OT- Gutter Guards

[millerjs32]

I’m trying to find the best gutter and guards for my house. I have 2 long valleys that empty into a gutter but the one end of the valley only has about 10 inches of gutter to catch the rain, and sometimes it flows over the edge. One reason it flows over the edge is because leaves and sticks get caught right there were the valley hits the gutter and causes a dam. Thoughts on what the best gutter/guard options are from the all-knowing board?
Thanks
Jeff

 

[Colorado Man]

I’m trying to find the best gutter and guards for my house. I have 2 long valleys that empty into a gutter but the one end of the valley only has about 10 inches of gutter to catch the rain, and sometimes it flows over the edge. One reason it flows over the edge is because leaves and sticks get caught right there were the valley hits the gutter and causes a dam. Thoughts on what the best gutter/guard options are from the all-knowing board?
Thanks
Jeff

I have Gutter Helmet, but you still need to keep the valleys clear. They have a flow distributor at the junction of the valley with the Gutter Helmut which can collect debris and cause debris to clog and change the flow patterns. Pine needles can still be an occasional problem.

 

[Class of 67]

I’m trying to find the best gutter and guards for my house. I have 2 long valleys that empty into a gutter but the one end of the valley only has about 10 inches of gutter to catch the rain, and sometimes it flows over the edge. One reason it flows over the edge is because leaves and sticks get caught right there were the valley hits the gutter and causes a dam. Thoughts on what the best gutter/guard options are from the all-knowing board?
Thanks
Jeff

I've got the same issue at the base of two valleys. I had 6" gutters and excellent guards installed three years ago, but because the valleys concentrate tree debris, the gutters don't handle deluges. The guards are stainless steel plates with about quarter inch diameter holes. Otherwise, I've never had to clean the gutters, just debris off the screen right at the base of the valleys. I don't see an ultimate solution. A deflector where the gutters make a 90 deg angle at the base of one valley helps, but monsoon rains like we've had this month overcomes that, too. The problem does not happen often enough for me to search out other solutions.

 

[Obliviax]

I did a ton of research on this a couple of years ago and finally decided to just hire a local couple of guys that do it for $100/per (twice a year). It was going to cost me north of $2000 so I figured the break even is ten years. I did put these things in (Link) to keep the downspout from getting backed up between cleanings.

Everytime I read a good review on the gutter guards they all seemed to recommend a cleaning once a year. My problem is once in the spring after the helicopters come down, and then in the fall after the leaves fall. The trees also drop some kind of weird Brown Stringy thing....and I read the gutter guards don't stop them.

 

[Peetz Pool Boy]

For keeping large debris (ie leaves) out if the gutters, I've found that screens work best. They come in 4' sections and are very reasonable.

Fir the valleys, you need to ensure that you don't have or install splash / overflow guards....they're nothing but leaf catchers and actually cause more harm than good. As the crap accumulates behind them, you get a greater chance of getting water weeping up behind the shingles.

 

[Peetz Pool Boy]

I did a ton of research on this a couple of years ago and finally decided to just hire a local couple of guys that do it for $100/per (twice a year). It was going to cost me north of $2000 so I figured the break even is ten years. I did put these things in (Link) to keep the downspout from getting backed up between cleanings.

Everytime I read a good review on the gutter guards they all seemed to recommend a cleaning once a year. My problem is once in the spring after the helicopters come down, and then in the fall after the leaves fall. The trees also drop some kind of weird Brown Stringy thing....and I read the gutter guards don't stop them.

For a 4000 sq ft house, plain old screens shouldn't cost ,ore than $400

 

[Obliviax]

For a 4000 sq ft house, plain old screens shouldn't cost ,ore than $400

Roger that....was talking about gutter guards. Then you have the installation, my house is 3.5 floors. Lowest quote I got for screens was $900. Then, from what I read, in the fall when its rainy the leaves stick to the screens and decay. Again, just figured I'd get them cleaned for $100/shot

 

[Tom McAndrew]

For the valleys, you need to ensure that you don't have or install splash / overflow guards....they're nothing but leaf catchers and actually cause more harm than good. As the crap accumulates behind them, you get a greater chance of getting water weeping up behind the shingles.

The splash/overflow guards in combination with gutter guards are what the OP would need where the valley intersects with the gutter. Alas, as the Pool Boy indicates, while this approach solves one problem (the overflow), it causes another problem (it causes leaves and everything else to accumulate behind the splash/overflow guards). The reason you install gutter guards is so that you don't have to clean out gutters any more. If splash/overflow guards are installed, then you have to clean behind them a few times a year (at a minimum). I have gutter guards and splash/overflow guards, and have to climb up on a ladder several times a year to clean behind the splash/overflow guards. It's a PITA.

 

[dwiz]

Methinks I should open a business of bringing my 30ft ladder to BWI members houses and cleaning their gutters out at $50/hour. Yes, it's a pain in the ass, but just buy a ladder and clean the gunk out in the fall and it solves the problem. Just bought a new 3000 sq/ft house and it requires getting on the roof and/or ladder, but if you're confident you're not going to fall, it's pretty easy to fix yourself.

 

[Fac]

I have to clean my gutters about 10 - 12 times a year as my neighbor has 3 massive oak trees.
Thankfully my gutters are reachable with a 6 foot ladder.

 

[tboyer]

Just eliminate the damn trees. Trees are a MENACE. Used to own a property with 160 trees; can't tell you how glad I am to be out of there.

 

[millerjs32]

Thanks for all the suggestions.
The corner where the valley hits is my problem. I had gutter guards up, and still had to clear that area a few times a year.
No problem getting on the ladder except it's difficult since some trees( ha ha ha ha ha ) sit right where I need to put the ladder.
Oh, well.......... Guess I just do what I've been doing.

Jeff

 

[wplion]

I have tried two solutions, both still have issues. I had plastic screens first, they were awful. They tended to warp and therefore lost their effectiveness. I then went with a metal guard. I live in a partially wooded lot and I still have issues. I have a large roof with large roof with a few valleys and debris still collects there and then gets caught around/between the guards. The gutters are much harder to clean because of the guards.
I am so frustrated that I think I will remove all and go back to no guards to make cleaning easier.