"Plastic was a disaster here too, haha... warped in the heat and cracked after one winter."
Yeah, plastic guards were a total fail for me as well—mine didn't even make it through summer without sagging badly. Aluminum perforated guards have been my go-to lately; they're sturdy enough and cleaning them off is pretty straightforward. Stainless steel mesh definitely works, but honestly, who wants to be up on a ladder rinsing gutters every few weeks? I'd rather spend that time grilling or relaxing in the yard...
Plastic guards are always a gamble, honestly. Had a customer once who insisted on them because they were cheaper—fair enough—but after one rough winter, they looked like they'd been through a war zone. Aluminum's usually solid, but I've seen some clogging issues depending on tree coverage. Stainless mesh is great in theory, but yeah, the maintenance can be a pain. Guess there's no perfect solution... just gotta pick your battles and hope for the best.
Usually, I try to get to the gutters twice a year—late fall after most leaves have dropped, and again in early spring to clear out any winter debris. Aluminum guards have been decent for me, but yeah, under heavy tree cover they still need attention. Honestly, I've found no matter what type you choose, regular checks save you from bigger headaches later on... learned that one the hard way after ignoring them for too long one season.
"Aluminum guards have been decent for me, but yeah, under heavy tree cover they still need attention."
I've seen aluminum guards work okay, but honestly, in my experience, micro-mesh guards are a bit better under dense trees. They're pricier upfront, sure, but I've noticed they handle smaller debris like pine needles way better, meaning fewer checks overall. Still agree with you though—no system is totally maintenance-free... learned that lesson myself after a nasty overflow one stormy weekend.
Micro-mesh guards definitely have their perks, but I've found they can clog up surprisingly fast if you've got a ton of pollen or fine dust around. Had a client last spring whose micro-mesh was basically sealed shut by pollen residue—talk about unexpected overflow. Aluminum guards might let smaller stuff through, but at least they don't get totally blocked as easily. Guess it really depends on your local debris situation... pine needles vs pollen, pick your poison.
