That’s honestly been my experience too—there’s always some new thing on the market, but nothing really beats just getting up there (or paying someone) to clear stuff out. I’ve seen metal mesh hold up better than plastic, but even those get mangled when critters or ice decide to test them. Has anyone tried the solid surface guards that claim to let water in but shed everything else? I’m skeptical, but maybe they’re less tempting for raccoons?
I tried those solid surface guards last fall after a squirrel chewed through my mesh (and then promptly moved into my attic, but that’s another story). They do shed leaves pretty well, but pine needles still find a way in. Haven’t seen raccoons messing with them yet, though—maybe they’re just not as fun to pry up? Honestly, nothing seems 100% critter-proof, but at least I haven’t had to fish out a drowned possum since switching.
I hear you on the pine needles—they’re relentless. I’ve tried three different types of guards over the years, and nothing’s kept those little guys out entirely. The mesh ones clogged up fast, and the plastic ones warped in the sun. The solid surface guards have been the least hassle for me, but I still get some buildup in the corners. At least you’re not dealing with possums anymore… had a raccoon once that nearly tore the whole downspout off, so I’ll take a few needles over that mess any day.
The mesh ones clogged up fast, and the plastic ones warped in the sun.
That’s exactly what I was worried about. I just moved in last fall and already noticed the mesh guards the previous owner put in are basically a pine needle magnet. I spent an hour up there with a shop vac and still didn’t get it all. The plastic ones look like they’ve seen better days too—half of them are curling up at the edges, which I’m guessing is from the sun baking them all summer.
I’m kind of surprised the solid guards work better for you, since I read mixed reviews online. Maybe it depends on the roof pitch? Mine’s a pretty shallow slope, so I wonder if that makes the debris pile up more. I haven’t had any wildlife incidents yet (knock on wood), but I did find a squirrel stash of acorns in one downspout. Not sure if that’s better or worse than raccoons, honestly...
Is there some magic gutter guard material that doesn’t clog, warp, or invite critters? Starting to think the only real solution is climbing up there every few months and dealing with it the old-fashioned way.
I did find a squirrel stash of acorns in one downspout. Not sure if that’s better or worse than raccoons, honestly...
That gave me a laugh—squirrels are relentless. I’ve seen everything from bird nests to tennis balls clogging gutters during inspections. Honestly, I’ve yet to see a “magic” guard that’s totally maintenance-free. The solid aluminum covers seem to hold up best in my area (lots of sun, lots of pine needles), but even those need a quick brush-off now and then. Shallow roofs definitely make debris pile up more, so you’re not imagining it. At the end of the day, nothing beats just getting up there every so often... annoying as it is.
