Andrew Mawby: Gutter Guards For Pine Needles

Gutter guards for pine needles are available and they work. I have them on my own home.

Gutter Guards For Pine Needles

The best gutter guards are ones that have a fine micro mesh covering. This mesh stops pine needles of every variety.

For one thing, I've been using a micro mesh gutter guard on my past two homes for over ten years. Not one pine needle has entered my gutters.

Most gutter guards have large holes, slits or other openings that get clogged with small tree debris and the needles. Watch this video to see how ineffective the poor-performing gutter guards are.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local gutter guard companies who will install the guard that's on MY HOME!

Gutter Guard Slope Must Match Roof Pitch

It's important to realize a gutter guard should be installed so the top surface is sloped. The slanted surface of the gutter guard allows gravity, wind and rain to clear needles and debris off the gutter guard.

You may have to lower your gutters to be sure the front lip of your gutter is in the same plane of the roofing material.

Here's a quick cross section showing how the gutter guard - in green - is in the same plane as the roofing material. The drawing is not to scale. I used to make drawings like this sitting at customers' kitchen tables. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Gutter Guards That #FAIL

Many gutter guards failed in the testing I conducted over the years. I placed small pieces of paper on gutter guard displays at home and garden shows. The paper represented small pieces of leaves, needles and bits of bark. The flowing water carried the pieces of paper into the gutter or clogged the gutter guard.

Watch the following videos. They demonstrate why it's so important to have a micro mesh guard and why the guard needs to be in the same plane as the roofing material.