Gutter Covers - Yes or No? (new house, contractor, cost of)

[lottamoxie]

I will be getting new gutters on my house. My house is in a wooded area, surrounded on all sides by trees. The cost of gutter covers doubles the cost, as many of you know.

I'd like to hear opinions on gutter covers vs. not, please.

thanks!

[BayVillage]

We have a two story house surrounded by trees and we finally put covers on ourselves. It was too much hassle to keep getting the ladder out to unclog them! We just bought the wire ones you get at Lowes. Snap right in.

[J_Lurk]

This is one of those topics that comes up every couple of months (and one I always read avidly because I still haven't decided our long-term gutter solution, except that I know we need bigger ones). Here's a previous local thread, and it has a link to a more general thread:

https://www.city-data.com/forum/ralei...apel-hill.html

[playnice]

Save your money. Our house in the woods had them when we arrived and were soon removed as they were more hindrance than help.

[Lisalrenee]

I was told if you have lots of pine trees, it's easier to not have them - between the sap and the needles, gutter guards are just a PITA.

[lottamoxie]

I won't ever clean them myself...I would (have to) get someone to come out and clean them as needed. I don't have many (or any) pine trees...but lots of other kinds of trees are abundant. I'm on a very wooded lot.

BTW... per the advice on a couple prior threads about gutters, I added the specification for 3" x 4" downspouts and connectors and the first contractor who responded back to me said he put 2" x 3" downpouts & connectors on his own new house and that was absolutely adequate for NC rains. He implied there are reasons for this (not using the bigger downspouts/connectors). I will ask why he doesn't advise this--I can't imagine what the harm could be and I suspect it's perhaps that he isn't able to meet the spec. for 3" x 4".