Anyone here use them? If so, what kind? If I want to get some for the house, what are the things I need to look for in a product? There seem to be TONS of different solutions out there that are based on a few different basic designs. Also, DIY product or Pro installation?

4/13/2013 9:37:43 PM

I went to Lowes and got 50 $2 3-foot long flat plastic/screen guards for a DIY. Everything else seemed too fancy and expensive.

4/15/2013 8:20:30 AM

i did the same thing as ^

These work great. The only issue I have ever had was pine needles dropping and sticking straight up out of them (sticking through the mesh), but that was because there are 5 huge pine trees over top my house.

4/15/2013 9:19:00 AM

I've heard a lot more people say to not use guards than to use them. FWIW

4/15/2013 9:22:10 AM

^ I have heard this as well.

Fortunately I don't have any trees close enough to my house to have to worry about my gutters. I haven't cleaned them since I have lived here.

4/15/2013 12:35:45 PM

Yea, I feel like I need to try something... My gutters on one side of the house are fairly clogged after only a little over a year of living here. I have some water spots on the wall of the unfinished area of the basement where the overflow is saturating the ground on that side of the house. There are other things I can do to help with that (and those are in progress as well) but I feel like having proper drainage from the gutter would go a long way to help.

4/15/2013 1:14:14 PM

Just to be sure, the grade along that wall (and all around your house) is going away from the house, right? And your downspouts are directing water away from the house as well?

4/15/2013 1:33:16 PM

Yes, the grading is all good there. The house is only a little over a year old so I'm working with the builder to address the issue as well. The house actually has the black tar stuff on the exterior of the foundation walls (below grade) all the way around and the dimpled barrier wrap around there below grade as well. I am going to extend where the downspout dumps the water out further from the house via a corrugated pipe that will get buried. I can't be sure the clogged guttering is the only issue here, but it's certainly a contributing factor.

4/15/2013 1:56:07 PM

Oh yeh, a clogged and overflowing gutter will cause water intrusion problems, because it soaks the ground at the foundation and lots of water ends up flowing right down the exterior wall. Good to hear that you have tar and a drainage board, so those areas should be fine; it's probably the areas just above that which are getting soaked. Sounds like it's time for a gutter cleaning Let us know how the gutter guard works out for you. I'm only skeptical because I've heard so many people say not to use them (for various reasons). Luckily, none of the trees next to my house are tall enough to cause me any problems (at least for now). I recommend DIY if you can; if not, I've got a gutter guy that has very reasonable prices... not sure if he does guards, but you can ask.

4/15/2013 2:00:05 PM

I'm probably too far away for your guy (in Winston-Salem). I'll do a little more research before pulling the trigger, but if my wife has anything to say about it, we'll be getting them really soon. Maybe I can just get away with a bi-annual cleaning service for our gutters. They are super high in spots around the house (2 story + basement at the back) so I'm not overly comfortable going up there.

4/15/2013 2:52:30 PM

I've got a gutter guy in Greensboro (I live in Guilford County) that did my seamless gutters on both sides of the house super cheap. He's a friend of mine. Let me know and I will get you his number, he does tons of work in Winston.

[Edited on April 15, 2013 at 5:42 PM. Reason : a]

4/15/2013 5:41:42 PM

Quote :

"Maybe I can just get away with a bi-annual cleaning service for our gutters. "

I was going to ask, have you ever even had them cleaned? That would be step 1 for me

4/15/2013 5:56:53 PM

I've struggled with this in the past and ended up going with the gutter guards from lowes with the mesh backing. Although when I first installed them I put them on mesh side down and debris started collecting between the plastic and the mesh

4/16/2013 6:55:18 AM

i have to clean my gutters this weekend and i fucking dread it

4/16/2013 6:23:38 PM

if cleaning gutters is the worst chore you have to do around the house this weekend, then you're probably doing ok

4/16/2013 7:10:26 PM

nope, the lady i purchased the house hasnt had them cleaned in ages and i have two big oak trees that have done a number on them over the winter.

this will be first time i get to use my fancy transforming ladder and im pretty excited about that.

4/16/2013 7:41:10 PM

I got these about 3 years ago and have had zero problems. They were not cheap (about $10 a lineal foot, iirc), but I have not had to clean gutters since. I used to have to clean them 5-6 times a year because I live on a wooded lot. It was definitely worth it in the long run for me.

http://www.rhinogutterguard.com/

4/16/2013 8:53:27 PM

They are worth it. But do not get those crappy mesh ones. Still had to clean out the gutters with those things. Those stupid helicopter things would drop in there not to mention parts of acorns, twigs, those willow oak leaves and their freaking flower things would find their way into the gutter.

The seamless gutters have worked out much better.

4/17/2013 4:55:12 AM

just do like me and let the rain pour over the sides

4/17/2013 5:30:08 PM

just go up on the roof twice a year with a handheld leaf blower and blow all the shit out of the gutter in like 15 minutes

4/17/2013 7:59:31 PM

http://chimneysplusgutters.com/gutters/gorilla-guards/

Just had these installed. Aesthetics were just as important to us as "low maintenance". The color choice makes it blend into the roof nicely for us. I was happy with the estimate process and the installation overall. Added bonus: NCSU alumni.

4/20/2013 6:57:11 PM

Funny story time
TreeTwista I tried to take your advice and I got up on the roof just to see if it was going to be too steep for me to give it a shot with the blower.

I climbed up on the cathedral ceiling side as it was easier. as soon as I got up on the roof and bent over to try to touch the gutters I about fell off the damn thing so I hit the ground like I was on a sheet of ice and got wide.

I then shimmied off the roof and all types of scratched up.

It would have been hilarious to watch from the neighbors side tho. It felt like a dumb ass but lololololed

4/21/2013 12:03:41 PM

Anyone ever used the foam-based gutter guards?

4/21/2013 12:07:17 PM

i have a feeling those are terrible.

4/21/2013 7:08:37 PM

I have the cheap lowes ones. They seem to do a good job. My roof is chaos and the gutters would fill up daily during the fall from Oaks and in the spring from gumballs. They do get a little dirty at times as things get caught in the mesh, but for the most part they do a good job. I am sure the areas I couldn't reach to install them, the gutters are filled. I am just relying on decomposition in those areas.

4/25/2013 11:28:13 AM