What is the Best Gutter Guard for Oak Trees?
Advantage Gutter Guard®: The Key to Surviving Oak Tassels
Gutter guards are supposed to protect your gutters from any type of debris that trees can throw at them – including oak tassels.
Oak tassels are those sticky stringy things that drop abundantly from oak trees. Advantage Gutter Guard® has been PROVEN to work – even against the tricky stringy things. Find out why.
First, however, we will briefly discuss oak tassels themselves and why they are such a formidable foe for leaf guards and other gutter protection.
The Mighty Oak
Let’s face it – many of us have a love-hate relationship with oak trees.
On the love side, oak trees are enormous – not only can they reach 100 feet in height, but the width of their canopy can be double that height. This makes them absolutely beautiful shade trees that are essential to Kansas and Missouri’s ecosystems.
On the hate side, this luxurious canopy drops hundreds of thousands of sticky flower strands known to most of us as stringy things – or if you’re a botanist: catkins.
What Are Oak Tassels?
Stringy things, oak tassels, or catkins (whichever scientific name you prefer) are the origins of future baby oak trees. The pollen they release into the air in early spring pollinates other flowers along the mighty oak’s branches resulting in the development of acorns.
Yay for the squirrels and future baby oaks! Woe to homeowners and car owners whose home or vehicle lies below the mighty oak’s enormous canopy!
How to Protect Your Home From Oak Tassels
Stringy oak tassels may be the most frustrating form of debris any homeowner faces. If you have an oak tree in your yard you know why – they are sticky.
This makes it a particular challenge to find a gutter guard that will prevent oak tassels from clogging your gutters.
Let’s briefly explore some of the most common types of gutter guards on the market.
Screen Guards, Leaf Filters/Micro-Mesh, Foam or Brush Gutter Guards
Do these work for oak tassels?
Well, let’s take a closer look at these four popular gutter guards and see if they might be suitable for the great oak tree issue.
Screen Gutter Guards
A screen gutter guard system consists of a mesh or screen-like material that covers the gutter, allowing water to flow through while blocking larger debris. Gutter guard materials may include stainless steel, marine grade stainless steel, aluminum, or plastic.
However, gutter screens may not be completely effective when it comes to protecting rain gutters from oak tassels and similar debris. The mesh guards or screen may have openings that are large enough for smaller particles like oak tassels to pass through and potentially clog the gutter.
And even if they prevent debris from passing through completely, the screen often gets jammed with debris, causing the gutter to simply overflow.
Leaf Filters and Micro-Mesh Gutter Guards
Some leaf filter gutter guards and micro mesh guards are designed with a finer mesh with small holes that block even smaller debris such as pine needles and shingle granules from entering the gutter.
While they can be more effective than screen guards, mesh gutter guards may still have limitations when it comes to oak tassels. While the sticky, moss-like material may not be able to get through the tiny opening and enter the gutter, it can build up and stick to the top of the mesh gutter guard and settle into the tiny holes.
As with any filter (think furnace or juicer), eventually the leaf filter can become choked and ineffective.
Even if the gutter is not clogged inside, if the micro-mesh gutter guard becomes covered with fine debris, it can impede water flow and require cleaning.
In this situation if the warranty only covers the gutter clogging, but not the filter itself becoming clogged, the micro mesh or leaf filter guard may not be the best gutter guard for oak tassels.
Foam Gutter Guards
Foam gutter protection systems are made of foam or sponge-like inserts that fill the gutter channel while allowing water to pass through.
They aim to prevent leaves and larger debris from entering the gutter. However, when it comes to oak tassels, foam guards may not be completely effective. Oak tassels can be small and lightweight, and they may find their way through or sit on top of the foam or sponge material, potentially leading to clogs.
Regular maintenance and cleaning may still be necessary to ensure optimal performance.
What About Brush Gutter Guards?
A brush gutter guard, also known as a gutter brush or gutter whisker, is a type of gutter protection system that utilizes a brush-like design to prevent debris from entering the gutter system.
The brush guard consists of bristles made from durable materials such as nylon or polypropylene. They are easy to install and remove for maintenance, making them a great choice for DIYers on a budget.
The way a brush guard works is relatively simple.
When debris such as leaves, twigs, or pine needles falls onto the roof and comes into contact with the brush guard, the bristles prevent the debris from entering the gutter. Instead, the debris tends to accumulate on top of the brush guard.
However, it’s important to note that while brush guards can be effective at preventing larger debris from entering the gutter system, they may not be as effective at blocking finer particles like roof granules, oak tassels, or pine needles.
Over time, the accumulated debris on the brush guard may still require periodic cleaning or maintenance to maintain optimal performance.
So, while the above gutter cover design styles do offer some protection to your existing gutter system, they have their limitations when it comes to protecting gutters from oak tassels and similar debris.
Another common issue is that screens, LEAF FILTERS, micro-mesh gutter guards, foam and brush guards have textured surfaces that allow the sticky pollen to seemingly superglue the oak tassel to it.
Tip: If you have a micro-mesh leaf guard be sure to scrub them clean during oak tassel season. This will keep the filter from clogging and water from flowing over your gutters.
So, what is the best gutter guard design to effectively help you combat oak tree debris?
Solid Surface Reverse Curve Gutter Guards
Will these really work for oak tassels?
Yes, they will – if they have the right features.
While some solid surface gutter guards have added texture. Advantage Gutter Guard® has a solid, smooth surface that discourages debris adherence. Typically, once oak tassels are dried by the sun, they will blow off the top of the Advantage Gutter Guard®.
Also, because it has a nose-forward design, which means it protrudes slightly past the front edge of the gutter, debris is deflected from entering the guttering system and clogging it.
Another advantage is our professional gutter guards use surface tension. Surface tension gutter guards unlike most gutter guards, use the principle of surface tension to handle the rainwater. Rather than filtering it through openings in the gutter.
Due to the sticky nature of stringy oak tassels, if your home has many oak trees, you may need to occasionally use a sprayer hose to rinse the top of the gutter guard.
This can easily be done from the ground in just a few minutes. Far from the chore of digging them out of the gutter or brushing them out of the mesh.
All Round Gutter Protection
Advantage Gutter Guard® is known as one of the best gutter guards for oak tassels on the market. It comes with a lifetime warranty that the gutters will not clog.
This means you can stay off the ladder!
Another important factor is that some “solid” surface gutter guards have an additional opening or channel along the roof line. This could be a place where oak tassels collect.
Choose professionally installed gutter guards that are completely solid and smooth on top. It also has a nose-forward design that extends slightly past the gutter to deflect debris.
For a more detailed exploration between leaf screens with perforations or meshes and solid gutter covers, check out our blog: DO GUTTER GUARDS REALLY WORK IN KANSAS CITY?
Does Gutter Guard Material Make a Difference?
Well, the materials used in the construction of gutter guards do play a role in their quality aesthetics, and longevity.
High-quality gutter guards are made of long-lasting materials like stainless steel or aluminum. These materials are sturdier than inferior plastic gutter guards that often come with DIY gutter guards.
The Advantage Gutter Guard ® is made with sturdy, heavy-gauge aluminum (no plastic), and rust-free construction.
And when it comes to aesthetics, Advantage Gutter Guard ® is simply on a level of its own.
Engineered to form a low profile when installed, it creates an almost invisible, sleek appearance. It’s available in 33 colors and COPPER to ensure it will blend beautifully with your roof and gutters.
Stop the Oak Tassel Battle
Tired of worrying whether your gutters are clogged, climbing the ladder, sticking your hand in the gutter goo, or scrubbing your micro-mesh leaf filters?
Give yourself a break and get Advantage Gutter Guard®. CLICK HERE FOR A FREE ESTIMATE
Advantage Gutter Guard® Estimate
What’s involved with an Advantage Gutter Guard® estimate?
It’s super easy.
First, our consultant will begin by briefly greeting you and then get to work. For the next 30-40 minutes he will perform a detailed inspection of your entire gutter system and home exterior.
Next, he will create a custom plan and design. Then he will explain the solution(s) and provide your estimate. The whole process typically takes about an hour.
Our motto: No pressure, ever – just long-lasting solutions.
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