Leafguard Rain Gutters?

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2005 1:29 pm

Anybody have specific experience regarding Leafguard brand rain gutters?
http://www.leafguard.com/home.asp

We will need to replace our old gutters soon as part of an exterior maintanance project and would rather not deal with gutter cleaning in the future. We don't have much gutter length so extra cost isn't too big an issue.

We have looked at dozens of new McCastles (minimum $1,000,000) in NW Raleigh/Wake County and it appears they ALL use conventional gutters even though I would think cost in that price range isn't especially important.

Thanks!

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2005 3:05 pm

Here's what my home repair guy said about them. He reasoned that the leaves that fall into standard gutters don't just vanish - they build up on top of and adjacent to this style of gutter. The water that is currently welling up in your blocked gutters is now welling up on to of your roof, which he said was worse.

They were also hideously expensive. Estimate for my single story 1700 sq ft home was over $2000. I decided to get the $500 standard gutters, and pay someone sixty bucks every year and clean them out.

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

I had them installed after Fran knocked the heck out of my original gutters. Never had a bit of trouble with them since they were installed. No more fall cleaning. No more buildup of pine needles and crap. They work great. I would not hesitate to install them on my next house.

Not sure what Karl is talking about. They mount flush to the house under the roof line so leaves do not pack on the roof or behind them. They just roll over the top.

About the only thnig I can think of that is a negative is that if it rains really hard. When the water runs down the roof fast on a high pitch roof. Some water rolls fast enough so it sprays mist over the edge of the gutter. Looks kind of funny to watch. All depends on how steep your roof is and if it is raining really hard. Normal rainfall is a non-issue.

Eric Peterson · **Joined:** Mon Sep 01, 2003 10:24 am **Posts:** 494

I had the gutter guards installed on our house two years ago and have had zero problems. They've been great so far. It cost just under $1,000 to have them added to the gutters.

Eric

George Bright · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2005 6:46 pm

My folks have gutters with a screen over the top. Thye are not like the screen example in the leafgaurd ad. They have had zero problems in 4 or 5 years since installing them.They also have about 40 feet of buried flex piping to carry the water from one gutter over to the driveway. That pipe used to clog every year but no more.

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

Best $75 bucks I've ever spent. I just went to Home Depot and bought the inserts they sell to modify your current gutters to leag guard gutters rather than pay someone else to do it. I got a whole box for half off because they were bent a little. For straight ones it would have been $150. They install in minutes on straight stretches, and require some cutting and shaping to work around corners. Still, I had the whole project done in one afternoon on my smallish house. They are begining to look like they need replacing (drooping in spots) but they've been up there for nearly three years now and have saved me an enormous amout of work. For those that haven't seen my house, it is surrounded by huge oak trees and with the acorns and leaves and other things that fell from the trees, my gutters were constantly full and required constant attention. At at that price can afford to replace them every three years for the rest of my life and be cheaper than having "professionals" install them. Of course if your gonna replace the gutters anyway, if the upgrade isn't much, it would probably be worth it.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Wed Dec 28, 2005 12:22 am

Thanks for the replies so far. Good to hear that Graham has had good results from Leafguard brand since my understanding is that they are the best. FYI we have used the plastic screen inserts and Les is correct that they do "get old" after a few years and but they do help a lot compared to open gutters. However, in our situation lots of "tree trash" still gets through the screens and the cleaning that is needed it harder. As a result, I'm looking for an even lower maintanance solution that will keep me from having to balance on a ladder in my old age (which is getting very close).

Steve Coleman · **Joined:** Sun Nov 13, 2005 9:50 pm **Posts:** 188

DickRasmussen wrote:

Anybody have specific experience regarding Leafguard brand rain gutters?

Call Jim Stickley - Home Exteriors of Raleigh at 954-9800. [Note: Too tired to go look which brand he now recommends, but it's the one I'd go with.]

He has dealt with all the 3 "major" brands and knows his stuff. You will not go wrong with Jim. I *may* be wrong but I believe his stuff is life time guaranteed. We're no where near well off enough to even drive down a street w/ $1M McMonstrosities, but found the *relatively* high cost well worth it when surrounded by 40' pines.

In any case, *proper installation* should yield well beyond any 3-4 years structural life.

FWIW, I have dealt with numerous drainage problems both professionally, and personally; roof drainage usually entered into them, with lack of gutter cleaning being part of the problem at least 90% of the time.

OCTJMO, ICBW,

Steve Coleman, PE

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Wed Dec 28, 2005 8:47 am

Steve Coleman wrote:

We're no where near well off enough to even drive down a street w/ $1M McMonstrosities,

Steve,

All it takes is a little gas money . . .

Thanks for the information!!!

Steve Coleman · **Joined:** Sun Nov 13, 2005 9:50 pm **Posts:** 188

DickRasmussen wrote:

Steve Coleman wrote:

We're no where near well off enough to even drive down a street w/ $1M McMonstrosities,

All it takes is a little gas money . . . :)

Right now even a "little" is a LOT.... :(

DickRasmussen wrote:

Thanks for the information!!!

You're welcome. Anyone needing any advice re Residential / Light Commercial Structural or Civil Engineering issues (planning a new residence, rehab / remodeling, site / drainage, buying or selling issues, etc.) feel free to contact me at SColemanPE@gmail.com.

Steve

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

I'm in the same position you are DIck. Our development is called "Byrum Woods". It got that name for a reason... I have a little over an acre of land and it is at least half covered by tall trees. Lots of pines but also some big oaks. My gutters used to get littered with pine needles, pine cones, acorns, and leaves. It required more than just an annual cleaning. The downspouts would get clogged in no time. I'm in a 2 story with full walk out basement on a slopping lot. It takes a big ladder to get up to the roof. Something I am not interested in doing.

I have the plastic tubes tied to all the downspouts and buried to run the water off away from the house. One of the few times were gravity works in my favor... I have never had to clean the gutters since they were installed. But I check them once a year anyway. At most I see a little silt from the roof tiles.

They may be more expensive than regular gutters but they work!

Graham

Chuck Frank · **Posted:** Thu Dec 29, 2005 7:43 pm

Even when building McCastles, the money is spent where it can be seen best by the buyer (and impress their friends...). When you can afford those places, you can afford a maintainance man to clean the gutters for you. :lol:

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