Gutter guards can be a mixed bag. They definitely cut down on the bigger debris—leaves, twigs, even some of those squirrel leftovers—but I’ve seen fine stuff like pine needles still get through, especially with mesh types. Sometimes they make it trickier to do a deep clean, since you need to remove the guard itself. Has anyone noticed if certain brands or designs handle heavy rain better? I’ve heard some overflow during storms, depending on the pitch and volume.
Had the same issue with pine needles—those things are relentless, especially if you’ve got a lot of conifers nearby. I put in a micro-mesh guard (LeafFilter, I think?) and while it stopped most large stuff, the fine debris still found its way through and sometimes clogged up the downspouts. During heavy storms, I noticed water would occasionally sheet right over the edge instead of going into the gutter, which kind of defeats the purpose. I’m starting to wonder if the pitch of my roof is just too steep for most guards to work perfectly. Anyone else have a similar experience with overflow in big downpours?
That overflow thing is exactly what I’ve been dealing with too, especially when it really pours. My roof’s got a pretty steep pitch and I’m starting to think that’s making the water move too fast for the guards to keep up. Out of curiosity, have you tried adjusting the angle or even switching to a different style of guard? I’ve read some folks have better luck with surface tension covers instead of mesh, but I’m not sure how well they handle pine needles. Wondering if there’s a sweet spot between keeping debris out and actually letting water in...
Mesh guards and my pine trees are basically sworn enemies. I tried the surface tension covers last fall, thinking I was a genius, but the pine needles just camped out on top and made a soggy mat. Water started shooting right over the edge like a mini Niagara. I fiddled with the angle a bit, but honestly, nothing’s perfect if you’ve got a steep roof and a forest overhead. At this point, I’m just embracing the ladder workout every few weeks... cheaper than a gym membership, right?
At this point, I’m just embracing the ladder workout every few weeks... cheaper than a gym membership, right?
That’s basically where I landed too. I’ve got a 12/12 pitch and three big old white pines that seem to shed needles year-round. Tried mesh guards, tried the foam inserts, even gave those “reverse curve” covers a shot. Same deal—needles just pile up and turn into a soggy mess. I swear, the only thing those guards did was make it harder to scoop out the gunk.
Here’s what I do now: every 4-6 weeks in the fall (and again in spring), I drag out the extension ladder, leaf blower, and a pair of gloves. I start at the downspouts and work my way up, clearing as I go. If it’s been wet, I’ll use a plastic scoop instead of the blower—less mess on the siding. It’s not glamorous, but it beats paying someone $200+ a pop around here.
One thing I learned the hard way: always check the valleys and behind chimneys. Needles love to hide there and cause ice dams when winter hits. Also, if you’re doing it yourself, those ladder stabilizers are worth every penny—makes things feel a lot less sketchy on a steep roof.
I get why people hire pros, especially if heights aren’t your thing or you’ve got a three-story house. But for me, it’s become part of my seasonal routine. Plus, like you said, it’s a decent workout... though I’d be lying if I said my knees love it.
If you ever figure out a guard that actually works with pine needles, let me know. Until then, guess we’re both stuck with the “ladder gym” membership.
