Looking to DIY some this year. Favorite brand? Primarily pine straw

Leaf guard? Those are $$$$$ I think

All of these require maintenance to do their job & are $$$$$$$
The most pleased clients throw smarter money here
6" gutters
oversized leaders (downspouts)
Hook shaped - garden hose leaf cleaner attachments
removing any trees (or at least limbs) close to roof (on the advice of both roofers & foundation engineers)
annual roof inspections that include gutter cleaning



Smaller slab-on-grade foundations may omit all gutters (except over entries & HVACs) and employ bullrock in garden beds to accept the roof runoff & leaves (aka fertilizer). The beds of course slope sharply away from the foundation but the consistent water all round helps this foundation type's performance.

When replacing a gutter system I always go with 6" gutters and oversized downspouts. A well designed and installed system is absolutely worth the $. It doesn't take much for water to cause extensive damage so it's worth the expense. Prevention is cheaper than repair.

I just installed the cheap Amazon screens that come in 4 foot sections. I live in a pine forest, so had to do something.

Works pretty well but still requires getting up there and cleaning it out sometimes. Those stupid pine needles can even make it through the screens sometimes.

just bought some from costco

https://www.costco.com/easyon-gutter-guard-5%E2%80%9D-version---100%E2%80%99-.product.100019377.html

If your roof is steep, water can be traveling fast enough to roll right over some gutter covers.

Pinochet said:

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Don't know the brand since they came with the house, but the one that isn't a screen, but is an actual solid piece of aluminum over most of the gutter allowing the pine straw to fall off the front while the water goes into the gutter is clutch.

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Sounds like you're describing leaf guard and as a poster above said, they are crazy expensive.

I'm a roofing contractor and once did a roof for a lady who had leaf guard all the way around her home. It was damaged by the hail storm just like the roof was. She showed me how much the bid to replace just the cap (not the whole gutter) was and it was more than my bid for the whole roof.

I was able to get a great deal on getting Leaf Filter guards installed and I've been really happy with them. They have been zero maintenance for 4 years now and still work and look great.

https://www.leaffilter.com/why-leaffilter/leaffilter/

Haven't had good luck with guards over the whole gutter but never had the top end stuff. I just put a filter over the downspout opening of the gutters that get clogged worst or go into drain pipes. Then clean out the gutters periodically.

While I was on the roof taking down Christmas lights a few days ago I used the opportunity to install the "Hoover Dam" guards from Home Depot. Reviews look to be pretty good unless you have pine trees ( which I don't) so we'll see what happens. $6 for each 3 foot section.