At least when I just clean them out myself, I know exactly what’s in there and if anything looks weird after a storm.
That’s been my experience too, honestly. I put in mesh guards last fall, thinking it’d be a set-it-and-forget-it fix, but it’s been more of a mixed bag. We’ve got a couple big maples and a pine right over the house, so the guards just trap all the little stuff on top. Instead of scooping out leaves, now I’m up there brushing off mats of needles and gunk every few weeks. Not sure it’s any less work, just a different kind.
I get the appeal of extra protection after hail—my gutters got dinged up pretty bad last spring—but I’m starting to think the guards don’t really help with that. The hail just dents the metal anyway, guard or not. Maybe if you’ve got big leaves and not much else, they’d be worth it, but with all the debris here, I’m not convinced. Sometimes the “old-school” way really is simpler, even if it means getting up on the ladder more often than I’d like.
I’ve wondered the same thing about those guards. We’ve got a few properties with them, and honestly, I’m not sure they save much time. After a big storm, we’re still sending someone up to clear off the pine needles and little twigs that just sit on top. Plus, when hail hits, it’s like you said—the guards don’t really stop the dents or dings. I guess it comes down to what kind of trees you’ve got nearby and how much you mind the extra cleanup. Sometimes I think the “solution” just shifts the hassle around.
I hear you on the guards not being a magic fix. I’ve inspected a lot of roofs with those mesh covers or solid guards, and honestly, they’re kind of a mixed bag. They’ll keep out the big leaves, sure, but like you said, pine needles and those tiny seed pods just pile up right on top. Sometimes I’ve seen them actually make things worse—water can back up if the debris mats down, and then you’re looking at overflow or even ice dams in colder spots.
As for hail, I haven’t seen any guard that really does much to prevent dents. The metal’s going to take a beating no matter what’s sitting over the gutters. In fact, some guards are thin enough that hail just bends them out of shape, and then you’re stuck fixing both the guard and the gutter underneath.
I get why people want to try them—nobody likes cleaning gutters—but in areas with lots of conifers or regular storms, it’s just trading one type of maintenance for another. Sometimes a good old-fashioned seasonal cleaning is less hassle in the long run.
Yeah, I’ve seen those guards actually trap more junk than they keep out, especially with pine needles. In my area (lots of firs), the mesh just turns into a mat after a few months. As for hail, I’ve yet to see a guard that holds up—most just get dented or bent, like you said. I’ve started recommending folks skip the guards and just do a solid clean twice a year. Less hassle, and you can spot other roof issues while you’re up there.
the mesh just turns into a mat after a few months
Yeah, I hear you on that. Around here, the fir needles basically weave themselves into a blanket over those guards. I’ve seen folks think they’re set for years, then end up with water pouring over the gutters during the first big rain. Hail’s another story—most of those guards are just too flimsy. I do like your point about cleaning twice a year. Plus, you get to check for cracked shingles or loose flashing while you’re up there... saves headaches down the road.