were always clogging up, usually at the downspout drop. Since I've put the brushes in I haven't had any problems with clogging. Very easy to install, just drop them in the gutter, slide it down towards the end, drop another one in

I've got GutterBrush at one place with lots of Redwoods around... it is a vast improvement but still need to rinse every couple of years.

As you mentioned... they lengths just pop in or out and slide into place.

 

[woody]

This is the way mine are, I only have gutters over the door and no ends but they still clog up from time to time I guess that goes with living in the woods, oak trees everywhere.

 

[Oldoak]

This is the way mine are, I only have gutters over the door and no ends but they still clog up from time to time I guess that goes with living in the woods, oak trees everywhere.

Yep, it goes with the territory. We prefer the Summertime shade and acorn production for the wildlife from our Red Oaks rather then cutting them down.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Speaking about gutters overflowing during heavy rains, I had a 120 foot long barn with six inch gutters and four downspouts. During a heavy rain, the downspouts would back up so I replaced them with some six inch electrical conduit that I had on hand thinking that the increase in "head space" would help. It did, no more backups.

 

[JerryK]

This is what I have been using...

euro copper gutters - Bing

I have a similar gutter on my house, but it is plastic. French company, I think... I got mine from Canada. Mine have been up for 14 years and take the winter abuse fairly well....

Classic Half Round vinyl rainware

 

[ultrarunner]

I have a similar gutter on my house, but it is plastic. French company, I think... I got mine from Canada. Mine have been up for 14 years and take the winter abuse fairly well....

Classic Half Round vinyl rainware

Thanks for the link... didn't know they existed in plastic...

 

[s219]

I have ground gutters around most of my house, but have about 12' of copper half-round gutter over the front porch steps, and am about to add another 25' of the same over our front sidewalk.

On the 12' section, I used that foam gutter guard (like fish tank filter foam with treatment for UV/mold/etc) that fits inside the gutters, and it works well, but after about 3 years it started clogging in one corner due to fine debris that broke down (almost like dirt at that point). I took them out and between hosing and banging them on the ground, got all of the dirt out and they are working OK. But I expect it will happen again and so I don't recommend them (plus they are expensive).

For the new 25' section I will be putting up (as soon as we have 3-4 dry days with no snow/rain, which will be a miracle) I plan to try the cheap gutter mesh screen you can get at Lowes or HD. They have a black plastic mesh that comes in a roll, or metal screens (have seen aluminum and galvanized) that come in 3' sections. I might try the plastic first, as I won't have to worry about it reacting with the copper. I think I can use zip ties to fasten it. It's cheap so if I change my mind later, no big deal. This section of gutter is right over a sidewalk so it will be easy to get to with a ladder.

If the screen works OK on the 25' section for a few years, I'll use it to swap out the foam on the shorter section.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Guttersupply.com has copper screens that won't react with the copper gutters.

 

[s219]

Guttersupply.com has copper screens that won't react with the copper gutters.

Too expensive!! $19 for 3' (even worse than the foam at $17 for 4'). BTW, I bought my gutters and downspouts from them.