Part of the diverse group of Conifer plants, the pine is a gorgeous tree. However, pine needles can be harmful to your roof gutter system if they are allowed to collect in the gutter, leading to the water flow getting blocked. The thin needles of these Conifer trees can even find their way through inferior gutter guards, causing awful clogs. When we access roof gutter systems for gutter guard maintenance or gutter cleaning, we sometimes find pine needles galore.
Cutting down or pruning the pine trees that grow near your home can be a complicated process due to local council regulations and even state heritage listing status of older trees or trees that lend character to the area. Or perhaps you just love having a majestic pine tree nearby. Either way, to protect your gutters, a gutter guard will be the best solution to the problem of clogged gutters.
Choosing what gutter protection to install on your home can be a tricky decision if it's your first time doing so. There are many different types of gutter guards that serve a multitude of purposes.
If you live in a region where pine trees are prevalent, you may find their needles clogging your gutter and causing an array of issues. So, what is the best gutter guard for pine needles? Let's find out...
Why do you need a gutter guard for pine needles?
Installing a gutter guard on your home is a sure-fire way to keep out debris of all shapes and sizes. They can help keep rats, birds and other small animals out of your home. They'll ensure water flows freely through your gutter. They'll also seriously reduce the amount of time spent climbing up and down ladders to complete a regular gutter clean.
Australia is filled with an array of both native and imported pines, from the protected Pencil Pines in the National Parks of Tasmania, to the poky leaves of the giant Bunya Pines in the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. There are more pine trees than you can poke a stick at (or pine needle at) in Australia.
Pine needles, though small, are very good at getting snagged in gutter crevices and building up to form a block. It doesn't take many pine needles to clog a drain, since they collect in a criss-cross pattern. You might not realise that the pine tree in your yard was shedding all that much until sudden heavy rainfall wreaks havoc on your roof and home.
This can trigger water to overflow from the gutter and enter your home, causing moisture damage to walls and ceilings. Built-up pine needles can also cause a fire hazard if you live in a bushfire zone and your home is subject to airborne embers. After a few days of hot weather, pine needles become bone dry and turn into the perfect kindling for a fire.
How do gutter guards keep pine needles out?
When it comes to keeping pine needles out of your gutters, a gutter guard is the best way to do it! Gutter guards are designed specifically to fit perfectly over gutters, and to provide a level of protection from debris and other items that cause blockages.
Some types of gutter guards — depending on the compatibility with your roof design — can also provide an extra element of protection by sloping downwards and allowing any excess leaves, pine needles or other debris that falls on top to slide off onto the ground for easy clean-up.
The best gutter guard for pine needles
One of the best gutter guards for pine needles Australia has to offer is the micro-mesh variety, installed using the ‘ski slope’ method. Our ScrewTight ember gutter guard is perfectly crafted to have only the smallest 2-milimetre holes for water to seep through. The holes on this mesh are so small, not even pine needles can fit through them!
The ski slope method of gutter guard installation uses the combined natural effects of gravity, wind and rain to simply allow any pine needles that collect on the roof to slide off onto the ground below. This saves time, effort and energy; plus collecting pine needles off the ground is much easier and safer than cleaning them out of the gutters.
No matter the type of gutter guard you choose to help keep pine needles and other debris out of your gutters, it's always important to ensure they're properly fitted. A combination of high-quality mesh, fixing bolts and accessories, plus a professional installation process will not only ensure your gutters are protected, but it will prolong the life of your gutter guards. Pine trees can live for centuries, so you need gutter guards that last!
If you're looking to install the best gutter guards for pine needles on your home, please reach out to the team at Grayson's. We'll help you make the right choices according to your roof type, guttering system, and the environment surrounding your property. Also, before your gutter guard installation, we'll fully clean out your pine needle-ridden gutters by hand and hose-flush the gutters and downpipes to reach total cleanliness.
Image: Our bushfire gutter guard has hole sizes that are only 2mm in width
