Why guards matter more on some Hobart blocks
Fire has reached the city's edge
On 7 February 1967, Black Tuesday fires killed 62 people and destroyed 1,293 homes in southern Tasmania, getting within two kilometres of the CBD. Forest litter fed them. Dry leaves packed into a gutter are the same kind of fuel, sitting right at the edge of your roof.
What counts as bushfire-prone
Under code C13.0 of the Tasmanian Planning Scheme, your land is bushfire-prone if it's on the council's overlay map. Where there's no map, it's land within 100 m of 1 ha or more of bushfire-prone vegetation. That includes grasses and shrubs, but not maintained lawns, parks and gardens, so rough grass and scrub can count, not just forest.
Embers are what the code is written around
The code's standards aim to cut radiant heat, direct flame and ember attack at the building. Embers can arrive well ahead of a fire front and land in gutters. A metal mesh rated for ember protection keeps them, and the leaves they'd ignite, out.
Several councils, several maps
Greater Hobart takes in the City of Hobart, Glenorchy, Clarence, Kingborough, Brighton and Sorell. Each has its own overlay map, so check the one for your council rather than assuming from the suburb name.
Which guard suits which block
On bushfire-prone land, choose metal and get it fitted with no gaps at the roof edge. The NSW Rural Fire Service's guide to upgrading existing homes says leaf guards should be non-combustible, and gaps over 3 mm should be sealed or covered with mesh no coarser than 2 mm, made from corrosion-resistant steel, bronze or aluminium. Plastic guards don't meet that. Our page on ember guard explains what to look for.
In a leafy inner street with no bush nearby, any decent gutter guard cuts down how often you clean. Guards still collect fine debris on top, so they reduce cleaning rather than end it. Our gutter guard guide compares the types.
Questions to ask a Hobart gutter guard installer
- Is this mesh made for ember protection, and what's it made of?
- How is it fixed along the roof edge, so embers can't get underneath?
- Does it suit my roof (tile or metal) and my gutter shape?
- Will you clean the gutters out before fitting it?
- How often will it still need clearing on my block?
- What's your licence number?
What we'd do
If your block is on the council's bushfire overlay, or backs onto bush or rough grass, we'd fit metal ember-rated mesh and have the gutters cleaned first. If you're in a leafy street with no bush nearby, a guard is optional: weigh the price against paying for two cleans a year, and go with whichever you'll actually keep up.
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.