I recently installed the plastic clip in gutter guards from Amerimax. They work great, all except for any substantial amount of rainfall then it just pours over the front of my gutters and about 50% of the water enters the gutters themselves.
miillersickness
We put a gutter helmet on a house about ten years ago. It was warrantied and claimed to be the best system at the time. It worked fine until birds climbed in and made a nest. I don’t know how they got in but the helmet had to be taken off to clean the nest out and be replaced with a new product. Our gutter company stood behind it and made it right. I have the fine mesh screen on my place and have never had a minutes trouble. Talk to your local reputable gutter company they should know the best products for your area.
Anyone tried these? http://www.leafsolution.com/
We've got a few of them installed on the homes of repeat clients, as long as 5-6 years ago. I am at these homes at least once or twice a year and have never had a complaint about their performance. (With the exception of a repair, I haven't inspected them since either.)
There was one that I had to go back and replace a blow off after a few years. The gutter was clean still, the guard was not clogged with debris.
Good Luck
Dave
We've got a few of them installed on the homes of repeat clients, as long as 5-6 years ago. I am at these homes at least once or twice a year and have never had a complaint about their performance. (With the exception of a repair, I haven't inspected them since either.)
There was one that I had to go back and replace a blow off after a few years. The gutter was clean still, the guard was not clogged with debris.
Good Luck
Dave
There Are Some That Work!
Hey Guys,
I just came across your discussion and wanted to give my 2 cents. I have been installing gutters and guards for 13 years, and most of what is out there is ok at best.:no:
If you want to offer a product to your customers that will not ruin your credibility there are a few that work, but in the gutter guard world you get what you pay for and you have to explain this to your customer. The ones who have real basement water problems will pay top dollar for a product that works. :clap:
Get your hands on one of the following (enough for a job or two) and when it comes up give them a real solution. Leaf Solution(make sure it's the high flow), Rhino Gutter Guard, or Versaguard. Charge 3x what it cost you and install it right with end caps.
Cheers,
GS:thumbup:
Hey Guys,
I just came across your discussion and wanted to give my 2 cents. I have been installing gutters and guards for 13 years, and most of what is out there is ok at best.:no:
If you want to offer a product to your customers that will not ruin your credibility there are a few that work, but in the gutter guard world you get what you pay for and you have to explain this to your customer. The ones who have real basement water problems will pay top dollar for a product that works. :clap:
Get your hands on one of the following (enough for a job or two) and when it comes up give them a real solution. Leaf Solution(make sure it's the high flow), Rhino Gutter Guard, or Versaguard. Charge 3x what it cost you and install it right with end caps.
Cheers,
GS:thumbup:
Yup I don't charge that, minimum 120$ for say one level ranch with easy access. The higher up I go, so does the price.. OOO and unless your hungry and plan on eating the leaves there's a min 15 dollar disposal fee, usually can find some regular sized branches left on flatter roofs to. It can take a couple different ladders 3-4, some barrels, (A quick tip is carry a compound bucket with you also) maybe a tarp, rake, and blower, rubber gloves, sometimes I use a gutter scoop.. Honestly the best gutter guard you can buy is a good chainsaw.. Cleaning out gutters at least for me is a PIA..I avoid them as best I can now, I won't even do full two story houses (colonials) anymore..
Of some of the work I do cleaning gutters pays very well. I may end up doing jobs that others won't do due to heights, bad ground terrain etc. (but not for $25 dollars. : ) )
Many gutter guards work well, but they may not work well in all situations and locations.
Needles, as mentioned will work through mesh and clog gutters. Some trees produce waste/ pollen/seeds that can enter and defeat systems. Once a system is clogged water damage from leakage into the house can occur. In some cases it may not be a wet carpet, but mold, rot, or damaged foundations. I see plenty of stone and brick cracking that I attribute to gutter/downspout issues and years of neglect.
I have seen nests at ground level in downspouts, and nests at the gutter level areas. Plastic and aluminum can be chewed or bent by determined critters.
Sure, gutter helmet won't clog as easily, but I'm not sure that it captures all water in severe rains. The more restricted the guards are the tougher they are to clean when they get clogged. They may also be next to impossible to double check to make sure that they are clean.
Whether I am walking a roof or working it from a ladder once the gutters are clean I can send a blast of air down a downspout and see either leafs and debris fly out, or see the grass on the lawn waving. I KNOW it's free.
You can't do that with gutter helmet. If you are attempting to blow through some gutter guard the velocity is reduced, sometimes it's harder to tell. This last fall I removed shingle grit on one job that was half the height of the gutter in some areas. My guess is that gutter helmet will allow some of that roofing grit and or needles or pollen into the gutters, particularly at valleys. Now...... how does one check for or remove that?
I have removed some systems sold for high dollar on some homes. In the end, it's cheaper, longer lasting and safer to just go there twice a year and clean. That's just how it works on some homes, IMHO.
Nothing is best for everything.
willy
Many gutter guards work well, but they may not work well in all situations and locations.
Needles, as mentioned will work through mesh and clog gutters. Some trees produce waste/ pollen/seeds that can enter and defeat systems. Once a system is clogged water damage from leakage into the house can occur. In some cases it may not be a wet carpet, but mold, rot, or damaged foundations. I see plenty of stone and brick cracking that I attribute to gutter/downspout issues and years of neglect.
I have seen nests at ground level in downspouts, and nests at the gutter level areas. Plastic and aluminum can be chewed or bent by determined critters.
Sure, gutter helmet won't clog as easily, but I'm not sure that it captures all water in severe rains. The more restricted the guards are the tougher they are to clean when they get clogged. They may also be next to impossible to double check to make sure that they are clean.
Whether I am walking a roof or working it from a ladder once the gutters are clean I can send a blast of air down a downspout and see either leafs and debris fly out, or see the grass on the lawn waving. I KNOW it's free.
You can't do that with gutter helmet. If you are attempting to blow through some gutter guard the velocity is reduced, sometimes it's harder to tell. This last fall I removed shingle grit on one job that was half the height of the gutter in some areas. My guess is that gutter helmet will allow some of that roofing grit and or needles or pollen into the gutters, particularly at valleys. Now...... how does one check for or remove that?
I have removed some systems sold for high dollar on some homes. In the end, it's cheaper, longer lasting and safer to just go there twice a year and clean. That's just how it works on some homes, IMHO.
Nothing is best for everything.
willy
There are Quite a few leaf guards out there that are effective at keeping the leaves out yet still allowing the water in.Keep in mind however that there are no products on the market that are completely maintenance free.The advantage to having leaf guard really depends on the individual house in question.
If the house is 2 or more stories and not walkable,I will generally recommend that the customer think about investing in a leaf protection product.
Deciding wich one to use comes down to a number of thoughts to consider.....
1) What types of trees are surrounding the property?
2) Do they shed large leaves? small leaves? pineneedles? Buds? Berrys? Twigs?
3) How often do they shed? Year round? just in the fall?
40 What type of roof do they have? Asphalt will shed granules each year, Tiles may require only certain types of leafguard. same with flat roofs or shake.
Once these things have been determined you can start to figure out wich TYPE of leafguard may work the best for that particular property.
1) mesh leaf screen like "EZ-LOCK" is a pretty good bang for your buck if the house has trees with large sized leaves only.It wont work well for the smaller debris.It also has the advantage that it can be installed flat like a guttercover or under the shingles at the same pitch as the roof (this can help by letting gravity clean some of the leaves off the screen)
2) Gutter covers like "leaf relief are great products if you can get them for the right price.They usually consist of a solid aluminum panel with many small holes on the surface.They usually can handle a lot of water even with debris sitting on top of them.Good for most sizes of leaves and or buds and berrys.Capture about 90% of the pine needles (however the covers should be swept off a couple of times a year if possible.Its much easier to sweep off the covers than to clean out the gutters and the plugged up downspouts. "Leaf Relief" has the added bonus in that it acts as a big long hidden hanger for the gutters as well, Giving new gutter systems 3 Xs the strength of the average gutter system. Check out "Shur Flo" it is a cheap knock off of leaf relief , and although it is a little flimsier than some of the other products, The prices and the effectiveness are very good.(you should use extra hangers on the gutters if using this product so ice and snow do not damage.
3) If you still want a product that keeps 99% of all debris out including roof granules then try "Leaf solution" this product has a series of humps in the panel and its covered in a surgical steel mesh. The only downsides to this product are that It is very expensive and it has to be installed at just the right angle and fastened under the roof shingles. (if there is a way to use this product with tile or shake roofs I am not sure.Ive never heard of a way to do it)
So in the end there are many things to consider when a customer askes you about leaf protection products. In my opinion if I have to charge 20-30 $ per foot for leaf protection then the customer should just pay a company to clean them as needed.If I can help the customer to save money and a piece of mind in the long run than it is worthwhile.
aplusgutters.org
If the house is 2 or more stories and not walkable,I will generally recommend that the customer think about investing in a leaf protection product.
Deciding wich one to use comes down to a number of thoughts to consider.....
1) What types of trees are surrounding the property?
2) Do they shed large leaves? small leaves? pineneedles? Buds? Berrys? Twigs?
3) How often do they shed? Year round? just in the fall?
40 What type of roof do they have? Asphalt will shed granules each year, Tiles may require only certain types of leafguard. same with flat roofs or shake.
Once these things have been determined you can start to figure out wich TYPE of leafguard may work the best for that particular property.
1) mesh leaf screen like "EZ-LOCK" is a pretty good bang for your buck if the house has trees with large sized leaves only.It wont work well for the smaller debris.It also has the advantage that it can be installed flat like a guttercover or under the shingles at the same pitch as the roof (this can help by letting gravity clean some of the leaves off the screen)
2) Gutter covers like "leaf relief are great products if you can get them for the right price.They usually consist of a solid aluminum panel with many small holes on the surface.They usually can handle a lot of water even with debris sitting on top of them.Good for most sizes of leaves and or buds and berrys.Capture about 90% of the pine needles (however the covers should be swept off a couple of times a year if possible.Its much easier to sweep off the covers than to clean out the gutters and the plugged up downspouts. "Leaf Relief" has the added bonus in that it acts as a big long hidden hanger for the gutters as well, Giving new gutter systems 3 Xs the strength of the average gutter system. Check out "Shur Flo" it is a cheap knock off of leaf relief , and although it is a little flimsier than some of the other products, The prices and the effectiveness are very good.(you should use extra hangers on the gutters if using this product so ice and snow do not damage.
3) If you still want a product that keeps 99% of all debris out including roof granules then try "Leaf solution" this product has a series of humps in the panel and its covered in a surgical steel mesh. The only downsides to this product are that It is very expensive and it has to be installed at just the right angle and fastened under the roof shingles. (if there is a way to use this product with tile or shake roofs I am not sure.Ive never heard of a way to do it)
So in the end there are many things to consider when a customer askes you about leaf protection products. In my opinion if I have to charge 20-30 $ per foot for leaf protection then the customer should just pay a company to clean them as needed.If I can help the customer to save money and a piece of mind in the long run than it is worthwhile.
aplusgutters.org
Cleaning gutters is a problem. You'd have to clean them weekly in some wooded areas to keep them clean. Otherwise just a few leaves will clog a downspout.
There are basicly 3 kinds of gutter guards. All are better than nothing but none are completely maintenance free.
1. Screens-can be plastic from Home Depot or a solid aluminum or stee with powder coating. Biggest problem here is when they blow out or have gaps in them. Install the screens under the shingles-this gives a pitch to the screen and helps debris to blow off. Also screw the front edge of the screen to the gutter. This will keep it in place. Screw 3 times for a 4 foot section. Finally, wrap the screen inside the endcap to prevent gaps there. With the screens that allow some small debris through it is a good idea to install the 3x4 downspout that will flush some small debris.
Pricing is $2-5 a foot.
2. Solid covers like Gutter Helmet, Leafree, Leafproof, LeafGuard. These do a good job keeping stuff out but usually collecta layer of small debris on the bottom of the nose-just before the water goes into the gutter. This can prevent water from flowing in. The maintenance here includes blowing that buildup off with a hose-maybe 1 time a year-depending on tree debris for the house. Some companies offer a No Clog Guarantee. This is usually an agreement that if the gutters clog they will take them apart, clean them out, and put them back together.
Pricing is $7-20 foot.
3. Micromesh screens like Gutterglove, Leaf Solution, Gutter Dome, and Mastershield. These keep all debris out, including shingle grit. Debris may occasionally collect on top-especially at inside corners. This can be brushed off easily with a brush on a pole. The micromesh usually continues to work even with debris on top. Some of these companies offer a No Clog guarantee that the money will be refunded if the gutter ever clogs.
Pricing is $7-20 a foot.
Madison Roofing
Madison Siding
There are basicly 3 kinds of gutter guards. All are better than nothing but none are completely maintenance free.
1. Screens-can be plastic from Home Depot or a solid aluminum or stee with powder coating. Biggest problem here is when they blow out or have gaps in them. Install the screens under the shingles-this gives a pitch to the screen and helps debris to blow off. Also screw the front edge of the screen to the gutter. This will keep it in place. Screw 3 times for a 4 foot section. Finally, wrap the screen inside the endcap to prevent gaps there. With the screens that allow some small debris through it is a good idea to install the 3x4 downspout that will flush some small debris.
Pricing is $2-5 a foot.
2. Solid covers like Gutter Helmet, Leafree, Leafproof, LeafGuard. These do a good job keeping stuff out but usually collecta layer of small debris on the bottom of the nose-just before the water goes into the gutter. This can prevent water from flowing in. The maintenance here includes blowing that buildup off with a hose-maybe 1 time a year-depending on tree debris for the house. Some companies offer a No Clog Guarantee. This is usually an agreement that if the gutters clog they will take them apart, clean them out, and put them back together.
Pricing is $7-20 foot.
3. Micromesh screens like Gutterglove, Leaf Solution, Gutter Dome, and Mastershield. These keep all debris out, including shingle grit. Debris may occasionally collect on top-especially at inside corners. This can be brushed off easily with a brush on a pole. The micromesh usually continues to work even with debris on top. Some of these companies offer a No Clog guarantee that the money will be refunded if the gutter ever clogs.
Pricing is $7-20 a foot.
Madison Roofing
Madison Siding
Biggest complaint I hear about the helmet type guards which rely on the capillary action of the water to flow over the edge and into the gutter, is you still have to clean them.
Small debris, pollen, and dirt will adhere to the curved edge and disturb the flow, allowing the water to flow past and down the front of the gutter.
The cleaning is easier than shoveling granules, dirt, and leaves out of the gutter channel. But you can still figure on getting out the ladder every year to wash the helmets and blow the leaves off the edge of the roof.
Small debris, pollen, and dirt will adhere to the curved edge and disturb the flow, allowing the water to flow past and down the front of the gutter.
The cleaning is easier than shoveling granules, dirt, and leaves out of the gutter channel. But you can still figure on getting out the ladder every year to wash the helmets and blow the leaves off the edge of the roof.
I have a house that I have been cleaning the Gutters for the last 12 yrs, the customer let me try several types of gaurds and none seemed to work to a point of giving me piece of mind in heavy rain, they all still needed cleaning. Because of our MN Winterand all of the tree drppings I ended up putting on larger Gutters and spouts, adding more spouts and cleaning the Gutters once a month. I also get at addl work. Thanks for the shouts on the products you like, good to know
Experience and a few honest gutter installers have told me that the best guards are the mesh ones. If the home isn't surrounded by pine trees, they work the best. Anything small enough to go through the mesh will filter out the downspouts. Water will never pour over the top either.
Most gutter guards are plain junk. Simple is best. I'm not talking about the ones you have to curl to get them into the gutter (meaning you get a pocket for debris to build up between the guard and the roof). The kind I am referring to is about 10" wide and clips on to the front of the gutter and lays under the first shingle.
I have them on my house with no issues. You can get them in multiple colors as well. However, if you have a bunch of pine trees, the needles will get stuck in the mesh.
Most gutter guards are plain junk. Simple is best. I'm not talking about the ones you have to curl to get them into the gutter (meaning you get a pocket for debris to build up between the guard and the roof). The kind I am referring to is about 10" wide and clips on to the front of the gutter and lays under the first shingle.
I have them on my house with no issues. You can get them in multiple colors as well. However, if you have a bunch of pine trees, the needles will get stuck in the mesh.
Ive been looking at the raindrop gutter guard and Im looking for some further input. It looks like something that might work and its different from all the others ive installed. They said they have contractors all over the country so there must be some on here.www.raindropgutterguard.com
Has anyone mentioned Gutter Brushes?
I have a lot of gutters on my house and a lot of trees hanging over the house. Gutter Brushes are the best thing since sliced bread.
Easy to install and remove (if necessary), and nothing will clog them up enough to inhibit water flow.
http://www.gutterbrush.com/
I have a lot of gutters on my house and a lot of trees hanging over the house. Gutter Brushes are the best thing since sliced bread.
Easy to install and remove (if necessary), and nothing will clog them up enough to inhibit water flow.
http://www.gutterbrush.com/
Gutter guards rarely work...
Used to be in the industry, and they are overpriced and you will see problems with them.
The punched aluminum gg lets in dirt and pine needles which clog gutters over time, the screen mesh coats with pollen and won't let water in, plus it still has pine needles sticking up all over it no matter what they say.
The Rhino and Evelyn's leaf solution (both made by the same company) cost $3 a foot . The Xtreme Gutter Guard also made by the same company) is exactly the same but only $1.39.
You just have to negotiate the price. Pretty shady business if you ask me.
Used to be in the industry, and they are overpriced and you will see problems with them.
The punched aluminum gg lets in dirt and pine needles which clog gutters over time, the screen mesh coats with pollen and won't let water in, plus it still has pine needles sticking up all over it no matter what they say.
The Rhino and Evelyn's leaf solution (both made by the same company) cost $3 a foot . The Xtreme Gutter Guard also made by the same company) is exactly the same but only $1.39.
You just have to negotiate the price. Pretty shady business if you ask me.
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