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For 14 years, my husband had to get on our roof and clean all of the pine needles out of our gutters out that way. (It was a 2 story with a walkout basement and was too tall for a ladder. The one time he did something on a ladder, the ladder slipped a few feet so he didn't like going to the top of an extended ladder after that.) He hates heights and thankfully he never fell off of the roof. Then we moved to Las Vegas where they don't put gutters on roofs. We thought it was strange at first but since it only rains a few inches a year there, there isn't a need for them.

I think your spot on and honest on your gutter guard review.

Thanks for sharing. For ages now, I was under the impression that Gutter Guards were the be all and end all. Alas, clearly even with them, maintenance is still required. For me, I might just go the route of having the gutters cleaned once a year, after all the leaves have fallen off the trees...

@borderlineiq

3 жыл бұрын

That's sound thinking. It just depends on the home and site. For some, numerous trees may mean that leaves clog the drains over months, so one cleaning is not enough, and for others, if they have two story or high elevation homes, they may pay too much for it to be economical. Professional installation of a system that is guaranteed is usually very high indeed, as is a professional cleaning in some markets (basically a scalping.) I'm going with high end, tight mesh, and will install myself. The cost is hundreds rather than thousands. I have high elevation, but have no trees directly over the house any longer, only surrounded by trees. Also have an older roof, so grit is shedding more. Will see how it plays out.

The Consumer Report gutter guard that I remember seeing was the micro-mesh type.. The thing about gutter guards that is outrageous, is the sleazy sales tactics and criminal prices that companies charge for installation. I installed GutterGlove micro-mesh covers and bought them at Home Depot for a penny on a dollar compared to what the sales criminals charge. And, I agree with you totally on maintenance. ALL gutter covers require it, contrary to the sales rep lies. I blow off my upper guards every year or two with my leaf blower. I use an extension pole with a brush attachment to knock off debris, occasionally, from my lower gutters.

Very succinctly put. Great advice.

Good job! You did a very good service.

Great advice.. Thank you for your experienced review.

I agree with it all. I recently had a metal roof installed with new gutters. The first autumn and the gutters are full of leaves. I have lots of trees around. I bought one of those leaf blower attachment; a rather expensive one (thinking "quality" right?). First off they seem light weight on the ground, but when holding it up, your arms and shoulders tire really fast. Especially if you're a senior like me. Secondly if the leaves are not totally dry, they will hardly move, let alone be blown out. Long story short, I sent it back. Horror stories about pressured water cleaning systems scare the heck out of me, since I just had major roofing done. For me, I'm thinking, gutter guards may be the best solution.

Great info Reuben, well made video. Just a couple ideas to think about if this comes up again, , #1) Repeat the fact that no gutter guard is 100% maintenance free, many homeowners want an easy "fix" where there is NONE. #2) When asked which gutter guard is best, , its helpful to ask how many days per year the home gets rain/snow, , AND how many inches of rain/snow per year the home gets, , then how many (and what kind of) trees are on the property dropping leaves on the roof. Finally, since ALL gutter guards need maintenance, plan to install gutter guards so that you can open the high-end (short panel) of the gutter AND open a 6 inch panel over the downspout for easy cleaning every few years by snaking a garden hose with a jet nozzle into the gutters.

@rosewoodsteel6656

15 күн бұрын

Good points, Dennis. Just to add, with the micro-mesh types, the Achille's heal is small debris (tasses, small seeds, etc.) that collects on top of the covers. This must be removed and checked every so often. If it remains on top of the mesh, it will compact and stick. When moisture is added, on the northern gutters, you could have moss start to grow on that, as well. If this is not attended to, you will get over run when it rains. In my case, on the upper roof, I blow the debris off with a leaf blower, every 1 or 2 years or so. If it is sticking to the mesh, I scrape it with the end of the leaf blower exhaust tube and blow it off. For the lower roof, I use an extension pole with a brush attached to it. I haven't had any leaves or debris actually enter the gutters.

9:15 saw this video 9:30 started home inspection 9:35 saw clogged gutters 10:00 recited to buyers what I saw in video about gutter guards 10:01 looked like rock star. Thanks

Great informative unbiased Video! For the last 13 years I have owned and successfully operated a gutter cleaning business both residential and commercial properties., Gutter guards do work keeping debris out of a gutter system ,however as you mentioned they do need to be maintained. The advertising is misleading when they say "never clean your gutters again" I have found that even with the most expensive systems is that one of the drawback is sparrows building nests in the ends of gutter run generally right rear the downspout opening some unseen nests up to 3 feet longs. Oak wilt strings during the spring wrap over the top of the guard and over the edge into the system and will eventually build up restricting the water flow from the roof into the gutter. I can talk about all systems but something I want to mention is the extremely heavy rains that were reported in Southern Illinois and into the St. Louis MO. Rain totals of 12 to 14 inches were reported in a 12 hour period. These absurd totals are the result of unusual weather patters we are starting to witness. The Midwest was struck with 2 Doratios, 80 mph straight line winds in less than a year accompanied with heavy rain. This is all new to me, I hope the readers consider the possibility of heavy fast rainfall totals out of the ordinary. In situations like this I would not recommend anything restricting the water flow into a gutter.

@b.b.finsclara3589

Жыл бұрын

Thank you.....what would you consider safer as gutters under those heavy rain conditions Mark?

so what are the high end systems? needed a continuation

Easiest, fastest way I've found for my 1-story house is a shop vac with an angled extension (gutter kit.) Cost me $20 and I just stand on the ground and walk down each side once a year, sucking out all the leaves, water, muck and shingle debris, everything comes out. With enough extenders, you could do a 2-story as well.

Great video, thanks for posting

I have a mid-century modern house so the roof is easy to walk on. I can also go out a second-story window so I don't need a ladder at all. I use a "super atomic" (powerful) electric leaf blower and I just blow everything out of the gutters. Bear in mind, I do this a couple times a year. I've seen some gutters so bad that NO leaf blower can do it. Safety tip, do NOT fall off your roof.

@SurfingWithTheMartian

8 ай бұрын

My house is set up the same way. I can safely get on my roof and blow all of the debris out of my gutters with a leaf blower in about 10 mins. The only problem is in the month of October for example, 10 minutes after I clean the gutters they could all be filled up with leaves again, then 10 minutes after that it could start raining, then the downspouts get clogged, then rainwater is overflowing the edges of the gutter and then I’m at risk for leaks in my basement. My solution was to install 1/4” hardware cloth over my gutters. I still have to blow the leaves off my roof but the hardware cloth keeps 99% of the leaves out of the gutters and allows for adequate drainage even during hard rain. I’m not saying my solution will work for everyone but it works very well in my situation. The goal for gutter guards should be making sure your gutters are clear to allow drainage down your downspouts but at the same time to not restrict water getting in your gutters to the point where it spills over the edge of the gutter guards near your home’s foundation. It’s a balancing act. Me personally, I would rather have a little bit of debris get through the 1/4” hardware cloth than install a micromesh gutter guard with very small openings that filters all debris from getting in your gutters out but is so restrictive that it gets overwhelmed by heavy rain and is prone to allowing overflow over the edge of your gutter.

I'm looking for one for my new home. I asked a home improvement company to install one in a home I had before. I think they installed the cheapest they could. It was a wire screen with large holes. It messed things up bad. The small sticks and leaves got stuck in the holes and I had to get on a ladder and pick them out of the holes. While doing this I noticed that some of them were just laying because they had popped out of the rain gutter.

I consider “accessibility” the prime consideration for gutter guard decision and style (cost). A single story home with easy ladder access for maintenance and minimal debris accumulation, and especially a roof slope low enough to allow safe walking for gutter cleaning, precludes the use of any guards. Homes on slopes, deck/stairs, or landscape planting which interfere with effective ladder placement, or extremely high (i.e., multi-story) gutters easily justify the best most durable guards available, installed carefully and correctly.

Where did you get that? It looks great. Thanks.

My problem is pine needles and shingle granules. Too fine to be picked up by many guards and the ones that can block them freeze over. I guess this is rocket science.

I have a two story colonial. Do you think I need to install a guard on the 2nd story. There are no trees that high around the home

You're right, Reuben. Nothing is perfect but I find chicken wire when rolled up into a cylindrical shape.

The problem with gutter guards is, they don't keep out all dust, so you can still have spores land and grow in whatever sediment still gets through. I've had weeds, saplings, and mushrooms all grow in my gutters, and I don't think most of those screen systems would prevent them. You'd basically need a microfilter system, and that could get clogged with enough dirt to just send the water flooding off the edge of the gutter, and end up with water damage between the gutter and fascia.

I understand the idea of the video. However, in not stating a preference for a specific type ("I like gutter guards but.....") he's left too many doors open. If you like the idea of a gutter guard, then it should follow that you like the idea of a specific type more than others (the one with the LEAST problems) - instead, he's left one to figure that out for themselves. Get an expensive brand seems to be the only takeaway, without detailing why. For example, Leaf Filter (a brand name) is certainly EXPENSIVE - but given the comments in this video, it would seem to have all the worst problems (too fine of a filter, extreme water runoff in heavy rains, the buildup of debris on top of the valleys). So if I can't go buy "get an expensive system" because they're just as bad, then what actually defines the best systems besides how much money you spend on it?

Gutter guards are great at keeping water out of your gutter.

I always remove them before they stop working and fill up with debris. They always fill up, under the guard.

I'm concerned about these "gutter guards" freezing " over and then ANY rain cascades off because of the blocked guards

Can this b done at nightime

You do not need gutter covers. Leaves will fill gutters but they will disintegrate to dust in months and the dust will be washed down the gutters in the rain.

I purchased lengths of gutter screen from Home Depot installed it myself the openings the holes were reasonably larger than some of the ones in this video, and they clogged up with not only pieces of twigs and leaves, but also with debris from the roof naturally breaking down like the granules and so forth. So there’s no really good gutter guard in my opinion. Just pay somebody to come and clean your gutters as needed! you’ll save a lot of money in the long run.

Gutter drones are awesome but not cheap

The only way to keep your gutters clean is manual maintenance at least twice a year. No gutter guards are worth it. I am a 40-year residential remodeler who has installed many styles of gutter guards. None of them work so just clean them out. It'll be cheaper to do it yourself or hire someone to do it at least twice a year

GutterDome!!! Is the only all-metal micro-mesh professionally installed gutter guard system designed with rainwater harvesting in mind.

@markzinghini2306

3 жыл бұрын

As an installer of gutter the best to date is the alu-rex.com system because the competitors screen meshes, foam pads, plastic guards,screens and meshes just plug up some of them outrageously priced. I’d be shocked if you don’t thank me. I have no reason to lie and there is a home owner with a you tube video that has a track record history of what I am referring to. TommyZTrains called GUTTER SCREENS:THEY SAY ONE THING / REALITY SAYS ANOTHER PT.1&2

I know a professional that spends all his time REMOVING gutter guards. Consider that before buying. I’d rather pay a pro once a year to clean them. That is the only real solution. He also blows the leaves from the roof to prevent tree growth and rotted roof problems.

ALL Gutter guards just make it clog up in a different place. I have seen many fail especially were there are valleys.

Gutter guards will keep your gutters clean most of the time? Oh, yeah? Have you heard of "pine needles?"

Take time and care when setting up the ladder and get someone to hold it for you,. ladders are dangerous and you seldom fall on the soft bush like in the comedy movies and shows. I bring up a pointy garden hoe and push the debris as far as I can in both directions. I've been looking into different brands of gutter systems and they all get far more complaints and disappointments than satisfaction. A lot of the complaints are with the companies themselves and their failure to return calls or honor their warranties. Another big complaint is that over time the gutters still load up over time. Good video.

Cheap and good just don’t come together

Info was helpful but cut the damn tree down. But really I have noticed guards also cause basically ice icicles, seems like it’s when the gutter guards freeze up water can’t get through.

i actually work under a gutter company and to me gutter guards are never worth it . no matter what type of gutter guard it is. the water always runs over the top of them basically making your gutters useless and trash always gets under them so they are not worth it at all. MAINTENANCE is the key people, have a professional team come out for maintenance several times a year!

@lesaber251

Жыл бұрын

I agree. I'd rather have totally open gutters to handle the heavy rain very well. I do get lots of leaves in them which is why I have a company come out 4 times a year to clean everything out at $138 each time. Not cheap but I can't do it myself with 2 floors and many gutter sections because of the roof layout.

@chuckkennedy7510

Жыл бұрын

I have had gutter helmet on three houses over 18 years not one problem. They don’t give them away, but they are awesome

your gonna get standing water no what w/that muck in it

This didn't really help.

@mr.c6674

3 жыл бұрын

If you own a home, you will understand what he's saying to be true. He's saying they work, but there will still be maintenance.

Why gutters at all. Its all a scam.

Just say no to Leaf Filter. Horrid product. Liars and scammers.

Gutters are a headache and very unnecessary. No gutters no problem.

You dont know the Power of LEAFFILTER

@579Glenn

3 ай бұрын

Expensive ripoff

The best guard is the one with the best warranty! Duh. This video proves anybody can post on utube. Do you need a degree to be a home inspector? Just need to call yourself one huh, why does this guy claim to know anything? Every product has a warranty. Which warranty is best will tell you which product is best. This guy is just spewing one liners he has heard, he has no clue

Thanks for nothing

Interesting experience on getting an estimate from "Leaffilter", high pressure sales today only price now! He went from 6,400 down to 3,900. He got upset 😡 that I would not comment. He must have lost his way of the meaning of an estimate! In my opinion it is overpriced! Just thought I would share my experience with "Leaffilter"