For many Australians, gutter protector is not an issue. If you are living far from the bushy flora then the ongoing cost to professionally clean gutters will never exceed that of the gutter shield installation and maintenance.

However, for those adventurous citizens who love eucalyptus scents and hilly landscape the gutter protector will save time and money. Native Australian trees not only shed leaves but also bark which can seriously damage the drainage system. Let's assume that you need the gutter shield and you are wondering: what is available on the market?

DIY Gutter Protector

The DIY gutter protectors are apparently very simple to install. They range between 60 cents to about $30 per meter. The cheapest is made up of a plastic mesh. It suppose to (in theory???) to let water in and debris out. In reality the plastic cracks and the leaf guard is often impossible to clean. Further, they do get blocked and after 1 - 3 years the new ones need to be installed.

There are also numerous steel mesh products, which last longer. However, the actual mesh design is "the rubbish idea", which leads to blockages. Another approach is a $10/meter 'filter' type gutter shield. It works exactly like a filter with brush or a sponge filling the gap. The sponge or brush allows to soak water into the gutter. Ideally, debris are forced to stay on top of the roof and then fall under the gravity.

The drawback of this setup is that debris accumulate on top of the gutter and stay there. Further, this leaf guard often clogs leaving you with a massive cleaning job. Obviously, the mesh and filter type systems are not ideal. So, what should be used to keep gutters clean?

Solid Metal Gutter Guard

Currently, this is the most proven design to keep gutters clean. This gutter shield works on a very simple principle of surface tension. The gutter protector is solid without mesh or holes. The outer edge of this gutter guard has curvature. Debris have higher physical momentum and less surface tension than water. Therefore, water follows the shield's curvature into the gutter while leaves, branches and dirt fall out.

The cost of the product depends on the material. However, it is the design which brings the benefits. The price tag of $20/meter and virtually no maintenance is worth the investment. Often, these leaf guards come with an extended 15 year warranty and are easy to install.

Gutter Protector Companies

Large number of detached homes in Australia provides a good market for gutter shields. Some businesses use old technologies while others try to develop new methods. Leaf Busters is probably the best known for its massive TV campaign. They use very fine mesh which is custom made to each individual roof. The company provides good quality material and a decent service. They also offer 25 years warranty. Each hole in the mesh has an aperture of 9 square millimeters. For most cases this is sufficient to prevent leaves entering gutters.

Leaf Shield in Brisbane uses a similar mesh technology. For most cases it is satisfactory but the actual mesh design will let sediments to accumulate. Gutter Guard uses leaf screener or leaf guard. The principle of operation is the same as that for the mesh type systems. However, the material used is aluminum which is durable, non-corrosive with zero flammability. Finally, Barlow's Gutter Protection are Sydney based gutter protector installers. They offer similar designs and products as the Gutter Guard.

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