The most overlooked part of any Australian home is the gutter system. Gutters protect your home from potentially devastating and expensive damage, which is why protecting and maintaining the health of your gutters is essential. Gutter Guards are the best products to protect and maintain the health of your home’s guttering systems.
Investing in a gutter guard today will protect your home from easily preventable damage in a simple and cost-effective way. Gutter guards are the best products to prevent blockages and obstructions from leaves and organic debris, which cause damage to your gutter systems, roofing systems and even house foundations. Installing gutter guards ensure you will no longer waste hours of your weekend emptying out debris that has built up.
There are many different types of gutter guards on the market today, so it can be a little confusing trying to decide which solution is best and most suitable for what you need for your home. Whilst primarily all serve the same function of keeping leaves and debris from entering and clogging up your gutter system, some work much better than others and offer solutions to other maintenance issues. Then there are also budget considerations and the time you want to invest in installing them.
Gutter Guard solutions
The most common reasons for gutter guard products are:
- Prevention of blocked gutters from leaves and debris
- Reduce maintenance and Gutter cleaning
- Increased safety
- Prevent Property Damage
- Bird Proofing and Pest Control
- Ember protect with Ember Guard
- Optimising Water Tank Harvesting
- Protect your Solar Panels
There is certainly no one leaf guard that suits all situations, but no matter what style of roof you have, from flat to tiled, you will still be able to find a guard for your property.
To help you with your decision, we have taken a look at some of the pros and cons of the most common gutter guard solutions on the market in Australia today:
Brush Gutter Guard
Brush guards are like giant bottle brushes and are one of the easiest to install because you simply cut them to the required length and then push them into the gutters.
Although brush gutter guard does allow rainwater to flow freely into the gutter, twigs, leaves and other debris will get stuck in the bristles and so periodic cleaning will still be required, although not as often. The guards can also be dislodged by high winds, particularly if they don’t fit tightly into the gutter.
Foam Inserts
Have you ever been swimming and messed around with a giant foam noodle? Essentially a Foam Insert gutter guard is very similar to them! The long tubes are made from durable plastic and much like the brush Gutter Guard they just simply slot into the gutter, which makes them a popular choice for people looking to do DIY it as they require no real installation.
However, foam gutter guards are not always the best option. The foam plastic is a magnet for mould and plant growth, so you’ll need to either regularly clean or replace them. Their shape can also cause the top of the gutter to become relatively flat, meaning debris can still build up, requiring cleaning.
Mesh Panels
Mesh panels or flat panels are often the most popular choice for people looking to install a gutter guard. Attaching directly to your roof, the mesh protects your gutter from debris whilst still allowing water to flow directly through the hole. Mesh Panels are also relatively easy to install as well as being a cheap solution.
There are many different materials and brands offering Mesh Panels, which means a wide variety of quality currently on the market. They are also not the most durable of solutions and often need replacing after a couple of years. Again, just like the foam insert a mesh panel creates a flat surface which can lead to a build-up of leaves and debris.
Integrated Mesh Gutter Guard
An Integrated Mesh Gutter Guard works in a similar way to the standard Mesh Panel Guards but instead of attaching to the roof and protecting the top of the gutter, they are installed directly inside the pipe; creating a slope that encourages leaves and other debris to fall to the ground. A little more expensive than the standard mesh option, Integrated Mesh solutions are still a mid-range option that is very effective at keeping your gutter clear. Highly durable, by fitting directly into the gutter they also help to increase the strength of it too.
Although a very strong solution to protecting your gutter, Integrated Mesh guards can take longer to install correctly. They are probably the most popular solution in Australia, which has its benefits, but also means that there are a lot of different mesh types and thicknesses to choose from. We have a post about helping you decide what mesh might be best for you if you’re looking for more information here.
Vinyl guard
Working in a similar way to the mesh solutions, a Vinyl Guard also known as a Reverse Curve Gutter Guard, fits directly into the gutter without needing to be attached to the roof; making installation a very quick and easy process. Just like the mesh, these are designed to prevent debris from entering the gutter but still allowing water to flow freely through.
Although they are another cost-effective solution, Vinyl Guards can get easily clogged up; meaning you will still have to occasionally climb the ladder and clear out built-up debris. Correct installation is essential for the successful application of the gutter guard. The vinyl guard’s slope must be set exactly to the roof’s angles to ensure its effectiveness.
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Comparison of Gutter Guards
| Integrated Mesh Gutter Guard | Brush Gutter Guard | Mesh Panels or Flat Panels | Foam Inserts | Vinyl Guard | |
| Reduce Maintenance | |||||
| Leaf Proofing | |||||
| Prevents Blockages | |||||
| Strengthens Gutter Systems | |||||
| Bird and Pest Proofing | |||||
| Bushfire Protection | |||||
| Water Harvesting |
Best Gutter Guard Summary
Best Gutter Guard for Metal Roofs
Integrated mesh gutter guard is the best solution for corrugated gutter guard, trim-deck gutter guard, klip-lok gutter guard. The integrated mesh gutter guard system has proven to last on roofs for decades. Integrated mesh guards can come in a range of materials and Colorbond colours which can be colour matched to the roof and gutter. Metal roofs offer homeowners a low maintenance solution for their homes; equally an integrated mesh guard is the lowest maintenance gutter guard product which will last for decades.
Best Gutter for Tiled Roofs
Integrated mesh gutter guard is the best solution for terracotta tile gutter guard, concrete tile gutter guard, ceramic tile gutter guard. The integrated mesh gutter guard system has proven to last on roofs for decades. Integrated mesh guards can come in a range of materials and Colorbond colours which can be colour matched to the roof and gutter. Tile-roofed properties already require more maintain than metal roofs; integrated mesh guards offer a low maintenance solutions and work with the slope and angles of your tiled roof.
Overall Best Gutter Guard: Integrated Mesh System
By all means, these are not the only gutter guard solutions available in Australia today but they are certainly the most common. There is no perfect solution that fits every home; it entirely depends on your property and the environment that you live in but by installing a gutter guard today, you will be able to protect your home from significant damage.
At AGP we firmly recommend integrated mesh gutter guards as they are the only solution that has proven to last on roofs for decades. Integrated mesh guards can come in a range of materials in our Gutter mesh and Tuff mesh ranges including aluminium, stainless steel, and poly. At AGP we offer all three so we can find the best material for your property. We can also offer our materials in a range of thicknesses and hole apertures so no matter your situation we will have a solution that works for you.
If you would like to know more for either a professional Installation or to get the materials to install yourself please don’t hesitate to call 1300 88 55 25 or fill in the contact form
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Learn more about Gutter Guards
A professionally installed physical barrier is all it takes to keep these problems from affecting your home or business. This small investment will save you a lot of money and save you the constant work of cleaning out debris from your gutters.
Get yours today by contacting Aussie Gutter Protection, the specialists in gutter guard products for Australian conditions.
Gutter Guard Benefits
Gutter Guard is a great investment to any home. With an array of benefits, it gives homeowners and property owners complete peace of mind.
Leaf Guard
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Bushfire Protection Gutter Guard
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