Is there a Gutter protection that works??

[LD1]

As the title suggests. What have have you guys found that works and what doesn't.

Every spring and fall, I get tired of cleaning the gutters. I usualld dont realize it or think about it until it is a downpour outside and I see the water pouring out of the gutters.

There are several types on the market such as the foam type that "fill" the gutter. There is the style that cap the gutter and have slots in it. The screen type. The solid type with the rolled edge that the water is suposed to follow, etc. What works best for the money??

If it matters, a little layout of the property. There is a woods about 15-20 yards behind the house with an assortment of hardwoods like ash, maple, and cherry. To the west and north about 15-20 yards are a bunch of white pines which are really dirty as well. When I do clean the gutters, the front and side are mainly full of the pine needles and buds. The back is full with the broad leaves. I only have ~120' of gutter and dont want to go broke. I can clean them for free, it is just a PITA.

All suggestions are welcome.

 

[brin]

As the title suggests. What have have you guys found that works and what doesn't.

Every spring and fall, I get tired of cleaning the gutters. I usualld dont realize it or think about it until it is a downpour outside and I see the water pouring out of the gutters.

There are several types on the market such as the foam type that "fill" the gutter. There is the style that cap the gutter and have slots in it. The screen type. The solid type with the rolled edge that the water is suposed to follow, etc. What works best for the money??

If it matters, a little layout of the property. There is a woods about 15-20 yards behind the house with an assortment of hardwoods like ash, maple, and cherry. To the west and north about 15-20 yards are a bunch of white pines which are really dirty as well. When I do clean the gutters, the front and side are mainly full of the pine needles and buds. The back is full with the broad leaves. I only have ~120' of gutter and dont want to go broke. I can clean them for free, it is just a PITA.

All suggestions are welcome.

I have had 2 different kinds...Our old house had the screen type...did not work and blew off in high winds...talk about a PITA ...The new house has slotted gutter caps and only in 2 spots they have clogged with pine needles...The roof is too steep for me to clean them so I am waiting to find someone to go up there...where they are clogged is not a problem but it is annoying but the slotted work better but so far I have no found the perfect ones...if they exist, especially for those of us who live around trees.

 

[Chuck52]

I've had at least two types of screens, and neither worked well enough to bother with. In my present house I have no protectors, and I'm fairly certain at least the screens wouldn't work because I have a couple of locust trees close to the house. Locust leaves are so small I'm sure they would clog the screens. Fortunately for me my house has a low ratio slope and it is easy to get up there. Unfortunately I am getting older. One thing I will do this fall is cut down the worst offending locust tree. It actually hangs over the house in front and the sludge created when its leaves clog the gutter there is just too much to deal with. It is also ugly. So it goes and I get some pretty good fire wood.

I just can't imagine those solid caps working....I mean the ones where the water is supposed to follow the gentle curve of the metal and end up in the gutters. I only have gutter problems in downpours. I bet the water would just flush right over the sides of those things.

Chuck

 

[Maxfli]

I put caps on mine. Something like $2500. With a lifetime warrantee that they would work. Told the installers I was concerned in a few areas about the amount of water coming off the valley of a steep pitched roof. Then is hardly rained for months. Tried for months to get them to come back, what a joke. If I was going to do it again I would look at the Gutter brush. Don't know if it works but it sounds better that what I have now at a fraction of the price. Gutter Guard, Gutter Cleaning, Gutterbrush Gutter Guards, Rain Gutters Protection

Chuck is right, right over the cap, but I have a very steep pitched roof. Ice is problem in the winter too!

 

[LD1]

That gutter brush looks like it would work for broad leaves really well. It would be the needles that would concern me. Getting all wedged in that brush. I think it would be easier cleanning the gutter itself than trying to get the needles out of that brush.

Has anyone used that prush with pinetrees?? Does it work??

 

[beppington]

I saw a video some years, or on TV (not sure), that basically found that none of them work under all possible scenarios. Maybe there are better designs now, not sure.

Might've been an episode of This Old House, actually.

 

[ray66v]

I have installed many types of covers and screens. One thing no one ever mentions is: If you have steep roof pitches, i.e.> 6/12, no cover will work well. The water has too much speed to be able to hold on, and follow the curve at the end. Much of it will shoot off of the roof.

On pitches < 6/12, I have found covers to work very well.

Covers can also require the gutter to be lowered, before they can be installed, if the cutters were installed with any of the edge of the shingles inside the area of the trough.

So, far there is no perfect solution for all occasions.

 

[dfkrug]

I also have two types currently, and I can not endorse either.

I have huge redwood trees nearby, and they are very messy.

One type is a stainless steel curved expanded metal with hinges on one
side. I have actually seen Stellar Jays open them up. The other side
of the house has some of those vinyl mesh covers, but they seem to get
distorted by the sun.

 

[beppington]

Hope this link works; It's a video clip from This Old House showing Tom Silva "demonstrating" several different gutter guards for a homeowning couple. I quoted demonstrating there, because the hose he uses to spray some water on the roof, as "rain", would be a very light rain!

The homeowners don't seem too thrilled about any of them.

How to Choose a Leaf-Proof Gutter | Video | Drainage & Gutters | This Old House

 

[LD1]

I have installed many types of covers and screens. One thing no one ever mentions is: If you have steep roof pitches, i.e.> 6/12, no cover will work well. The water has too much speed to be able to hold on, and follow the curve at the end. Much of it will shoot off of the roof.

On pitches < 6/12, I have found covers to work very well.

Covers can also require the gutter to be lowered, before they can be installed, if the cutters were installed with any of the edge of the shingles inside the area of the trough.

So, far there is no perfect solution for all occasions.

Unfortunatally I have a 6/12 pitch on the roof. I am wondering if them foam type do any good. Like these Amazon.com: GutterStuff EZ 32-Feet of 5-Inch Foam Filter Gutter Insert, 5-Inch K Style: Home Improvement

But I am wondering how well they will actually do in a heavy rain. Or do they limit how fast the water can get to the downspouts and fill the gutter with water too quickly to be effective in a heavy rain??

Light rains dont bother me, it is the heavy rains that do the damage. Pooling and eroding earth around the foundation. I want something that will handle whatever mother nature has.