
Gutter Guards in Massachusetts
Gutter guards keep leaves, pine needles and shingle grit out of the gutters so water actually reaches the downspouts. On wooded Massachusetts lots they turn twice-a-year gutter cleaning into an occasional check.
Types
Screens and perforated covers stop leaves but let fine debris through. Micro-mesh guards stop pine needles and grit as well, which matters under white pines. Reverse-curve (hood) guards shed debris over the edge and work best on simpler rooflines.
No guard is maintenance-free: debris can sit on top and needs brushing off now and then. What a guard removes is the clogged downspout and the overflowing gutter in a heavy rain.
Questions we get
Can guards go on my existing gutters?
Usually, if the gutters are sound, properly pitched and securely hung. If they are not, it is better to replace the gutters and add guards at the same time.
