I figure that a bunch of "mature" people such as the Vintage group have, like me, decided that we no longer care to climb ladders to clean gutters.

So let's hear your experience, please. My home has a lot of oak trees, so I not only deal with leaves in the fall, but also the "schmutz" that falls from then as they pollinate in the Spring.

Thanks to all,

- Marty

 

My experience is that if you come up with a good argument and cost justification (besides the hospital bill one might incur if you fall off the ladder while cleaning your gutters twice a year) that your "other half" buys into knowing that it is you and probably not her (or the Plant Pixie) that is climbing up that ladder, I would be VERY INTERESTED in learning about it.

 

I installed these in all our gutters several years ago and find that they work well. We have lots of oak, maple, and poplar trees around our house and these guards keep the gutters from clogging as advertised. I did hire a guy last fall to go up on the roof with a leaf blower and blow out some leaves that had accumulated on top of the guards, but that's the only maintenance I have done. I give them

 

I have those, too, Gene. Still,they need occasional maintenance.

My neighbor has Gutter Maxx and claims they are the ultimate gutter guards -- but expensive.

http://www.guttermaxx.com/index2.htm...FcFdTAod6kZesg

 

I would divide these devices into five groups: solid top with roll-under rounded edge; perforated surface; hard/soft porous filler; coarse screen; micro-mesh screen.

Coworker with solid top still has to have gutters cleaned, though less often; lightweight pieces that follow surface water go around the curve with the water and into the gutter. (If you're ever at an operating demonstration, drop a few pieces of newspaper about the size of postage stamps in the flow, see where they go.)

Someone with perforated type sometimes gets small stems stuck in the holes, but says this is not a major issue; stem bits stay until pulled or they rot. May ice over, but does not harbor ice.

Have seen fill-in type keep water flowing but still accumulate debris. In freeze-thaw-freeze weather, can encourage ice build-up inside the gutter.

Coarse screen allows slow accumulation in gutter of sand-like particles washed off the roof and allows stem partial intrusion.

Micro-mesh does best at keeping unwanted stuff out of the gutter. Can ice over but does not harbor ice. Needs supporting framework that comes in at least three types: vinyl, extruded aluminum, formed sheet metal. Don't know about the lifespan of the vinyl framework. We chose the last type. Most recently developed, almost the most expensive.

 

Had them installed along with the gutters when we built the house 6 years ago. Love them! My wife is the Sherpa in the family ( loves to sit on the edge of the roof and dangle her feet ). We (she) checked the gutters a few times in Spring and Fall. Nothing in them.

 

A few years ago I tried installing some thin flexible plastic mesh ones (cheap, and as the saying goes: One gets what you paid for) on my Mother's house and found that they did a pretty good job of keeping the leaves off of the ground after they blew out of the gutters and onto her lawn.

 

Thanks for all the input

 

Some of the big names are very pricey. Some of the do-it-yourself stuff is not good. I contacted our local aluminum supply company, got a good price and inexpensive installation. I've been very pleased. They are the rolled edge style and have been in 9 years. I've cleaned the lower level one once in that time. The second floor have not been cleaned.... and still work fine. And we are surrounded by four story trees!

 

We had Gutter Helmets installed 16 years ago. Have not had to clean the gutters since. We live on a very heavily wooded piece of land, oak, maple, hickory and walnut. Lots of Birch and beech.

Aside from the transistor (and maybe the PC) Gutter Helmets are the greatest invention of the 21st century.