Weather has held up nicely here in the Northeast, going tomorrow to a friend’s/client’s house to clean his gutters from leaves and other debris. The house is in a wooded area and they get a lot of leaves clogging the gutters and downspouts. Never used gutter screens before, was thinking about them for this house.
What do folks think about them. How effective, favorite brands/types and sources?
thanks.
edit; I just remembered to check the archives after I posted this, doing it right now. In any case, if you have an opinion, don’t be shy…
Edited 12/27/2006 9:51 am ET by sharpblade
Replies
I've installed a sort of screen I'm quite happy with. It's plastic, comes in 3-foot (maybe 4-foot) sections. You slide one edge under the shingles, snap the other edge onto the front edge of the K-style gutter. (If ferrules are used on the gutter you need to cut away the snap edge around them.)
The older stuff I put on the front has about a 1/4" mesh, which turns out to be just perfect to catch maple seeds. (They eventually falll through and wash away, though.) The newer stuff I bought this year has a fine plastic screen on top, however, that should prevent anything other than very small pine needles from catching or going through.
The stuff on front has been there for several years, and has proved very effective. It's also reasonably easy to install, at least in the generic case. I can't see the point in spending more for one of the fancy schemes.
I have many trees next to my house and always had to clean leaves out. Spring was worse; those helicopters things clog up everything. I put the screens on and they work great. I got them at HD. They snap on the front and lay on the roof. The convex shape helps the leaves to blow away.
I've used the plastic and the aluminum mesh types - I was not happy with them. Too much got by them and the plastic only last about four years and then they warp. I now use a galvanized, domed screen with stainless steel hinge clips on the front edge. I still have to do some minor cleaning but with the hinges the screens do not get in the way. I like them so much that I replaced the original ten year old ones with new ones. The 70 or so three foot pieces cost me about $50-$60. Cheap and effective. Big box and hardware stores.
I have had the screens and the plastic covers from HD and neither works year yound here. I have lots of oaks, hickories, and pines and the pine needles and the "flowers"--they look like worms-- from the oaks in the spring stop up the slots. When that happens, nothing can get into the gutter including water. I now have a DIY product called Guttaguard that works great, is easy to install and is cheap. I tried it first on a small section of the house and garage before doing the whole thing. Nothing but water goes into the gutters and they don't get stopped up.
Thanks for all your replies. I just came back from that property. I was there this past summer doing another job, and cleaned the gutters then. I was not surprised to see them full again, but the worst were 3~4 (out of 9) of the downspouts were clogged at the top, with some standing ice. I wasn't ready with my guard selection today, but I purchased and installed gutter strainers that plug into the downspout and prevent leaves and twigs (but not small stuff) to go in.
I thought I could wait till next spring to put these guards, since the leaf season is behind us for now. But this house has a couple big cedar trees and other evergreens close by, and these things shed needles and other stuff year round, especially during storms. So I'll probably go back there next week, and at least do these sections that are most critical. I may also talk my friend into possibly cutting the trees that are too close.
It was beautiful working outside in december, moderately warm and sunny. Forgot to take my newly acquired digi camera, could have contributed to the "where did you work today". Thanks again for sharing your experiences.
charlie, north of Boston