Which guard suits which house?
| What we'd look at | Why | |
|---|---|---|
| Bushfire-prone area | Non-combustible metal mesh, fitted as full cover over gutters and valleys | The NSW RFS says guards in bushfire areas should be non-combustible and installed to AS 3959 |
| Corrugated or ribbed steel roof | Mesh with trims shaped to the sheet profile | Gaps at each corrugation let leaves and embers in |
| Tiled roof | Full-cover mesh tucked under the bottom row of tiles by an installer | Edge tiles have to be lifted and reset properly, or rain can get in |
| Colorbond or Zincalume gutters | Mesh and fixings that won't react with the gutter | BlueScope says stainless steel, copper and lead must not be used with these gutters |
| Rainwater tank | A finer mesh that stops small debris | Less leaf litter rotting in the gutter and washing towards the tank |
| Light leaf fall, single storey, no bush | Aluminium mesh, or plastic on a shed | There's less to stop, so cheaper options cope |
| Old asbestos cement roof | Nothing until a licensed removalist has dealt with the gutter debris | ASSEA says debris under these roofs should be treated as friable |
Are plastic gutter guards worth it?
Plastic guards, foam and brush inserts are the cheapest option and the usual DIY kit.
They're fine for light leaf fall on a shed or outbuilding. They're the wrong choice near bush, because the NSW RFS says guards in bushfire areas should be non-combustible. And under gums or pines, narrow leaves and needles lodge in coarse openings, so a fine metal mesh does a better job.
What's the best guard for a corrugated roof?
On corrugated and ribbed steel, a full-cover guard runs from the gutter's outer lip up onto the sheets. The part that matters is where it meets the roof: the mesh or its trim has to follow the corrugations, or every rib leaves a gap for leaves, embers and birds.
Lysaght recommends blocking off the rib cavities of metal roofing with infill strips, rib turn-downs or stop-ends to keep out dust, insects, birds, embers and wind-driven rain, particularly in harsh conditions and on clip-fixed sheeting such as Klip-lok. Ask the installer how they'll close those gaps along with the guard.
Ask how the guard is fixed, too. Any fixing through the roof sheet is another hole to seal, and BlueScope says neutral cure sealants suit Colorbond best, because sealants that smell of vinegar or ammonia give off by-products that can corrode the coating.
Check the gutters, and what touches them
Fix the gutters before you cover them. BlueScope says galvanised (zinc-coated) gutters can corrode early under Colorbond or Zincalume roofs and glazed terracotta, and recommends Colorbond or Zincalume steel gutters instead. A guard over a rusting gutter just hides the problem. Our gutter replacement page covers that job.
Then think about metals. BlueScope says stainless steel, lead, copper and copper alloys must not be used with Colorbond, Zincalume or zinc-coated gutters and downpipes. Stainless mesh is widely sold, so if your gutters are Colorbond, ask the installer how the mesh and fixings avoid that contact, and whether the gutter's warranty is affected. We haven't seen a published answer, so get theirs in writing.
Near the coast, the gutter itself needs the right grade. BlueScope recommends standard Colorbond or Zincalume gutters more than 200 m from salt water influence, and Colorbond Ultra from 100 m.
Gutter work means working at the roof edge
Safe Work Australia says jobs like cleaning gutters may not count as construction work but carry the same hazards, especially falls, which are the major cause of death and injury on roofs. Fitting guards means working at the roof edge, so we'd leave it to an installer, particularly on two-storey homes and tiled roofs. If the roof is old cement sheeting, leave the gutters alone until it's been tested for asbestos.
Will guards end gutter cleaning?
No, but they cut it down. Monier, the tile maker, says leaf guards and trimmed branches reduce debris, and still recommends cleaning gutters at least once a year, more often under trees. The NSW Government's heritage maintenance schedule says to clear gutters, guards and rainwater heads each autumn.
Near bush, the NSW RFS recommends clearing leaves from roofs, valleys and gutters before fire season, guards or not. Budget for a yearly check either way. Our gutter cleaning page covers what that involves.
How to choose, step by step
Check your bushfire status
Ask your council whether your block is mapped as bushfire prone. If it is, metal mesh is the only sensible choice, and your bushfire attack level may set the standard. See ember guard.
Look at what falls in
Broad leaves, gum leaves, needles and seed pods each suit a different mesh. Our leaf guard and mesh page matches them up.
Note the roof and gutter materials
Is the roof tiled, corrugated or concealed-fix steel, and what are the gutters made of? If the roof is old cement sheet, test for asbestos first.
Get the gutters sorted
Repair or replace rusty, sagging or leaking gutters before anything goes over them.
Get the spec in writing
The quote should name the mesh material and hole size, full cover or in-gutter, the fixings, the trims for your roof profile, and whether a clean is included.
What you can sort out, and what's for an installer
You can
- Ask your council if your block is mapped as bushfire prone
- Note which trees drop on the roof, and what they drop
- Find out what your roof and gutters are made of
- Look from the ground for overflowing or sagging gutters
- Keep branches trimmed back, using an arborist for big trees
Leave to a roofer
- Fitting full-cover mesh and roof-profile trims
- Lifting and resetting edge tiles
- Repairing or replacing gutters first
- Ember-rated installations with no gaps
- Anything on or under an asbestos cement roof
What we'd fit
For most houses, metal mesh as full cover, with trims that match the roof profile, fitted after the gutters have been checked. Near bush, non-combustible mesh over every gutter and valley, no exceptions. On Colorbond gutters, we'd ask the installer to put in writing which metals touch the gutter. Plastic we'd save for the garden shed, and we'd still book a yearly check.
Want a roofer to take a look?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.