For many, maintaining a home can be a never-ending battle against the elements, and one of the most common fronts in this battle is the humble gutter.

Designed to whisk away rainwater, gutters are an essential part of any home's defence against the weather.

However, a well-intentioned addition to these vital water channels has been causing more harm than good, leaving many Australian homeowners with a costly headache.

The culprit? Gutter guards. These mesh-like additions promise to keep leaves and debris out of your gutters, reducing the need for cleaning and maintenance.

However, as some Aussie gardeners and builders are now warning, gutter guards may not be the saviour they seem to be.

Online personality and builder Matty recently took to social media to share his professional opinion on the matter.

Aussie gardeners and builders warned that gutter guards can cause long-term issues. Credit: TikTok / @biglux7

In a video that quickly made the rounds, he cautioned against the use of gutter guards, particularly mesh ones, stating that they ‘make them harder to clean’ and could end up costing homeowners ‘more in the long term’.

‘If anyone is on the fence about getting gutter guards, specifically this mesh [one]—do not do it. It's a big no-no,’ Matty cautioned.

‘You’re better off not using anything in your gutters at all.’

Sydney gardener and landscaper Nathan Stafford echoed Matty's concerns, advising homeowners to reconsider before installing them.

He explained that since they are secured with ‘hundreds of nails’, it's incredibly challenging to clean out the debris that accumulates beneath them—an issue that often arises even though the gutter guard is meant to prevent such build-up.

‘I've been maintaining homes for over 15 years, and I've done thousands of gutter cleaning jobs,’ Nathan shared.

‘I am not a fan of gutter guards. What happens is you get them installed, and a lot of people think, “Well, that's it.” But things fall on top of them, and they have little holes [because they're made from mesh], so over time, the matter breaks down and falls in.’

‘Then it turns into a soil-like substance and it's very hard. Add a bit of rain to it, and it becomes mud and it actually starts pulling on the gutters, which impacts the fascia of the roof,’ he explained.

According to Nathan, there has been an increasing number of gutter guards being installed recently.

‘It's a nightmare—you have to go around and literally get up on a ladder and individually unscrew the bolts so you can lift it up to get right under there properly, and then you've got to come back, re-screw them all back on. You're there for hours,’ he pointed out.

‘The quickest method is to get a vacuum and suck it all out really quickly. Or what some of the people do is they just get a blower, and they just quickly run along [and] blow it all out. It makes a little bit of a mess, but you can clean it all up after.’

‘It saves so much time and money,’ the veteran gardener added.

You can watch Matty’s full video here:

Source: TikTok / @biglux7​

While it's crucial to be aware of costly backyard mistakes that can lead to headaches and expenses, there's also plenty of inspiration to be found in creative gardening solutions.

Nathan Stafford has also shared a genius trick for transforming your garden that promises simplicity and stunning results.

Combining these tips could help you care for your house without breaking the bank.

Key Takeaways

• Aussie gardeners and builders are warning against the installation of gutter guards, stating they can cause more problems in the long run.
• Gutter guards, especially mesh ones, are claimed to make gutters harder to clean and result in higher maintenance costs.
• Despite claims of preventing debris accumulation, gutter guards can lead to a build-up beneath them, creating a soil-like substance that can clog gutters and strain roof structures.
• Professionals recommended alternative cleaning methods, such as using vacuums or blowers for gutter maintenance, to save time and money.

Have you had a similar experience with gutter guards? Do you have a different method for keeping your gutters clean? We encourage you to share your experiences and tips in the comments below!

 

[Neenie R]

You can buy plastic gutter mesh on rolls, it just sits in the gutter with out any need for screws and is therefore easy to remove when cleaning is required.

 

[Jules57]

Good article

 

[Macarj]

I have gutter guards and every 2 or 3 years you have to remove them and clean them and clean the gutter because of buildup of dirt and seeds get into the dirt and grow through the mesh

 

[MariaG]

We have metal gutter guards, mainly because of a vibrant possum population living around us.
A couple of neighbours have had to contend with having them in their roof and I don't want to be a party to having them removed. So, prevention, for me, is better than a cure.
Have not had any problems with our guard and any bits of dirt that might get past it get filtered on the way to the rainwater tank.
In the end, we paid a little extra to have a quality product. Don't think I would consider the mesh style.