Why guards matter on Canberra's fringe
January is fire month
The 2003 firestorm hit on 18 January, reaching Duffy at about 3 pm and then Rivett, Chapman, Kambah, Higgins, Hawker and Cook. The Orroral Valley fire started on 27 January 2020 and brought an emergency warning for Tharwa and the southern suburbs the next day. Gutters need to be clear well before then.
Embers do the damage
The NSW Rural Fire Service, just over the border, says embers cause 85% of house losses in bushfires and can land more than 100 m ahead of the fire front. It wants roofs, valleys and gutters cleared before the fire season and any leaf guards made of non-combustible material.
Mesh that fits the gaps
The RFS guide to upgrading existing homes says gaps over 3 mm should be sealed or covered with mesh no coarser than 2 mm, made from corrosion-resistant steel, bronze or aluminium.
Picking a guard that won't cause new problems
Match the metal to your gutters. BlueScope says stainless steel, copper and lead must not be used with Colorbond or Zincalume gutters, because they cause corrosion. On those gutters, aluminium mesh is the usual safe choice, so confirm the material in writing.
Non-combustible on the bush edge. Plastic guards can melt or burn. If you're near bush or grassland, metal mesh is the only sensible option. Our page on ember guards explains how they're fitted.
Guards cut cleaning, they don't end it. Fine debris settles on top of mesh, and under trees a covered gutter still needs checking. Monier suggests cleaning gutters, downpipes and valleys at least once a year, and twice in tree-lined areas.
What to ask a Canberra installer
- What's the mesh made of, and is it safe with my Colorbond or Zincalume gutters?
- Is it non-combustible, and what's the aperture size?
- Will you clean the gutters and valleys before fitting, and check for rust?
- Does it cover the valleys and the gaps under the first row of tiles or roof sheets?
- How often will it still need clearing with the trees around my house?
Your part and the installer's
You can
- Rake up leaves and keep the ground under the eaves clear through summer
- Trim branches over the roof if you can reach them safely from the ground
- Look from the ground after windy days for leaves piled on top of the mesh
Leave to a roofer
- Fitting mesh along the roof edge and into valleys
- Sealing gaps under tiles or sheet ends against embers
- Clearing guards on a two-storey or steep roof
If it were our house
Near the bush, we'd fit non-combustible aluminium mesh to steel gutters and still book a clean every December, before the January fire danger peaks. In an inner suburb with few trees, we'd skip guards and clean once or twice a year. The national gutter guards page compares types, and the Canberra hub covers the wider local risks.
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.