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Discussion Forum

Choosing Gutter Guards

Atlanta86 | Posted in General Discussion on August 26, 2009 01:29am

I had a roof problem about a year ago and after a lot of investigation (and a few Breaktime consultations), I determined my original roofers had nailed “toe-boards” near the eaves and not sealed the holes, which was causing leaks.  But that’s not my question.

While searching for the cause, I removed my existing gutter-guards.  This was not a big loss because they were the cheap, plastic 4′ kind that just snap on the lip of the gutter and under the first course of shingles.  Fall is now in the air (even in Atlanta) and I need to either get new guards installed or get an all-in-one product and replace the gutters completely. Currently I have 4″ aluminum gutters that are not in especially bad shape, but I’m in need of a permanent solution.

Is there a good product to go over existing gutters or would I be better off tearing off what I have and starting over with a one-piece?  Some of the covers I’ve seen don’t seem to cost much less than an integrated product, so I’m interested in the price of one vs the other.  I’m also particulary interested in keeping squirrels out, since they like to build nests in my gutters, then sit on my roof and mock me while I whizz BBs past them.  I’ve trapped dozens and they keep coming back, so I need to bring in heavy artilery with something completely squirrel-proof.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

 

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  1. seeyou | Aug 26, 2009 01:57am | #1

    >>>>>>>Currently I have 4" aluminum gutters

    You sure about that? They're more likely 5".

    >>>>>>>>>>I need to bring in heavy artilery with something completely squirrel-proof.

    There is no such thing as squirrel-proof, unfortunately.

    Here's what I use personally and sell on occasion:

    https://www.guttersupply.com/p-LeafDefier.gstml

    Works as well as anything I've seen. Good luck.

    http://www.quittintime.com/      View Image     

    1. frenchy | Aug 27, 2009 03:14pm | #11

      Hello Seeyou.

        How does that stuff work during really heavy downpours on large steep roofs?  I see that as possibly being overwhemled by the flood of rain run off and acting more like a diverter than a gutte.  Or am I mistaken?

      1. seeyou | Aug 27, 2009 04:06pm | #12

        Best I can tell, you're mistaken. I haven't seen any evidence to support that theory.copper p0rn

        1. frenchy | Aug 27, 2009 04:28pm | #13

          Thanks,, I wonder if my roof is too large and steep or  the rainfall too heavy because I'm already seeing signs of that problem..

           Erosion under the gutters, seems to appear after every really heavy down pour..  (6" 1/2 round copper) 

          1. seeyou | Aug 27, 2009 04:40pm | #14

            Sometimes the flow off of a steep roof will hit the curve of half round just right and shoot back up and out the front in a hard down pour. The gutter filters might stop/reduce that.  And you may not have your system designed quite right and it's getting over loaded in a deluge.copper p0rn

  2. rez | Aug 26, 2009 02:04am | #2

    Good question.

    One efficient trouble free gutterguard going on right now is not necessarily one of the many screened or hinged products but

    the plastic material somewhat akin to a giant brillo pad that comes in gutter shaped pieces that totally fit into the gutter, letting water thru and major debri out.

     

  3. DanH | Aug 26, 2009 04:36am | #3

    I saw a product recently (at a home show) that is one step upward from the snap on guards (which in my experience work quite well, if you get the ones with screen on top).

    It's called LeafFilter (http://www.leaffilter.com) and it's similar to the snap-ons but made with a more substantial plastic framework, and it has a very fine (almost invisible) stainless steel mesh covering it. It's attached with screws vs snap-on.

    I assume that it's not available for DIY, but is only sold through franchises. No idea what the cost is.

    As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
  4. alwaysoverbudget | Aug 26, 2009 05:18am | #4

    i have leaf relief brand. works good,pretty pricey,5.00 a ft installed. the retro fit are actually better than the ones that come when they install new guttering.

    http://www.leaf-relief.com/

    the older i get ,

    the more people tick me off

    1. JimR1998 | Aug 27, 2009 07:02am | #8

      I second LeafRelief. I think there are two different types, one for new gutter installs that has the filter built-in as part of the hanging bracket and another that covers the the top of an existing gutter. It's made by Alcoa if I remember right.We have two huge pine trees right above the house. The needles and cones would turn into a cement and jam our old gutters to the point they were pulling away from the house (no doubt a bad install to begin with). Since we got the new gutters and Leaf Relief about 3 years ago... most of the gutter has been completely clear with no accumulating cones or leaves. The area right under the trees needs to have the tops of the covers broomed off 1-2 times per year because the needle muck never dries enough to get blown off. But it's still much easier to clean the gutter tops than to clean out the inside of a gutter.Huge improvement and I don't think it was a big upcharge over the regular gutter.

  5. lankford | Aug 26, 2009 05:28am | #5

    ..............Is there a good product to go over existing gutters or would I be better off tearing off what I have and starting over with a one-piece?

    Depends on the condition amd size of the existing gutter. If the existing gutter is too small. I would not recommend going with a cover over it. Better course would be to replace it with a proper sized gutter with a cover.

    ....................a permanent solution.................something completely squirrel-proof

    I sympathize with you. But, I think there are products that can pretty much minimize the squirrel problem just about as well as they can minimize the pine needle problem. So, that might work pretty well for you. I'll try to get you more information on what I had put up.

    1. Mooney | Aug 27, 2009 07:12am | #9

      A .22 using mini caps will solve the squirrel problem. No one can hear it . poof. 

      1. Jer | Aug 27, 2009 02:42pm | #10

        Tape a toilet paper tube around the end of the barrel and use .22 long rifles for any kind of long range, or strap a Pepsi bottle on the end it does the same thing. Nothing but a little pop barely audible from the next room. Trouble is you gotta have a scope mounted because it gets in the way of the sights.Ok....back to the topic.

  6. drozer | Aug 27, 2009 05:42am | #6

    this is what i'm getting installed.

    http://alu-rex.com/en/index.asp (this is a canadian outfit, but it looks similar to the leaf-relief product mentioned above- even the same picture of the old guy!)

    i'm redoing my roof myself. i hate paying other people to work on my house, but i decided to go with seamless trough. this is the product my guy uses. i don't think its available off the shelf.

    the price for the seamless was only about double the cost of the materials from a big box. and its hard to hang gutters alone. <G>
    also, its guaranteed.

    what i like about this style is how it strengthens the gutters, allowing you to lean a ladder against them.

    1. alwaysoverbudget | Aug 27, 2009 06:48am | #7

      this does look like the leaf relief stuff that i have. let me tell you about the 2 different styles.

      when you put new gutters on they can actually make this a part of the hanger install. it looks  great and stiffens the gutter. if you look at the pic on alu rex notice how the edge of the guard goes under the lip of the gutter, that catches stuff. and if you ever need to get into your gutters [and no matter what you will someday because dirt still gets in there] you have to un hang the gutters.

      now on the retro fit style you can remove sections to access and the edge does not catch as bad.

      when i was installing the guy told me the retro was better,i just couldn't see it. so i had him install both in different areas. if i was doing more today i think i would go with the retro style.

      overall  i like the product,just talk to your salesman for options.

      the older i get ,

      the more people tick me off

      Edited 8/26/2009 11:50 pm by alwaysoverbudget

  7. Atlanta86 | Aug 28, 2009 01:59am | #15

    Thanks for the feedback.

    seeyou, you are correct, I have 5" not 4" gutters.  Not sure what I was thinking.

    After the responses, I decided to get a pro to quote me an add-on and he's coming tomorrow.  I'll see if he sells the Leaf Relief product.

    And Mooney, thanks for the varmint advice, but a .22 would be too much firepower.  The reason I have to whizz the BBs past them is they somehow have learned to run to the valleys when they see me, and unless I bury one in them, I'm shooting a hole in my (new) roof if I miss.  I have to try to pick them off as the run on the ridge, and err on the high side.  Not an easy shot.  They have been winning the battles lately, but the war is now on.

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