Gutter Guards That Hold Up Under Atlanta Pines
A guard that sheds oak leaves can still clog under pines, so the trees over your roof narrow the pick to one or two designs.
Do guards stop pine needles?
Some do, and some make things worse. It comes down to the design, so Decatur Spout's first question about a metro Atlanta house is what falls on the roof.
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Micro-mesh
A fine stainless or aluminum mesh over the gutter. In Consumer Reports' 16-month test of leaves and pine needles, fine mesh kept out more than screens with bigger holes. Needles sit on top until wind or a brush clears them.
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Screens and perforated covers
Bigger openings take heavy rain well, but thin needles can slip through or wedge in the holes. Consumers' Checkbook warns that guards in general do little against pine needles.
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Reverse-curve hoods
Water clings to a curved nose and runs in through a slot while debris slides off. Most pro-installed systems in Consumer Reports' test worked this way. They shed debris well, but none did better than good in a severe downpour.
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Brush inserts
A long bottle brush that sits in the gutter. None of the inserts Consumer Reports tested were good at keeping debris out.
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Foam inserts
A foam block that fills the gutter. It scored with the brushes, near the bottom for keeping debris out.
The gutter guard comparison covers brands, warranties and spill risk by design. If nothing hangs over your roof, a guard may never pay for itself, and an occasional cleaning could be all the gutters need.
What falls on the roof, and when
Atlanta yards drop something nearly every month, and each kind of debris treats a guard differently.
| Debris | When it comes down | What it does to a guard |
|---|---|---|
| Pine needles | Mostly fall. A loblolly drops each needle in its third year, so there's a new layer every autumn. | Long and thin. They slip through coarse openings and lie flat on fine ones. |
| Oak tassels and pollen | Pine pollen from late February into May, worst in early to mid-April. Oak tassels fall after the oaks flower in March and April. | Tassels land on guards as well as in open gutters. Pollen leaves a film, and Consumer Reports noted one fine-mesh system may need brushing where pollen is heavy. |
| Leaves | Fall | Every pro-installed system in the Consumer Reports leaf-and-needle test shed debris well. |
| Sweetgum balls and acorns | Acorns September to November; gumballs December into April | Hard and round. Checkbook notes guards won't keep nuts and seedpods out entirely. |
Will water overshoot guards in a heavy storm?
It can. More than half of Atlanta's thunderstorm days come in June, July and August, and the hardest bursts here reach the top of the 6 to 7.5 inches an hour Consumer Reports used for severe rain. At those rates the pro-installed guards rated only good or middling, though several do-it-yourself designs did better. A guard set too steep makes it worse: one stainless-mesh maker tells installers to flatten the angle to 5 to 10 degrees on roofs pitched 8-in-12 or steeper.
The risk drops when the guard sits at the right angle, the gutter is sized for the roof, and enough downspouts keep it from filling to the lip. Ask the installer to check all three before recommending one.
Do you still clean gutters with guards?
Yes, but less often, and mostly on top of the guard. Consumer Reports found some systems need hosing off from the ground, and one stainless-mesh maker says most owners brush theirs once or twice a year. Checkbook warns that guards themselves can clog, so plan on an inspection at least every couple of years.
Downspouts still need clearing. Fine grit off the shingles washes through a guard and settles in the elbows. The gutter cleaning page covers the schedule.
Want a guard that suits your trees? Get a look at the options on one visit.
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Questions about gutter guards
Prices per foot for each type are in the gutter cost guide.
What is the best guard for a yard with pines and oaks?
How long do gutter guards last?
Can guards go on my existing gutters?
Early in the call we'll ask how often the gutters fill and with what, and the answer sorts out which designs are worth a look on the visit.