We're often asked whether guards would mean never needing a gutter clean again. It's a fair question, so here's what we actually find when we clear gutters that have them.
What guards do well
Mesh, brush and foam guards stop big leaves and twigs dropping straight into the gutter. On a house under one large deciduous tree with a clean roof, that can genuinely reduce how often the gutter blocks.
What still gets through
Much of what we remove from Kent gutters isn't leaves. It's moss broken up off the roof and grit from weathering tiles. That's fine enough to pass through mesh and into brush guards, where it settles as sludge. Small leaves and seeds sit on top of the guard and can stop water getting in at all.
Brush and foam guards also trap debris themselves, and once they're clogged the water runs straight over them.
So are they worth it?
For some houses, they can help, but they don't replace clearing. Guards usually have to be taken out to clear the gutter properly, which takes longer. If your roof has moss on it, dealing with the moss tends to make more difference to how fast your gutters fill than any guard.
The short version
- Guards stop large leaves, not moss, grit or seeds.
- Guarded gutters still need clearing, and take longer to do.
- A mossy roof is often the real cause of fast-filling gutters.