Why guards help on Brisbane homes
Storms strip the trees
The November 2008 storm brought down hundreds of trees in Brisbane's outer suburbs, notably The Gap. Even an ordinary summer storm shakes loose leaves, bark and twigs, and they land in the gutters minutes before the heaviest rain.
Hail piles up too
In the Halloween storms of 2020, hailstones reached 14 cm across at Forestdale. Hail and shredded leaves can sit in a gutter together, so ask how a guard copes with a load of ice and whether it's fixed firmly enough to stay put in strong wind.
Fit them before the wet
Brisbane's thunderstorms run from November to March, with February usually the wettest month. Getting guards on in winter or spring, over freshly cleaned gutters, means the system is ready before the storms start.
Match the mesh to the gutter
BlueScope says stainless steel, lead, copper and copper alloys must not be used with Colorbond or Zincalume gutters. Ask what the guard's mesh and fixings are made of, and whether they're compatible with your gutter metal before you choose.
Which kind of guard?
Aluminium mesh is the common budget option. Stainless steel and micro-mesh keep out finer debris and cost a little more per metre, according to Airtasker, though check the compatibility point above if your gutters are Colorbond. Whatever you choose, it should sit flat, be fixed securely along the roof edge and come off easily for cleaning.
If council maps your block as bushfire prone, choose a metal, non-combustible guard and read our page on ember guards.
Questions to ask a Brisbane gutter guard installer
- What are the mesh and fixings made of, and do they suit my gutter metal?
- How does it fix to my roof, tiled or metal?
- Will you clean the gutters before fitting, and is that in the price?
- How do I get it off to clean underneath?
- What warranty covers the product, and what covers the installation?
Is it worth it?
If trees overhang the roof, we'd clean the gutters and fit metal mesh guards before storm season. With no trees nearby, we'd probably save the money and book a clean each spring instead. Our gutter guard comparison covers the types, and the national gutter guards page and Brisbane hub cover the rest.
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.