Gutter Guards In Florida: Help Or Hindrance

What they are for

A gutter guard is a cover - mesh, perforated metal, a reverse-curve hood, or a foam insert - that lets water in and keeps debris out. The idea is that debris slides or blows off the top while water drops through. When it works, the gutter stays clear and the cleaning interval stretches from seasons to years.

Florida's particular problem

Florida debris is not oak leaves. It is palm fronds, which are large and heavy and sit where they land; seed pods and berries, which are small enough to get through coarse guards; pine needles, which lie flat on any mesh and mat together; and the fine grit of shingle granules, which passes through everything and settles in the gutter regardless. A guard that keeps out leaves may keep out very little of that.

Where guards fail

• Debris on top. A guard stops debris entering the gutter and then holds it on the guard, where it blocks water from getting in. Water runs over the front instead. The gutter is clean and useless.
• Heavy rain. Florida rain comes in volume. Some guard designs - particularly reverse-curve hoods and fine mesh - cannot pass water fast enough in a downpour, so the water sheets straight over.
• Fine debris through. Granules, seeds and pine needles get through coarse guards and accumulate underneath, where they are now harder to clean out because the guard is in the way.
• Drip edge conflict. A guard installed under the shingle edge or drip edge can lift the shingle or redirect water behind the gutter. On a tile roof, fitting a guard against the tile nose is its own problem.

What works better than most

Micro-mesh over a rigid frame, fitted to the gutter without disturbing the roof edge, on a gutter with adequate fall and enough downspouts, on a house without heavy overhanging trees. Even then it needs a look and a brush-off periodically - just less often.

What to ask

How does it handle palm fronds and pine needles? What happens in a heavy downpour? Does it attach to the roof edge or only to the gutter? How is it cleaned when it does need cleaning? And - does it make sense on your roof, or would more downspouts and a twice-yearly clean do the same job for less?

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