Funny you mention the “waterfall” gutters—I've seen that too, and honestly, it’s a small price to pay compared to the mess ice dams can make. I’ve inspected a few places where folks skipped the metal edge, and you could practically see the water’s path right into the attic. If your gutters are clean and you’re not dealing with a weird pitch, you’re probably golden. Still, I always tell people: check those gutters after the first big melt. It’s amazing what a few leaves or pine needles can do to ruin your day.
It’s amazing what a few leaves or pine needles can do to ruin your day.
Ain’t that the truth. I swear, my gutters are like a magnet for every pine needle in the neighborhood. I did the metal edge last year and yeah, it’s not the prettiest, but I’d rather have a little “waterfall” than water sneaking into my insulation. Still, I’m always tempted to just rip the gutters off and go full green roof—less to clean, more to brag about at BBQs.
Metal edge is a lifesaver, even if it’s not winning any beauty contests. I tried those foam gutter inserts a couple years back—thought they’d keep the pine needles out, but they just turned into a soggy mess. Ended up pulling them out mid-rainstorm, cursing the whole time. I get the green roof temptation, but I’d worry about weight and leaks. For now, I just keep a cheap leaf blower handy and cross my fingers every fall.
Metal edging’s definitely not the prettiest, but I’ve seen it save a lot of headaches, especially on older roofs where water wants to sneak in at the corners. The foam gutter inserts...yeah, I hear you. I’ve inspected a bunch of homes where those things just turned into compost piles inside the gutters. They seem like a good idea until the first big rain or a windy day with a lot of debris.
I’ve had a few clients go for green roofs, and honestly, unless the structure was built for it, it’s usually more trouble than it’s worth. The weight is no joke, and leaks are a pain to track down. Most folks around here (lots of pines and maples) end up just doing what you’re doing—leaf blower, maybe a gutter scoop, and call it good. Not glamorous, but it works.
Funny thing, I once watched a guy try to clear his gutters with a shop vac duct-taped to a broom handle. Let’s just say it didn’t end well for the vac. Sometimes simple really is best...
Metal edging might not win any beauty contests, but I’ve seen it keep water out of spots where nothing else worked. On green roofs—yeah, retrofitting is a pain, and you’re right about the weight. But if someone’s dead set on it, I always tell them: start with a structural engineer, then do layers in this order—waterproof membrane, root barrier, drainage mat, growing medium. Skipping steps is where most leaks happen. Not for every house, but when it’s done right, it’s pretty cool. Still, cleaning gutters the old-fashioned way is hard to beat for simplicity.
