Why gutter guards matter more on Melbourne's edges
The ranges are fire country end to end
The Dandenong Ranges, about 35 km east and home to over 100,000 people, are described as highly bushfire prone across the whole range, with tall mountain ash and dense ferny undergrowth. On Ash Wednesday in 1983, fires running from Upper Beaconsfield to Cockatoo killed 27 people, and one started at Belgrave Heights.
The fringe has burned too
Black Saturday on 7 February 2009 hit Kinglake, Strathewen and St Andrews hardest, and destroyed homes in Narre Warren South and Narre Warren North. Black Saturday and Ash Wednesday both fell in February, so late summer is when clean gutters matter most.
Embers travel ahead of the fire
The NSW Rural Fire Service says 85% of houses lost in bushfires are lost to ember attack, and embers can travel more than 100 m ahead of a fire. Dry leaves in a gutter are exactly what an ember needs. The RFS recommends clearing roofs, valleys and gutters before the fire season, and says gutter and valley leaf guards should be non-combustible.
Which guard for which part of Melbourne
In a bushfire-prone area, choose non-combustible metal mesh, usually aluminium or steel, fitted to suit your Bushfire Attack Level. Plastic guards don't belong here. If you're building or re-roofing under the Bushfire Management Overlay, your BAL sets the construction standard, so get the guard included in that conversation.
In the leafy suburbs, a mesh guard cuts down how often gutters need cleaning, but it won't make them maintenance-free. Fine debris and seed pods still settle on top, and a clogged guard can send water over the edge in a heavy storm. Our guide to the best gutter guards compares the types.
Questions to ask a Melbourne installer
- Is the mesh non-combustible, and is it suitable for my property's BAL rating?
- Is the mesh material compatible with my gutters? BlueScope says stainless steel, copper and lead mustn't be used with Colorbond or ZINCALUME gutters.
- Will you clean and check the gutters and valleys before the guard goes on?
- How is it fixed on my roof type, tiles or metal, and does it cover the valleys?
- How often will it still need clearing under the trees I have?
What you can do yourself
You can
- Rake up leaves around the house and keep the area under eaves clear
- Trim branches that hang over the roof, if you can do it safely from the ground
- Check from the ground after windy days for leaves piled on top of the guard
Leave to a roofer
- Fitting guards, which means working at the roof edge
- Clearing valleys and box gutters
- Choosing and fixing an ember-rated system to your BAL
Our take
In the hills or on the bushland fringe, we'd fit non-combustible metal mesh that suits our BAL, and still book a gutter clean every spring before the fire season. In the suburbs, we'd only pay for guards if trees are filling the gutters more than once a year. Our national gutter guards page explains the options, and the Melbourne hub has the wider local picture.
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.
