Most of the calls we get about gutter guards start the same way. Someone has just come down the ladder after scooping out another bucket of gum leaves, or they have watched water pour over the front of the gutter in a storm and land right beside the back door. So they ask us straight out: are gutter guards worth it, or are they one of those things that sounds better than it works?
The honest answer is that it depends on your block. On some Nowra homes a good mesh system is one of the best value jobs we do. On others it is money you would be better off keeping. Here is how we tell the difference when we are standing on your roof.
Trees decide most of it
If there is nothing taller than the house within reach of the roof, you probably do not need gutter guards. A quick clean once a year will keep most open gutters running, and that costs less than any mesh system over its life.
Things change once trees are involved. Around Nowra that usually means eucalypts, and gums drop leaves, bark and gumnuts all year rather than in one neat autumn burst. Homes near the river and along the coast often have she-oaks too, and their fine needles mat together into something close to felt. That mat holds water against the gutter, which speeds up rust, and it blocks the downpipe outlet so the gutter overflows long before it is actually full.
A simple test: if you are cleaning your gutters more than once or twice a year and still finding them half full, guards will almost certainly pay their way. If you clean once a year and find a handful of leaves, they probably will not.
The bushfire question is real here
Plenty of the Shoalhaven sits next to bush, and dry leaves packed into a gutter are exactly what embers land in during a fire. This is one of the stronger arguments for guards on homes backing onto bushland, in places like Falls Creek or the edges of North Nowra.
The catch is the material. Plastic mesh can melt or burn, which defeats the point. If fire protection is part of your reason for wanting guards, the mesh needs to be metal, and it needs to be fitted so there are no gaps for leaves to work in behind it. If your block is in a bushfire prone area, it is also worth checking with council what applies to your property before you choose a product.
Not all mesh is equal, and cheap mesh costs more
Most of the disappointment we hear about comes from the product or the install, not the idea. The main differences:
- Metal mesh (usually aluminium or coated steel): holds its shape, handles sun and heat, and is the type we would put on most Nowra roofs.
- Plastic mesh: cheaper up front, but sun breaks it down, it goes brittle and sags into the gutter, and then it traps the very debris it was meant to keep out.
- Foam or brush inserts: sit inside the gutter itself. They tend to clog from the top and hold moisture, and we rarely recommend them.
Hole size matters too. Coarse mesh stops gum leaves but lets she-oak needles and seeds straight through. Finer mesh stops more, but it also needs an occasional brush or hose down so fine dust and pollen do not form a skin over the top.
Then there is the salt. Closer to the water, at Culburra Beach or Shoalhaven Heads, salt air is hard on metal. We match the mesh and its fixings to your roof and gutter so you are not putting two metals together that react with each other, because that can eat away at a good Colorbond gutter quicker than leaves ever would.
How it goes on depends on your roof
On a tile roof, the mesh is usually tucked under the bottom row of tiles and then fixed along the outer edge of the gutter, so leaves slide over the top and off. On a metal roof it is fixed to the roof sheets with saddles or trims shaped to follow the profile, whether that is corrugated or a wider rib. Get either of those wrong and you end up with a gap leaves can blow into, or mesh that lifts in the first decent southerly.
Valleys need their own attention. They collect more debris than any other part of the roof, and if mesh is laid carelessly across a valley it can hold leaves right where water needs to move fastest. Our gutter guard installation service covers the whole roof edge and the valleys as one job, rather than just the straight runs that are easy to reach.
Check the gutters before you cover them
This one surprises people. Gutter guards protect a gutter, they do not fix one. If your gutters are rusting through at the joins, sagging between brackets, or running the wrong way so water sits in one end, putting mesh over them just hides the problem for another year or two.
When we quote for guards we look at the gutters first. Sometimes the right answer is new gutters with guards fitted at the same time, which saves paying for access twice. If you are weighing that up, our breakdown of what drives the price of new gutters walks through the factors.
It also pays to know that overflowing gutters are a common cause of water getting inside, even when the roof itself is sound. If you have had a leak during a downpour and the roof looks fine, read our guide on roof leaks that only show up in heavy rain before assuming it is the tiles or sheets.
The downsides, plainly
Guards are not maintenance free, whatever the brochure says. Here is what you should expect:
- Fine debris still gets through and builds up slowly in the gutter
- Leaves can sit on top of the mesh, especially on low pitch roofs, and need brushing off
- Cleaning the gutter underneath is a bigger job if the mesh has to come up
- A poor install can lift, sag or channel water behind the gutter
None of these are reasons to avoid guards on a leafy block. They are reasons to choose a decent product, have it fitted properly, and still look at the gutters every year or so.
So, are they worth it for your house?
Our rough rule after more than 10 years on Shoalhaven roofs: if trees overhang the roof, if you are near bush, or if getting up a ladder is no longer something you want to do, a properly fitted metal mesh is usually worth it. If the block is clear and the gutters stay fairly clean on their own, put the money toward something else.
We would rather tell you that than sell you a job you do not need. When we look at a roof we explain what we found in plain English and tell you when the cheaper option is the right one.
If you want a straight opinion on your own roof, have a look at how we approach gutter guards for Nowra homes, or call us on (02) 4409 2597. We will check the gutters, the trees and the roof, and give you a free written quote that spells out what is included and what is not.
Common questions about gutter guards
Do gutter guards work well?
Good metal mesh, fitted properly, works well at keeping leaves, gumnuts and bark out of the gutter. It works less well against very fine debris like she-oak needles, pollen and dust, which can still get through or settle on top. Most problems people have with guards come from cheap plastic products or a rushed install.
Do you still have to clean gutters if you have gutter guards?
Yes, but far less often and it is a much easier job. Expect to brush or hose the top of the mesh now and then, and to check the gutter underneath every year or so for fine sludge. It is maintenance reduced, not maintenance gone.
What are the downsides of gutter guards?
The main ones are the upfront cost, the fact that fine debris still gets through, and that cleaning under the mesh takes longer when it is needed. Plastic mesh also breaks down in the sun and can sag into the gutter. A badly fitted system can lift in wind or leave gaps that leaves blow straight into.
Do I need gutter guards if I have no trees?
Usually not. Without overhanging trees, most gutters only collect a little windblown debris and a yearly clean keeps them flowing. The exceptions are homes near bushland, where embers are a concern, or where a neighbour’s trees drop onto your roof.
Can gutter guards go on both tile and metal roofs?
Yes. On tile roofs the mesh tucks under the bottom row of tiles, and on metal roofs it fixes to the sheets with trims shaped to the roof profile. The fixing method is different, so it is worth using someone who works on both types.
Are gutter guards worth it on the coast?
They can be, as long as the mesh and fixings suit salt air and do not react with your gutters. Near the beach we pay close attention to which metals end up touching each other, because the wrong pairing can corrode a gutter faster than leaves would.
