It’s definitely a balancing act—sometimes what works for one house is a headache for another.
Couldn’t agree more with this. I put leaf filters on the gutters over my back patio last year, and honestly, it’s a mixed bag. No more leaf clogs, which is awesome, but I did notice more icicles hanging there this winter (north-facing side, too). Not a dealbreaker for me, but something to watch. If you hate cleaning gutters, it’s probably worth trying a small section first like you mentioned. Just keep an eye out for ice if you’re in a colder spot.
No more leaf clogs, which is awesome, but I did notice more icicles hanging there this winter (north-facing side, too). Not a dealbreaker for me, but something to watch.
That’s interesting about the icicles. I put in those mesh-style gutter guards on the front of my house last fall—mostly because I was tired of dragging out the ladder every couple months. They definitely cut down on the leaves and gunk, but I noticed some water just kind of runs over the edge during heavy rain now. Not a huge problem, but it surprised me since I thought they’d be a total fix.
I’m in a spot that gets a fair bit of snow and ice too, and yeah, I’ve seen more icicles than before. Nothing crazy, but enough that I’m keeping an eye on it. For what it’s worth, cleaning gutters is one of my least favorite chores, so even with these quirks, I’d probably do it again—just wouldn’t bother paying for the super expensive ones. If you’re handy at all, installing them yourself saves a chunk of cash.
Guess it really depends how much you hate cleaning gutters versus dealing with a few new annoyances.
They definitely cut down on the leaves and gunk, but I noticed some water just kind of runs over the edge during heavy rain now.
That’s exactly why I’m not sold on these things. I tried a set a couple years back—same deal, less debris but way more runoff in storms. Ended up with a muddy mess near my foundation. Honestly, I’d rather clean gutters twice a year than deal with drainage issues or ice dams. Just feels like trading one headache for another sometimes.
Yeah, that’s pretty much my beef with leaf filters too. I mean, they’re great in theory—no more fishing out wet clumps of leaves—but when the rain really comes down, the water just skips right over and dumps next to the house. I’ve seen it a few times on jobs, especially with those fine mesh covers. It’s like, you solve the clogging problem but create a whole new mess with runoff and pooling.
My neighbor’s house actually got worse after he put them in—he had to dig a little trench to help with the water that kept washing out his mulch. I get not wanting to climb ladders, but cleaning gutters twice a year feels easier than dealing with soggy basements or shifting foundations. Maybe they work better on houses with a gentler roof pitch or where it doesn’t rain sideways... but around here, I’m not convinced they’re worth the cash.
Interesting take. I’ve actually seen the opposite in a couple cases—one client had a ton of pine needles constantly clogging up their gutters, and after putting in a solid-surface guard (not mesh), it actually helped with overflow during heavy storms. But I’m curious, were the installations you saw pitched properly? Sometimes if the guards aren’t installed at the right angle or if the gutters are already sloped wrong, water just shoots over. Not saying they’re perfect, especially with torrential downpours, but I wonder if some of these issues come down to install quality or maybe even gutter size. Anyone else notice that?
