I hear you on the spring cleaning, but honestly, I've found that doing a quick check right after summer storms helps me even more. Seems like that's when I get the worst clogs—especially if we get hail or heavy winds knocking down branches and leaves. I've been tempted to try those gutter foam inserts too, but I'm still skeptical about their longevity and performance. Has anyone here given those a shot, or are they just another gimmick?
I've wondered about those foam inserts myself, but honestly, they seem a bit pricey for what they are. My neighbor installed them last year, and at first, he was pretty happy—said they kept out the leaves and twigs nicely. But after a few heavy rains and storms, he mentioned they started getting clogged anyway, just deeper down inside the foam. He ended up having to pull them out and clean them off, which sounds like double the work to me.
Personally, I've stuck with the old-fashioned method of just getting up there after big storms and scooping out whatever's accumulated. It's annoying, sure, but at least it's predictable and doesn't cost extra. I'm curious though—has anyone tried those mesh gutter guards instead? They seem more durable than foam, but I'm still not convinced they're worth the investment.
"I'm curious though—has anyone tried those mesh gutter guards instead? They seem more durable than foam, but I'm still not convinced they're worth the investment."
I've managed properties with both foam inserts and mesh guards, and honestly, mesh wins hands-down. They're pricier upfront, but they hold up better long-term and save you from constant ladder trips...worth considering.
I've been eyeing those mesh guards too, but the upfront cost keeps giving me pause. Good to hear they're durable though. Do you find they handle heavy rainstorms well? My gutters overflow pretty easily during downpours, and I'm wondering if mesh guards might help with that or if they'd just clog up faster...
I've had mesh guards on mine for about three years now, and honestly, they've been pretty solid even during heavy storms. But here's the catch—if your gutters are already overflowing easily, mesh guards alone might not fully solve the issue. Usually, overflow happens because the gutters or downspouts aren't sized right or they're not angled properly. Mesh guards definitely help keep leaves and debris out, but in really intense rain, water can still sheet over if the gutters can't handle the volume.
One thing I've noticed is that finer mesh screens can sometimes clog up with smaller debris like pine needles or roof grit, especially after a big storm. I ended up going with a medium-sized mesh that lets water flow through better without letting in bigger leaves and twigs. Still gotta clean them occasionally, but way less often than before.
If you're dealing with frequent overflow, you might wanna double-check your downspouts too—sometimes adding an extra one or upsizing can make a huge difference.
