I have a 9 pitch roof. I am replacing old gutters. I have several large trees that drop leaves and clog the gutters.
One gutter is located about 1 1/2″ below the shingle edge and the front edge of the gutter is located avout 1 1/2″ in front of the shingle edge. This gutter does not clog with leaves.
The others have larger opening between the roof and gutter; they clog. Does anyone know of the ideal/reccommended method to locate the gutters?
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Replies
Zukie2:
Even a dimwit like me can solve your problem of leaves falling from your eaves into the gutter. What you do is place your gutter underneath the eave.
I hope you don't mind this gutter talk.
-Peter
The gutter should be set so the edge of the shingle/drip edge drips the water into the center of the gutter, and the top of the gutter should be just low enought to allow you to get your hand in there to clean the leaves out, and install the hangers. The leaveless gutter is empty because the prevailing winds take the leaves away from that part of the house.
Geoff
How about a gutter helmet or simialr device to prevent anything other than water from getting into the gutters?
Steve
S.J.MERRETTE Carpentry & Construction • Robesonia, PA
Nothing is impossible...It just hasn't been done yet.
Gutter helmet? I thought about it. Anyone have any comments on its performance?
How does the price compare? Is it available as a DIY or must it be installed?
I had Gutter Topper installed (they won't sell it for DIY) and it is working GREAT for me. I have several huge maples, cottonwood and pines that overhang my house and even though I keep their branches ~ 10 feet away from the house they dump massive amounts of leaves, seeds and other crap all year round. Used to clean the gutters three times a year just trying to stay ahead. The only fault I can find with the Gutter Topper is that if a stick gets caught in the gap it can act like a tea spoon and direct water past the gutter. Removing one a year is acceptable to me, compared to the previous situation.
Gutter Helmet is built into the gutter and you must replace everything to use it. I had rather new gutters so chose G.Topper instead (able to retro-fit existing gutters).
I was suprised to find that they are pretty hard to see after installation (thought they'd look strange on a victorian, but not so).
They carge kind of alot, but it works so I am satisfied.
I had the one-piece gutters with helmets installed about 5 years ago and I love them. I chose the one-piece design because I have a slate roof so sliding something under the roof shingles was not an option. They work great even with all the maple trees/seeds around here. They're available in several colors and the grey was a perfect match for my house. The company is called Englert Leaf Guard by Pfister, and in North New Jersey, where I am, they cost $11/foot for the gutters and $3/foot for the leaders. The installers were, without a doubt, the most professional workmen I have ever encountered.
This kind of problem was discussed extensively on the old forum.
the consensus was to put cows and rabbits up on your roof so they coud eat the leaves out of your gutters.
Be absolutely sure to suit them in the proper fall protection equipment, because, while i am not so sure about the rabbits, I know that cows have a strong union and have alot of high priced lawyers "in thier pocket" if you know what I mean.
Mr T
Layers
Onions
Have
Layers,
Carpenters
Have
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Mr T
That is udder nonsense.
Use montain goats. They east anything and are all ready used to the slopes.
That's the problem with the mountain goats, they eat anything! I've lost count of the roofing repairs I've had to make because the goats are literally eating the roof!
I recommend the cows. The rabbits are too fertile.
Rich Beckman, proprietor
Beckman's Rooftop Ranch and Bordello
But think about how much is saves on removal cost and dump fees.
A couple of years ago I suffered the same malady, having a dozen Red Cedars, very tall Doug Firs and a few maples....so I shopped for a solution. I ruled out the gutter helmet thing, because at $9/foot and 400 foot of gutter (hip-n-ridge 2 story house) I decided I'm too Scotch (cheap) to pay that kind of money for silly gutters. So I found these 3' plastic gutter covers at HD, that fit up under the shingle and then fit over the front inside edge of the gutter, but the little diamond holes punched in them still allow bazillions of those little needles in....so I bought some standard aluminum screen, cut the 36"long roll into 5" pieces on my bandsaw, rolled it out and stapled onto the top of the covers and then installed. Can't see it from the ground (lowest gutter is about 12' up). After 2 years, still only water gets into the gutter!
BruceM