Can Gutter Guards Be Installed on Existing Gutters?

Yes, if they're still sound. Age on its own isn't the issue. What counts is whether the gutter holds water without leaking, slopes down to the downpipe and stays firmly fixed to the house. Our mesh covers the top of the gutter and fixes at the roofline, so it needs a working gutter underneath.

We install premium aluminium gutter guard over your existing gutters, on tile and metal roofs. If they're in good shape, there's nothing to replace. We check their condition during the free on-site quote.

Where the gutter has a fault of its own, the guard won't fix it. It can't make a gutter carry more water than it was built for. And mesh on top can't patch a hole underneath. So it's worth knowing what to look for.

Because water only runs to the downpipe if the gutter slopes toward it. Lysaght (opens in a new tab), which makes steel gutters, says “a minimum gutter fall of 1 in 500 is recommended”. That's a 1 cm drop over 5 metres of gutter. Without that slope, Lysaght says, “ponding” may occur, “reducing the life of your gutter.”

From the ground, the sign is water still sitting in a clean gutter after the rain stops. A closer inspection checks more. Lysaght's list of what to check on gutters (opens in a new tab) starts with “Staining of gutter at possible ponding locations”. That check means getting up close, so here's why ladder work is riskier than it looks.

We check the fall of your gutters at the free quote, along with the roof and the trees around the house. If we find a gutter issue, like a failed joint or a sagging bracket, we tell you before we install. Our guide to what's behind overflowing gutters covers the other causes, and who fixes each one.

Rust is a problem with the gutter itself, and mesh on top won't stop it. So get a rusty gutter looked at before you think about guard. Lysaght (opens in a new tab), a steel gutter maker, lists “Metallic staining of the gutter, surface rust” among the things to check when you inspect your gutters.

Holes are the bigger worry. A gutter with a hole in it leaks, guard or no guard. Queensland's building regulator, the QBCC (opens in a new tab), says to “Repair cracked or broken tiles, guttering or flashing.” It says it often gets complaints about roof leaks, and that “often leaks are caused by lack of maintenance and cleaning.”

Near the coast, salt air is hard on steel. Salt carries on the sea breeze, and steel guttering can pit and rust over time. That's why every part we fit is aluminium, from the mesh to the clips, trims and screws. It's the same for homes near the water in Redcliffe as anywhere else we work.

Not if they're sound. Gutters in good shape stay, and the mesh goes over the top. Repair or replace them first if they're rusted through, sagging, have lost their fall or are too small for the roof. Get that done before the guard goes on, so the mesh sits on a gutter that works.

Bigger gutter jobs in Queensland need a QBCC licence, and two licence classes cover gutter work. The QBCC's Metal fascias and gutters licence (opens in a new tab) covers work to “Fabricate and install rainwater goods including, and associated with, metal fascias and gutters.” Its Roof and wall cladding licence (opens in a new tab) also covers work to “Fabricate and install rainwater goods.” Whoever you call, ask which licence they hold.

The QBCC says it's up to you to check that the person is licensed for the job. You can look them up on the QBCC licensee register (opens in a new tab). If you can't find them there, the QBCC says “there's a chance they're not licensed”. You can call it on 139 333 to check.

Once the gutter work's done, we can quote the guard.

If the gutters are sound and trees keep filling them, it's worth asking about. If they'll need replacing soon, sort the gutters first, then look at guard. Our guide on whether gutter guards are worth it covers the downsides too, and the homes it suits best.

We've been family-owned for over 25 years, and we're fully insured. We work across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast. Book a free on-site quote, and we'll tell you where your gutters stand before you spend a cent.