We are in the process of replacing the gutters on our house and are evaluating several options to keep birds and leaf debris out of the gutters.
1. Leafguard – A single piece gutter and covering system
2. Gutter Helmet – A two piece system
3. Leafproof – A two piece system
All have 32 gage seamless Al gutters. Both two piece systems I believe attach under the shingles and clip to the gutter.
Does anyone have any experience or recommendations?
Art and Janet
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Replies
yes! My house is under (completely under) several maple, pine, catalpa (sp?) and oak trees, which is why I bought it, but living with the clogged gutters (even with 3 or 4 times /year cleaning) was hell. All trees are kept trimmed at least 10 feet away from the house, but 60 or 70 ft trees all the way around just dump stuff constantly.
I had Gutter Topper installed, first on the highest runs (most dangerous to clean) and monitored for two years.
They remained absolutely clean of all debris, and the water went IN the gutter in even the heaviest rains.
This year I took the plunge and had all the rest covered (including the outbuildings) and couldn't be happier.
Not knowing any of the other products I can't vouch for them, but suspect that there is not MUCH difference (the science of how they work is pretty basic - surface tension). The Gutter Topper people give a lifetime warranty against any clog that is transferrable to future owners (!) which was nice too. The product is installed over the first course of shingles, under the second course, and attaches to existing gutters (I believe that Gutter Helmet, on the other hand, must have all new gutters installed with their product, which is a demerit if you have just had new gutters installed (like me)).
Any company who installs this for you should inspect and re-hang any existing gutters before they cover them.
From the street (mine is a classic victorian house from 1901) you really can not tell that anything is on there (and I was REAL concerned about that). When you get up hill and do see the roof it looks kind of like the old 'snowslide' metal that used to be run around the edge of roofs to prevent ice damming in the 1920s (kind of).
Several years ago, a building sciences web service started a benchmarking of several types/manufacurers of gutter protection, but they NEVER posted the results (I tried to contact them several times and finally gave up and went with G.Topper, who is local, NW Ohio).
Hope this helps,
Norm
I put Leafguard on my last house and they did everything they were advertised to do- no leaves in, easily handled lots of water- and the house was under thick trees, mostly broadleaf deciduous but a few pines as well. I was very satisfied with them.
Current house has copper lined eaves troughs that you drive a truck in, so I'm no longer a candidate for this type of retro fit.
small Doug Fir and Hemlock needles follow the water right into the gutter, if you have those type trees, you will not be as satisfied as those who've posted - have found none that work with Hemlock especially..