Tried the foam inserts at my last place—honestly, they just trapped pine needles and broke down after a couple seasons. Ended up composting the mess. I’ve had better luck with simple mesh guards, though nothing’s totally maintenance-free. Gutter cleaning’s just one of those necessary evils...
I’ve run into the same issue with foam—seemed promising at first, but after a year or two it was just more debris to dig out. Mesh guards have held up better here, though I still find myself up on the ladder every fall. With all the old maples around, skipping a season isn’t really an option. It’s a bit of a ritual at this point...
I hear you on the foam—looked like a good idea until it turned into a soggy mess. I’ve got mesh guards too, and they help, but with all the pine needles around here, I’m still clearing them out twice a year. Skipping isn’t really an option unless you like waterfalls off your roof...
Yeah, I get what you mean about the mesh guards. I thought they’d be a total fix, but those pine needles find a way in no matter what. Twice a year still sounds better than every few months, though. Honestly, I’m just glad I caught the overflow early last fall—almost had a mini pond by my back steps. It’s kind of a pain, but feels worth it when you see how much junk piles up.
I’ve been wondering if the type of trees around your house makes a big difference. I’ve got mostly maples, so it’s more leaves than needles, but they still seem to slip through those mesh guards. I’m curious if anyone’s tried those foam inserts or the solid covers—do they actually keep stuff out better, or just create new problems? It’s wild how much debris can build up in just a season...
