Is Micro Mesh Gutter Guard Right for a Queensland Roof?

It's gutter guard with a very fine screen, usually made of metal. One US maker lists 440-micron openings (opens in a new tab), which is 0.44 mm. That's less than a quarter the size of the 2 mm holes in our finest mesh. Makers say the fine screen stops the small stuff, like pine needles, seeds and roof grit, as well as leaves.

There's no set size, though. That same maker says “micro-mesh” describes a category, not a standard. Two products sold under the name can be almost nothing alike. Another US maker says the sweet spot is often put at 100 to 300 microns (opens in a new tab), or 0.1 to 0.3 mm. So if you're quoted micro mesh, ask for the actual hole size.

The makers' pages we read all use stainless steel for the mesh. What holds the mesh varies. One maker uses a painted aluminium body. Another uses uPVC, a type of plastic, and lists its mesh as 316L stainless steel.

The two meshes we fit are both aluminium, 1 mm thick. It's the only material we install. One has 3 mm holes and the other has 2 mm holes, and the rest of this guide puts them next to micro mesh.

The big difference is hole size. Finer holes stop smaller bits getting in. But makers say holes small enough to block fine debris can also hold water back if the product isn't built well. Bigger holes let rain drain freely, but they let some fine litter through. Every mesh is a trade-off between the two.

One micro mesh maker sells two versions for exactly this reason. There's its standard mesh, and a high-flow one with larger holes, made for areas with heavy rain.

Our two meshes have bigger holes than micro mesh. Our Leaf Shedder expanded mesh has 3 mm holes. It's sized to stop leaves, twigs and nesting birds, and let rain drain freely. Our woven EmberGuard is tighter at 2 mm. It keeps out finer debris too, and it's the one we usually suggest for homes that back onto bush.

Both are finished in our proprietary coating. You can see how our two meshes compare in more detail, or check the table below.

They can, and the makers say so. Over time, pollen and dust can build a film on very fine mesh. Mesh fitted flat holds leaves instead of shedding them. One maker says to brush off a clogged patch (opens in a new tab). Another suggests a look from the ground and a quick rinse with the garden hose.

That second maker is blunt about it. It says any company that promises “100% zero maintenance forever” isn't being realistic. It also says a flat fit is the most common problem with DIY installs. The mesh has to sit at the right angle so leaves can blow off.

Bigger holes have the opposite problem. Fine litter can slip through into the gutter. That's why we step up to the finer 2 mm weave where very fine debris keeps beating coarser mesh. A big jacaranda is a good example. Its small flowers and leaflets are the trickiest drop to keep out.

Bark is a different problem. Under heavy smooth-barked gums, long ribbons of bark can lie across the mesh instead of blowing off. There we look at the finer weave and a steeper angle. When bark or leaves cover any mesh, rain can run over the top, and our guide to gutter guards in heavy rain explains why.

Owners on a CHOICE Community thread (opens in a new tab) tell a similar story. One has had fine metal mesh on for at least 10 years under gum trees. It's worked well, they say, but “you do still get some accumulation”, so they clear it now and then. Another says that on a low-pitched roof there's “no such thing as self cleaning”.

So whatever mesh you're quoted, ask what upkeep it needs, and what the guarantee says if the gutter blocks. Ours comes with a written 10-year no blocked gutter guarantee.

Both resist rust, so near the coast the bigger question is what the mesh touches. Steel maker BlueScope publishes a table (opens in a new tab) of which metals can sit in direct contact with its steel. Aluminium gets a “Yes” next to its painted steel. Stainless steel in the 300 series, which includes 316L, gets a “No”.

The risk with the wrong pair is corrosion where they touch. BlueScope says it only happens while the join is wet, and salt on the surface can speed it up. That's why it matters more by the sea.

A micro mesh maker raises it too. It says two different metals touching, with water running over them, can cause corrosion. Its fix is a mesh and a body that are made to go together.

So ask any installer how their mesh and fixings meet your roof and gutters, and what they're made of. Here's our answer. Every part we fit is aluminium, from the mesh to the clips, trims and screws, so there's no steel in our system to rust in the salt air.

Aluminium doesn't rust, and it holds up in full Queensland sun. Ours is finished in our proprietary coating, which has its own 10-year guarantee against fading. The mesh stands up to the salt air along the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Read more about salt air on the Gold Coast, or about homes by the beach on the Sunshine Coast.

Makers don't agree about frames in summer heat. One says plastic frames can soften and warp. Another uses a uPVC frame and says it's metal frames that expand and contract, warping the mesh. Ask what the frame is made of.

One more owner report from that CHOICE thread. Near the sea, one owner warns, “the life of the galvanised version may be much less than normal”. Galvanised steel is a third option you may be quoted, so ask about it the same way.

It depends on the material, the fit and where you live, and nobody can promise how long it'll last on your roof. What you can compare is the guarantee, in writing. Read what it covers and for how long. Check whether it pays for labour or only parts. Do that before you sign.

Watch the word “lifetime”. One micro mesh maker says nearly every guard of its type comes with a “lifetime” warranty of some kind. So the word doesn't tell you much on its own. Read how the document defines it. Check whether it passes to the next owner if you sell. Then read what it leaves out.

Ours is on paper. Every install gets a 25-year full system guarantee covering the mesh, clips, trims and screws, and a 20-year workmanship guarantee. You also get a 10-year no blocked gutter guarantee and a 10-year coating guarantee against fading.

Those are guarantee terms. They aren't a promise of how long any part of your roof will last. You can read about our written guarantees, and we'll walk you through the terms at the quote.

Any mesh has to be fitted to the roof it's on, and the angle matters too. One micro mesh maker sets its product at 5 to 15 degrees so debris can shed. It's a US maker, and its page talks about fitting under shingles. So ask how a micro mesh would fit your tiles or metal sheets.

Here's how we fit ours. On tile roofs, the mesh follows the tile profile and covers the valley lines. Debris stays on top, and rain runs where it should.

On metal roofs, the mesh follows the roof line. Debris sits on top and water runs underneath into the gutter. Corrugated and other ribbed sheets each take a different trim, and we pick the right one up on the roof.

Whatever mesh you're quoted, ask how it finishes at the valleys and corners. The same maker lists no answer on valleys as a red flag. “That's where the water is.”

Start with what falls on your roof and how hard it rains. If fine stuff like pine needles or roof grit is the main problem, makers say that's what micro mesh is for. If it's leaves, twigs or birds, our 3 mm mesh is sized for that. Our 2 mm weave sits in between.

Then think about water. Fine holes need the right angle and a clean surface to take a heavy downpour. Ask any micro mesh seller how much water it handles. One maker says a company that has tested its product will have a number ready.

A table can't judge your roof, and neither can we from here. We bring the mesh options to the free on-site quote, so you can see them against your own roof and gutters. Then we recommend one, with reasons.

Comparing quotes? Ask each installer to show you the mesh, the fixings and the guarantee in writing. Near the coast, ask what the fixings are made of, too.

Still not sure you need guard at all? Read whether gutter guards are worth it, downsides included.