We need to get new gutters for a couple parts of our roof. Not a whole lot - but important.

We have trees that dump a leaves and acorns (oak) on this particular area of the roof.

Any experience/suggestions with gutter types that are effective in keeping the debris clear of the gutter without having stuff build up on them?

Alcoa has some design with a cover that has holes and claim a gentle breeze keeps the debris off that surface while letting the water come through.

I've had desscribed another design where a curved pieve goes over the gutter top that lets debris just slide over, but is curved under with a lip to let the water run the surface and go into the gutter.

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OWC Larry
Other World Computing
[www.macsales.com]

The second type looks good to me, but I don't have first hand information. That's what I'd do.

I have seen the ads/pics of the second type. it looks promising. The only thing I can think of is that if there were maples, the helicopters could still get in there.

No maples to worry about in terms of roof droppings...

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OWC Larry
Other World Computing
[www.macsales.com]

Both will work well for what you are doing. My only caveat with the 2nd gutter is in the event of a downpour you get too much water coming down the roof and will not turn back into the gutter. Also, those types are magnets for things like bees and such that like to build nests.

YMMV.

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MacBook Pro 2.0GHz quad-core Intel i7
IMac 27" 3.4GHz quad-core Intel i7

I did a lot of research on this topic because we have large redwoods that tower over our house and drop vast amounts of debris on the roof. The second type (with the slot) can have serious problems with stuff getting in and being difficult to clean out. I've seen a number of pictures of grass growing out through the slot. I've read good things about the alcoa Leaf Relief product.

In Florida, there are always people laying in the gutter.

Too bad they don't have computers - surely they have an opinion as to which are the most comfortable.

At the alley they put those bumper things in the gutter. Nothing goes in the gutter then.

[www.gutterhelmet.com]

I've heard the above advertised a lot on local radio..no personal experience

My parents just put Gutter Helmets on and they seem to work pretty well. Pretty expensive though. I think it was $6-7k.

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earache

Beware the light-weight aluminum gutter shields!
We had them put on and they were worthless. We had tall firs all around our house and the shields clogged immediately and then buckled with the first freeze.

My parents have the second type, although in their case it was a whole new gutter installed with the shield on top. I haven't heard any complaints from them, and I believe the installation company offers a warranty where they come clean the gutters if they ever get plugged up. The new downspouts they put on were easily 50% larger than the ones they replaced, so that might make a difference as well.

By the way, you might want to try ordering a few of these to see if they work for you. They are vastly cheaper than all the other systems and there have been some positive reviews on them at the That Home Site forums. [www.improvementscatalog.com]

We had Leaf Guard gutters intalled on our old house. Never needed to clean gutters ever. Did a fantastic job of catching even heavy rain. Super heavy construction that easily survived 6 foot icicles and snow. (The snow tends to push over the tops and form icicles). They were not cheap, but worth every penny.

[www.leafguard.com]

Thanks everyone for the fantastic feedback!

The leafguard and gutterhelmut what we are going to be looking for. The volume of leaves that come throught the section of roof is just more than I think any screen system would handle without clogging. In the fall I had to clean the gutters several times and still they are clogged up again. Big, old Oak trees shading the house - and they drop tons of stuff down. The good news it - it's only a couple small areas that the gutters are needed - so hopefully won't be too expensive.

Looks like have to go to a PC for the leafguard site - neither Safari or FireFox is displaying it right.

Again thanks!!! Helped out immensely for us to find the right stuff and great to hear the experience feedback!

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OWC Larry
Other World Computing
[www.macsales.com]

shouldn't jimmypoo have chimed in? He is our resident gutter expert. he spends so much time passed out in them, he should know which ones handle solids and overfilling the best, and which are most comfortable.

Oh wait, gutters on the roof gutters? never mind.

Racer X, now you just behave!!

Here ya go Larry, the ultimate gutter cover thread:

[ths.gardenweb.com]

Here's another one that might be of interest too:

[www.askthebuilder.com]

I will if rgG spanks me.....

Racer X Wrote:
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> shouldn't jimmypoo have chimed in? He is our
> resident gutter expert. he spends so much time
> passed out in them, he should know which ones
> handle solids and overfilling the best, and which
> are most comfortable.
>
> Oh wait, gutters on the roof gutters? never mind.


He was reply # 5 ..... he knows his place at least

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Gutter Toppers are pretty popular in our area, and they seem to handle a heavy rain well.

[www.guttertopper.com]

I have pine needles.
Nothing keeps them out.

I'm tempted several times a year to just rip all the gutters, leaf stoppers and downspouts off.

We recently got new gutters with the LeafProof system. It can handle up to 12" of rain/hour (very very heavy, sustained downpour that we'll never see in Atlanta). So far, it has worked very well. I've walked around the house during the last couple of heavy rainstorms and have been pleased with how the gutters are working. We also got new, wider gutters and downspouts to go with the LeafProof system.

[www.leafproof.com]