Yeah, I hear you on the foam inserts—tried those at my old place and they just held onto moisture. Ended up with a mess of moss and even a few mushrooms once. Mesh screens are a bit better, but like you said, you’re still up there clearing out the corners, especially if you’ve got pine needles or those little helicopter seeds. Sometimes I think the only real fix is moving to a house without any trees nearby... but then you’re dealing with sun-baked siding. Can’t win.
I’ve had a similar experience with foam inserts—looked great at first, but after a couple of seasons, they were basically composting in place. The moisture retention was a nightmare, especially on the north side where things never really dry out. I ended up pulling them all out after finding a patch of what I’m pretty sure was slime mold.
Switched to the fine mesh screens, which helped with the big stuff, but like you mentioned, pine needles and those maple helicopters still find their way in. I’ve got two big silver maples right over the house, so it’s basically an ongoing battle. I tried one of those reverse-curve covers (the kind that’s supposed to let water in but keep debris out), but honestly, heavy rain just shot right past them and onto my foundation. Not ideal.
I hear you about the “no trees” solution, but then you’re trading shade for constant UV damage and higher cooling bills... plus your yard looks barren. Seems like it’s always a trade-off—pick your poison.
I get the whole “pick your poison” thing, but honestly, I’ll take the trees and just deal with the gutters. We tried going the “minimal shade” route at our last place—thought we’d save ourselves the hassle. Instead, we baked all summer and the AC bills were a joke. I’d rather be up on a ladder twice a year than live in a sun-blasted fishbowl. Mesh screens have been decent for us, but yeah, nothing’s perfect. At least with trees, you get some birds and a little privacy... just gotta accept the annual gutter gunk as part of the package.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen a lot of folks underestimate just how much damage clogged gutters can do—especially if you’re in a spot with heavy fall leaf drop. Water backing up can wreck fascia boards and even get into the foundation if it overflows in the wrong spot. Some people have had luck with those solid gutter covers (not just mesh), though they’re pricier up front. Not saying trees aren’t worth it, but sometimes the “just clean them twice a year” plan turns into a bigger headache than expected... especially if you’re not a fan of ladders or have a two-story place.
I get the concern about water damage, but honestly, I’m still not sold on those solid gutter covers. My neighbor put them in last year—spent a small fortune—and now he’s dealing with pine needles just sliding right over and piling up on top. He still has to get up there and clear the mess off, just not from inside the gutter. Maybe it’s less gross, but it’s still a chore.
I’ve got a two-story place with a bunch of maples nearby, so I hear you about the leaf soup. What’s worked for me is just using one of those gutter cleaning wands you hook to a hose. Not perfect, but it means I’m not dragging out the ladder every time. Twice a year is usually enough unless we get a crazy windy fall.
I guess my point is, there’s no magic fix—just different flavors of hassle. For me, I’d rather save the money and deal with it myself than shell out for covers that might not even solve the problem. But I get why folks want to avoid ladders if they can...
