Gutter guards can reduce how much large debris gets into a gutter, especially leaves. They don’t stop everything: moss, seeds, grit and fine silt can still get in or build up on top, and blocked guards can overflow. Guards change gutter cleaning rather than ending it, and they make the gutter itself harder to clear when it does need doing.
In this guide
What types of gutter guard are there?
Mesh or grille covers, brush guards, foam inserts, and outlet or balloon guards that sit only over the downpipe.
- Mesh or grille covers. Sit over the top of the gutter. Water goes through the holes; leaves stay on top.
- Brush guards. Long, bottle-brush style bristles that sit in the gutter. Leaves catch on the bristles; water runs underneath.
- Foam inserts. A strip of porous foam that fills the gutter, so debris sits on top and water soaks through.
- Outlet guards. A cage or dome over the outlet only, to stop debris going down the downpipe.
What do guards keep out?
Mainly large, flat leaves. If your problem is leaves from a big tree, guards can help.
A guard is a filter. Large leaves are stopped and, in dry wind, may blow off the roof edge. That is the best case. Where most of what fills your gutter is leaves from a nearby tree, a well-fitted guard can mean less debris in the gutter itself.
What gets past them?
Moss, pine needles, seeds, blossom, grit from concrete tiles and fine silt.
Fine debris goes straight through mesh and settles in the gutter underneath. Moss lumps and needles sit on top of guards and knit together. Brushes trap debris in the bristles and can end up holding more than an open gutter would. Foam can fill with silt and grow moss on top. The gutter under a guard still collects fine material over time; it just takes longer to see.
Can guards cause overflow?
Yes. A guard covered in debris can stop water getting into the gutter at all, so it runs over the front edge.
In heavy rain, water flowing down a roof needs to get into the gutter quickly. A mesh with a mat of moss and leaves on top, or a brush packed with debris, slows that down. The water then shoots over the guard and the gutter, much like a blocked gutter. Guards over outlets block the same way: leaves pile up against them.
Do guards make cleaning harder?
Usually. The guard has to be lifted out or cleaned on top, and the gutter underneath still needs clearing every so often.
With a mesh cover you clean the top of the mesh, then, every so often, remove it to clear the silt beneath. Brushes have to be pulled out, cleaned and refitted. Foam has to come out. All of this means more time, which usually means more cost, and more handling of the guards, which can break or move. Some gutter vacuum work can clear the top of guards, but it can’t reach under them.
So should I fit gutter guards?
They can make sense if your gutters fill quickly with large leaves and you accept they need looking after. If your problem is moss and grit from the roof, they help much less.
Think about what actually fills your gutters. Look at the debris when they are next cleared. Mostly big leaves: guards might reduce how often you need a full clear. Mostly moss and dark silt: guards are unlikely to help much, and dealing with the roof moss does more. Either way, budget for the guards being checked and cleaned, not left for years.
If you’re unsure, a camera inspection of the gutters a few months after a clear shows you how quickly they fill and with what.
Should I put a guard on the outlets?
An outlet guard is a cheap way to stop large debris going down the downpipe. It needs clearing too, because leaves pile up against it.
Where downpipes block often, an outlet guard can help, because it is much easier to clear debris from a dome on top of the outlet than from a bend inside the pipe. Check them in autumn, after the leaves have fallen.
What should I ask before buying guards?
Ask what they are made of, how they fit your gutter profile, how they are cleaned, and whether they stop the gutter being cleared from the ground.
Guards are sold to fit particular gutter shapes, so check the profile of yours first (see types of gutter). Ask how often the seller expects them to be cleaned and how. If you already have someone clear your gutters, ask them whether guards would help on your house; they have seen what is in there.
Key points
- Guards mainly keep out large leaves.
- Moss, needles, seeds and silt still get in or sit on top.
- Blocked guards can overflow just like blocked gutters.
- Guards change cleaning rather than ending it.
- Look at what fills your gutters before you buy.
Quick questions
Are gutter guards worth it near pine trees?
Needles tend to pass through or knit into the top of mesh and brushes. Guards are usually less useful with pines than with large-leaved trees.
Can I fit gutter guards myself?
Brushes and foam slot in from above, which means working at gutter height. The same ladder safety points apply as for clearing gutters.
Do guards affect a gutter vacuum clean?
Yes. A vacuum can clear the top of a guard, but the gutter underneath needs the guard removing first.
