That’s wild—a squirrel with a taste for mesh. I’ve had my own run-ins with critters, but raccoons were the culprits here. They managed to peel back a section of my old copper gutter guards like they were opening a can of beans. I actually switched to foam after that, even though I was skeptical at first. It’s not perfect—sometimes it gets a bit gunky, especially in the spring—but at least nothing’s chewed through it yet.
Honestly, I think half the battle is just keeping up with whatever nature throws at you. Mesh, foam, zip ties... it all works until something finds a way around it. I do think foam is easier to replace when it gets gross, but I get why folks stick with mesh if it’s holding up. Maybe there’s some magic material out there we haven’t tried yet, but for now, it’s just patch and pray.
I hear you on the foam—it's cheaper and way easier to swap out when it gets nasty, but I still worry about how long it'll actually last. Mesh held up for me until the squirrels figured it out, then it was game over. I keep wondering if anyone's tried those plastic snap-on covers? They look flimsy, but maybe they're less tempting for critters? At this point, I'm just trying to avoid another trip up the ladder every spring...
I keep wondering if anyone's tried those plastic snap-on covers? They look flimsy, but maybe they're less tempting for critters?
Funny you mention the snap-on covers—I actually gave them a shot last year after a squirrel chewed through my mesh. They did seem kind of flimsy at first, but surprisingly, nothing’s tried to mess with them yet. I’m not sure if it’s because they’re less “chewable” or just not as interesting to the local wildlife. Have you noticed if the foam attracts more gunk than the mesh did? I always end up with a weird sludge after a few months...
I’ve had mixed luck with the foam inserts—honestly, they seem to collect more debris than the mesh ever did. I’d pull them out after a rain and there’s this soggy, leafy muck stuck in there. The snap-on covers at least make it easier to just brush stuff off, but I do wonder how well they’ll hold up over a few seasons. Critters haven’t bothered mine either, but I’m half-expecting something to figure them out eventually...
I hear you on the foam inserts—mine turned into a compost pile after the first fall. Here’s what worked for me: I switched to the snap-on covers, but I added a quick check every couple months, especially after storms. If you’re worried about durability, try flexing a corner before installing—if it feels brittle, it probably won’t last. Haven’t had critters mess with them yet, but I did find a squirrel stash once... guess nothing’s totally foolproof.