"Curious though, anyone notice a difference between metal mesh and plastic mesh ones? Wondering if material makes any real difference or if they're all equally frustrating..."
Yeah, totally agree with your experience on mesh covers. I've installed both metal and plastic mesh types on different jobs, and honestly, neither is perfect. Metal mesh tends to hold up better over time—plastic ones can warp or crack after a couple seasons, especially if you're in an area with harsh winters or intense sun exposure. But even the metal ones aren't foolproof. Smaller debris like pine needles or seeds still get stuck in the mesh holes, and then you're back to square one with water overflowing.
One thing I've noticed is that metal mesh is usually easier to clean off because it's sturdier—you can brush it off without worrying about damaging it. Plastic mesh can be a bit flimsy, so you have to be careful not to break it when clearing debris. Still, at the end of the day, neither option completely eliminates the hassle of gutter cleaning... just changes how often and how annoying it is.
I've had both types too, and honestly, they're both kind of a pain. Metal definitely lasts longer, but like you said, those tiny pine needles still slip through. I once spent a whole afternoon wrestling with plastic mesh after a storm—half of it snapped off in my hand. At least with metal, I can scrape away without worrying I'll break something... but either way, gutter cleaning remains firmly on my "least favorite chores" list.
Totally agree with you on gutter cleaning being one of the worst chores out there. I moved into my first house about two years ago, and honestly, I underestimated how annoying gutters could be. Mine came with those plastic mesh guards already installed, and at first, I thought I'd hit the jackpot—no more climbing ladders every few months, right? Wrong. After the first big storm, half of them were hanging off like sad little flags. Spent a whole Saturday afternoon trying to reattach them, only to have them snap again a month later.
Switched over to metal guards last fall, and yeah, they're sturdier for sure. But you're spot-on about those pine needles—they're sneaky little things. I still end up having to get up there at least twice a year (usually spring and late fall) to clear everything out properly. I've found that timing it right after most leaves have fallen but before heavy winter rains or snow hits is usually best. Otherwise, I'm stuck dealing with frozen clumps of leaves and ice dams... not fun.
One thing that's helped me a bit is investing in a decent gutter scoop tool—nothing fancy, just one of those cheap plastic scoops from the hardware store. It makes scraping out the gunk way easier than using my hands or a random stick from the yard (been there, done that). Also learned the hard way to wear gloves after finding some questionable stuff hiding in there—bugs, moldy leaves, you name it.
Still haven't found a perfect solution yet though... seems like gutters are just destined to be annoying no matter what you do.
I usually aim for late spring and mid-fall myself—right after the trees finish dropping their leaves. Tried those mesh guards too, but yeah, pine needles laugh at them. Now I just accept my fate, grab gloves and a scoop, and get it over with...
Haha, mesh guards and pine needles—name a more iconic duo. I gave up on regular gutter cleaning a couple years ago and switched to green roofing instead. Now my gutters mostly get watered by runoff, and I only have to check them maybe once a year. If you're already accepting fate, might as well let some plants move in, right? Ever thought about giving it a shot, or does the idea of rooftop gardening sound like too much work?
