
The 5 Best Gutter Guards for Pine Needles (2023 Guide)
Typical Cost Range: $200 – $4,300
Join the 6,755 people who have received a free, no-obligation quote in the last 30 days
Pine needles can wreak havoc on your gutter system if you don’t clean your gutters regularly. Rather than repeatedly climbing up a ladder to clean out the clogs they create, you can invest in a gutter guard to block pine needles from building up in the first place. Though the best gutter guards don’t eliminate the need for gutter cleaning and maintenance, they simplify cleaning and dramatically decrease how often you have to do it.
If you have pine trees near your home’s roof and gutters, read our detailed guide to the best gutter guards. Our team expertly analyzed each company based on warranties, design, and other services to help you find the best gutter guards for pine needles.
Top 5 Best Gutter Guards for Pine Needles
- LeafFilter: Best Overall
- HomeCraft: Best Additional Services
- All American Gutter Protection: Best Deals and Discounts
- Raptor: Best Filter for DIY Brands **
- Amerimax Home Products: Best for Easy Installation **
**denotes a DIY-only product
*BBB information is accurate as of October 2023.
Factors to Consider When Determining the Best Gutter Guards for Pine Needles
Pine needles are tricky to keep out of your gutters because they are small and thin. They slip easily into gutter systems and collect until they create a clog. Below, we’ve listed factors to consider when deciding which gutter guard system is best for keeping pine needles out of your gutters.
Type of Gutter Guard
Not all gutter protection systems combat pine needles. Mesh and micro-mesh gutter guards are best for pine needles and other small debris because they have tiny holes or no openings in the top. Guards with larger holes allow pine needles to slip through.
Installation
Though you can install gutter guards on your own, many DIY options, such as screen gutter guards and brush guards, aren’t effective at keeping out pine needles. Brush guards, for example, are good for leaves and seed pods, but pine needles and other small debris can slip right through the bristles.
If you want your home to be equipped with the best gutter guards for pine needles, you’ll likely have to get professional installation, which means higher costs. However, using a professional gutter guard company carries a wide range of benefits, including warranty protection, higher-quality installations, and access to additional services such as gutter cleaning.
Holes and Openings
Though mesh, micro-mesh, and reverse-curve guards are best for pine needles, they’re not all the same. Take note of how many holes or openings are present in the gutter guard and their size. Pine needles may still pose a problem if the holes are too big—around a half-inch or more. The finer the holes, the better.
Maintenance
Though gutter guards make cleaning and maintaining your gutter system easier, they don’t outright eliminate the need for maintenance. Take some time to compare how often you’ll need to clear off pine needles from each gutter guard. For example, some pine needles may build up on a flatter gutter guard, but they’ll likely fall off of one with a built-in pitch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best gutter covers for pine needles?
Any gutter cover that uses stainless-steel micro-mesh is best for pine needles. Some reverse-curve gutter guards can also work if the cover’s opening is less than a quarter-inch.
Do foam gutter guards work for pine needles?
Foam gutter guards do not work well for pine needles. They are often too flat and may even cause plant growth from falling seeds.
How often should you clean gutter guards?
Gutter guards do a decent job at maintaining a self-cleaning cycle, but we recommend you check on your guards annually for possible cleaning and maintenance.
Can pine needles damage your gutters?
Yes, pine needles can damage your gutters by accumulating and causing damns and clogs. Over time, clogged gutters will become less effective, frequently overflowing, spilling, and freezing over. These issues can result in costly problems such as foundation erosion, water damage, and soil saturation.
Our Rating Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team backs up our gutter guard recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each gutter guard product and provider. We conduct research by reviewing product specifications and provider website information, speaking with customer representatives, and analyzing customer reviews. We then score each provider against our review standards for gutter guard design, customer support, the quote process, services, and reviews to arrive at a final score on a 5-point rating scale.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.