- I hear you on valleys being a pain. I always thought the main risk was missing shingles or old flashing, but turns out, it’s the spots you can’t really see that cause the most grief.
- For me, cleaning out roof valleys is one of those things I used to skip, thinking it wasn’t a big deal. Then last winter, water started dripping into my attic—turns out pine needles had built up in the valley and created a dam. Not fun.
- I’m not sold on green roofs for my budget, but I get the appeal. Still, seems like even with all that extra drainage, you’ve got to keep an eye on debris. Makes me wonder if it’s really worth the extra maintenance and cost.
- I stick with asphalt shingles (midwest climate), and honestly, even though they’re not fancy, they’re easier to patch up when stuff like this happens. Just need to be up there every fall with a blower or broom—takes maybe half an hour if you don’t let it get too bad.
- Not sure if anyone else has tried those gutter guards that claim to keep valleys clear? I tried a cheap set and honestly, didn’t see much difference. Leaves still pile up where they want.
- One thing I will say—if you’re not comfortable getting up there yourself, paying someone once a year is probably cheaper than dealing with water damage later. Learned that the hard way after my attic insulation got soaked.
- Water will always find a way... just wish it would pick somewhere less expensive to fix.
Not trying to talk anyone out of upgrades, but for me, simple and regular checks have saved more headaches than any fancy system so far.
Interesting point about the gutter guards—I've seen a lot of folks assume they'll solve all the debris issues, but in practice, it seems like valleys are just tough spots no matter what. Has anyone tried those mesh-style valley inserts or even custom flashing to help channel water better? I always wonder if the extra effort up front actually pays off long-term, or if it's just another thing to maintain. Also, for those with older roofs, do you notice more buildup in the valleys as the shingles age and lose granules?
Mesh valley inserts are a bit of a mixed bag in my experience. They do help keep out the big stuff—leaves, twigs, the occasional squirrel acorn stash—but you still get that fine grit and shingle granule buildup over time, especially on older roofs. I’ve seen folks install custom flashing with high hopes, but if your valleys are already prone to clogging, it’s usually just another thing to check during spring cleaning.
Honestly, I think valleys are just magnets for debris no matter what you throw at them. On my own place (asphalt shingles, 18 years old), I notice way more gunk in the valleys now than when the roof was newer. The granules come off like dandruff after a rough winter... not pretty. Anyone else ever try those foam gutter inserts? I’m curious if they’re any less hassle or just another thing to pull out and rinse every year.
Honestly, I think valleys are just magnets for debris no matter what you throw at them.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had better luck with mesh inserts than most folks seem to. Maybe it’s the pitch on my roof (steep enough that stuff slides off easier), or maybe it’s just that I’m a bit obsessive about cleaning twice a year. Either way, I’d take mesh over foam any day. Tried those foam gutter inserts once—never again. They soaked up water, got all gunky, and started breaking down after two seasons. Total mess.
The granule buildup is a pain, but honestly, if your shingles are shedding that much, it might be time to think about replacement anyway. Eighteen years is getting up there for asphalt. I know nobody wants to hear that, but sometimes the “extra maintenance” is just the roof telling you it’s tired.
Custom flashing sounds nice in theory, but unless you’re dealing with major ice damming or weird water flow, it’s usually more hassle than help. Just my two cents—sometimes simpler is better.
I hear you on the foam inserts—tried those thinking I’d save a few bucks, but all I got was a soggy mess and more work. Mesh has held up better for me too, though I still end up climbing up there every spring and fall. My place is surrounded by maples, so those little helicopter seeds love to find their way into every crevice.
About the granules—when I started noticing more in the gutters and downspouts, it was kind of a wake-up call. My roof’s just over 15 years old (asphalt), and I’m already budgeting for replacement in the next few years. Not thrilled about it, but patching only goes so far.
Custom flashing is one of those things that sounds great on paper, but after talking with a couple local roofers, most said unless you’ve got ice dam problems or some weird valley shape, it’s not worth the extra cash or hassle. Sometimes just keeping up with basic cleaning and making sure your gutters are actually pitched right does more than any fancy add-ons.
