I ditched gutter guards a couple years back after getting tired of the plastic ones warping every summer. Just went back to clearing the gutters twice a year—takes me maybe an afternoon each time with a ladder and a scoop. Honestly, I think it’s less hassle in the long run, at least for my house (low roofline, not a ton of trees). Curious if folks with big maples or oaks hanging over the roof have found skipping guards to be a total nightmare, or if it’s manageable with regular cleanings?
I manage a few properties with big old oaks right over the roof, and honestly, skipping guards is kind of a pain. Even with regular cleanings, those gutters fill up fast in the fall. If you’re just dealing with a couple trees, it’s doable, but once you’ve got heavy leaf drop, you’re probably out there more than twice a year—or risking clogs. Gutter guards can be annoying, but sometimes they’re the lesser evil... especially if tenants aren’t keen on climbing ladders.
Gutter guards can be annoying, but sometimes they’re the lesser evil... especially if tenants aren’t keen on climbing ladders.
I hear you on the “lesser evil” part. I thought I could outsmart the leaves my first fall—turns out, they had other plans. I spent more time up on a wobbly step ladder than actually enjoying my new place. And let’s be real, nobody’s winning a battle against a 60-year-old oak with just a leaf blower and some optimism.
I was skeptical about gutter guards too (heard all the horror stories about them clogging anyway), but after fishing out a half-composted squirrel nest last November, I caved. They’re not perfect—stuff still gets stuck sometimes—but at least I’m not risking my neck every other weekend. Plus, my gutters don’t look like a salad bar anymore.
If you’ve got just a couple trees, maybe you can get away with skipping them, but once you’re in “forest canopy” territory, it’s either guards or a new hobby in gutter cleaning. Not sure which is worse, honestly...
That line about the squirrel nest gave me a good laugh—been there, except in my case it was what I’m pretty sure was half a bird’s nest and a tennis ball (my neighbor’s kid still blames the wind). Gutter guards definitely aren’t magic, but I’ll take “less debris” over “full-on compost heap” any day. Especially in neighborhoods where the trees seem to have it out for you.
You nailed it with the “forest canopy” comment. Where I grew up, my folks’ house was surrounded by maples and pines. We tried skipping guards for a couple years, thinking we’d save money and just do regular clean-outs. That lasted until my dad slipped off the ladder and landed in the hydrangeas—luckily just bruised pride, but after that, he was all in on anything that kept him off the rungs.
Honestly, even with guards, you still get those weird clogs or a pine needle pile-up now and then. But it’s way less hassle than starting from scratch every fall. If you’re dealing with ancient trees, it’s just about buying yourself some sanity (and maybe fewer tetanus shots).
I’ve heard people say they’re not worth the money if you only have a couple small trees, and I get that. But once you’re up against a wall of branches overhead, it’s kind of like choosing between two chores—neither is fun, but one of them doesn’t require risking your neck or finding out what’s been living in your gutters all season.
Anyway, you’re not alone in the battle. Those leaves seem to have a sixth sense for when you’ve just cleaned everything out. At least with guards, you can pretend you’re winning... even if it’s only by a little.
- Gutter guards definitely help, but I’ve seen plenty of cases where they actually made things worse after a big storm.
- If the mesh is too fine, water can sheet right over and miss the gutter entirely—especially with heavy rain. That’s when you get foundation issues or basement leaks.
- Pine needles are notorious for slipping through most guards, too. I’ve pulled out mats of them that basically formed their own dam.
- In some neighborhoods, squirrels or birds will just pry up the guards to get back in anyway. It’s like a never-ending arms race.
- For folks with only a few trees, sometimes just scheduling a couple clean-outs a year is less hassle and cost than installing guards that still need maintenance.
- I get the safety angle—ladders are no joke—but if you’re already hiring someone to install guards, it’s worth asking if they’ll do annual checks or cleanings as part of the deal.
- Not saying guards are bad, just that they’re not always a set-it-and-forget-it fix. Sometimes old-school elbow grease (or a good local handyman) wins out, depending on your setup.
