Are Gutter Guards Worth It?

What gutter guards and hedgehogs are

Gutter guards are covers, usually mesh, perforated plastic or metal, fitted over the top of the gutter so water passes through and larger debris stays out. Gutter hedgehogs, sometimes called brush guards, are long bristle brushes laid inside the channel, letting water flow through the bristles while leaves sit on top.

Both aim to stop the gutter from filling with leaves. Neither is a single product, and quality, fit and the shape of your gutter vary widely. OOR External does not sell or fit guards, so this guide is written to help you decide, not to recommend a product.

Where they help

Houses beneath large deciduous trees can see gutters fill within a single autumn. A guard that keeps whole leaves out can slow that process and reduce the risk of a blocked outlet. Downpipes are also less likely to clog with large material if the gutter above is covered.

Guards can be useful on gutters that are difficult to reach and are cleared infrequently. Fewer large blockages may mean fewer emergency overflows. That benefit depends on the guard staying clear on top, which is the part often overlooked.

What they still let in

Fine material passes through mesh and settles in the channel. Roof grit from concrete tiles, sycamore seeds, pine needles and moss fragments all find their way through. Over time this silt builds up beneath the guard where it cannot be seen from the ground, and the gutter still needs emptying.

Hedgehogs trap small debris among their bristles. Seeds can germinate there, and moss washed off the roof sits in the brush rather than flowing on. When the brush is full it acts as a dam, and water spills over the front edge just as it would from a blocked gutter.

Moss and leaves on top

Leaves that land on a guard do not always blow away. On sheltered roofs they form a damp mat over the mesh, water runs across the top and over the edge, and the gutter beneath stays dry while the wall below gets wet. Moss from the roof can grow across the guard itself.

This is the main reason guards disappoint. They move the cleaning task from inside the gutter to the top of the guard, and on a house with heavy moss on the roof the problem can return quickly. A roof with established moss may be better dealt with at the source.

Cleaning gutters that have guards

Guarded gutters still need inspecting and clearing. Usually the guards are lifted or the brushes removed, the silt underneath is cleared, the guards are cleaned and refitted. That takes longer than clearing an open gutter, and poorly fitted guards can be damaged when lifted.

If you are deciding whether to fit guards, think about how they will be removed for maintenance. Clips that are hard to release or guards fitted under the tiles can make a routine clean more involved. The gutter vacuuming guide explains how open gutters are cleared from the ground.

So are they worth it?

For a house under heavy leaf fall with easy-to-remove guards, they can reduce blockages between cleans. For a house where the main debris is moss, roof grit or fine seeds, they may add cost without reducing maintenance much. In every case the gutters still need checking.

A regular clean matched to your trees and roof often achieves the same result without the upfront spend. The guide on how often gutters should be cleaned explains how to judge that interval from what falls on your roof, rather than following a fixed calendar.

Need it sorted? Book gutter cleaning

Ask Jordan Sartain at OOR External about gutter cleaning. Use the quote form below with your postcode and photographs taken safely from the ground.

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