The main types
- Brush guards: a long bottle brush that sits in the gutter
- Mesh or grid guards: clip over the top of the gutter
- Outlet guards: a small dome or cage over the downpipe outlet only
What they do well
Guards keep out large leaves, twigs, tennis balls and nesting birds. An outlet guard is cheap and very good at keeping the downpipe clear, which prevents the worst kind of blockage.
What they do not do
Moss, seeds, pine needles and silt still get through or settle on top. Brush guards in particular fill with debris over time and can end up holding it in the gutter. Guards also make the gutter slower to clean when it does need doing.
When they are worth fitting
- Large trees directly over the roof
- Gutters that are hard and costly to reach
- Downpipes that block again and again
When to save your money
On a house with no trees nearby and easy access, a yearly clean costs less than fitting and maintaining guards. No guard makes a gutter maintenance free, so plan on a check every year or two either way.
Need a hand?
We clean and repair gutters, fascias and soffits across Manchester and the North West. Ask for a free fixed quote or see our gutter cleaning services and the areas we cover.
