Why guards matter here
Fires near Peregian and Noosa
The 2019 fires at Peregian Beach, Cooroibah and Noosa North Shore forced more than 8,000 residents out across several suburbs. The Cooroibah fire alone saw 6,000 people evacuated in November, and Peregian Springs faced a second fire that December.
Bushland right next to homes
More than a third of Noosa Shire, 34.8%, is national park, conservation park, state forest or other protected land. Sunshine Coast Council looks after 8,300 hectares of environment reserves too, with planned burns usually between March and September, before the spring fire season.
It's the embers that get in
NSW Rural Fire Service guidance blames ember attack for 85% of house losses, with embers landing more than 100 m ahead of a fire. A gutter full of dry leaves is an easy target, which is why the RFS wants gutter and valley guards that won't burn.
Storm season follows
Council says storms usually run from November to March. Leaves that build up through spring end up blocking downpipes just as the first big thunderstorms arrive.
Choosing the guard
Near bushland, use non-combustible metal mesh over the gutters and valleys, fitted to suit your Bushfire Attack Level if you have one. In the suburbs, aluminium mesh is the usual choice. Check the mesh metal against your gutters: BlueScope says stainless steel and copper must not be used with COLORBOND or ZINCALUME gutters.
Leaves and seed pods still settle on top, so guards need a look after storms. See ember guards, leaf guard mesh and our national gutter guards page.
Questions for a Sunshine Coast installer
- Is the mesh non-combustible and suitable for my BAL rating?
- What metal is it, and is it compatible with my gutters?
- Will the valleys be guarded as well?
- Do you clean out the gutters before fitting?
- What upkeep does it need before fire season?
Your jobs, and the installer's
You can
- Rake leaves and bark away from the house, especially before spring
- Trim branches over the roof if you can reach from the ground
- Check after storms that leaves aren't piling up on the guard
Leave to a roofer
- Fitting guards at height
- Clearing and guarding valleys
- Sealing gaps where embers could get into the roof
What we'd do
On a bushland block near Peregian, Cooroibah or Noosa, we'd fit non-combustible metal guards and still have the gutters checked each winter, ahead of the spring fire season. On a suburban block with few trees, we'd skip the guards and pay for a clean each year instead. The Sunshine Coast hub covers 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.