Gutters & Leafguards

dmartin88 · Sep 27, 2004

Getting ready to replace my gutters and want to include leaf guards. Looking for recommendations and any cautions when getting estimates. Are seamless gutters better? There are quite a few different types of leaf guards, anything to look for in that area and do they really work and not clog up with wet leaves?

Will need about 200 foot I estimate. Also interested in installed prices per foot but guessing this will vary widely? I also saw a product where the water wasn't actually channeled to a downspout, just spread as it came off the roof so it didn't cause puddles and holes around the foundation, does anyone have those installed?

A search on TBN didn't yield a lot of info searching for "gutter"? Thanks in advance.

MarkLeininger · Sep 27, 2004

I've used the same leaf guard on several of our houses. I bought them at Home Dumpo for about $1 per 3 foot length. They're curved aluminum with two small hinges that clip onto the front edge of the gutter. You can tip them forward if you need to get into the gutter for anything. They've held up well to the ice and snow.

I always have seamless gutters installed. I can't remember what they cost.

Cliff_Johns · Sep 27, 2004

Suggest you peruse this thread

Previous gutter guard thread

Cliff

dmartin88 · Sep 28, 2004

Thanks, now realize the "search box" capability at the top of the page must have some pretty short default settings-- entering "gutter" there doesn't pick up this post. When I searched all forums and opened the time window out, I picked up some more information, thanks again.

rlw · Sep 29, 2004

I just bought gutter guards for my shop from these guys: Gutterworks

They also have general info on gutters and guards. Very fast shipping.

I don't have pine needles to worry about, just lots of leaves. They're working well so far, and installed easily.

slowrev · Sep 29, 2004

Do you have any maple trees that drop the little whirlygigs ? If so watch the screen guards. Spent a lot of time putting nice screen type guards on my gutters. Worked great till the little whirlygigs started falling. Got up one morning and the water was coming off the roof like I had no gutters. Looked and found that the little whirly seed ends fit perfectly in the screen leaving the tail sticking up and every opening in the screen had a whirlygig in it. The solid wall of whirlygig tails shed the water perfectly. Took the screens off and just went back to cleaning gutters /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Hope my rambling made sense.

Ben

dmartin88 · Sep 30, 2004

No maples to worry about but every two years, we get tons of acorns from the oak trees.

DocHeb · Sep 30, 2004

The Search function searches a copy of the TBN forum database. This prevents degradation of the forum's speed that the prior search function caused. Threads are added to that copy on a daily basis. Searches will not show threads done in the last 24 hours. Careful attention to word choice and use of the "and" option for a filter can be quite powerful.

I think the gutter "replacements" that disperse the water in place of a gutter, while interesting on a theoretical basis, in practicality are useless. They still dump the entire roof area of rain on the 1-2 feet next to the house. IMHO, I would not consider these to be an acceptable choice.

slowrev · Sep 30, 2004

I am with Doc/Chris on this. My concept of a gutter system is something that catches the water and channels it away from the house, so as not to cause damage to the structure.

Ben

dmartin88 · Sep 30, 2004

When I type "gutter" in to the box at the top of the page used to search forums, the thread related to "gutter leafguards" wasn't included even though it was from June. Looks like there may be other limitations beyond just the current day's traffic.

Thanks for the feedback on the diverters, will be getting some estimates from local companies in the next couple of weeks.