The first place people look for a gutter guard is Bunnings. Bunnings boast a wide selection of affordable DIY gutter guards. However, some are far more effective than others and more suitable for a specific gutter guard solution.
Let us take you through Bunnings’ gutter guard range and highlight the pros and cons of each product.
The Whites Bristle Gutter Guard, also known as a brush gutter guard, is one of the cheapest solutions. It is made from a fire-retardant core and bristles designed to trap leaves and debris while allowing water to flow through the gutters. It makes for an easy installation as it slots directly into your gutter.
The bristles can also help to deter smaller birds from nesting in the gutters. However, the strands attract other pests, such as insects and mosquitoes. While the gutter guard is fire-retardant, it is not recommended in bushfire-prone areas as leaves and debris caught in the bristles are easily ignited through an ember attack. It, therefore, requires regular maintenance and cleaning and the lifespan is also limited to a few years.
With the average Australian home’s guttering system around 30 metres, you can expect to pay approximately $450 for the entire house.
Compare Bunnings’ range to our TuffMesh® range.
Gutter Foam Inserts
Another cheap option is the Foam Insert, which costs you around $11.50 per metre. The Bunnings Whites foam guards are fire retardant and UV stabilised. Similarly, foam inserts filter the leaves entering the guttering system while allowing water to flow freely.
The downside of most gutter foam inserts is that the flat surface forms at the top of the gutter, where leaves and debris can build up. Additionally, the inserts can make the perfect habitat for mould, fungi and weed growth. Foam guards will require regular maintenance and cleaning, significantly reducing their lifespan.
Compare Bunnings’ range to our GutterMesh range.
You can purchase StayMesh in either plastic or aluminium, and it’s designed to slot directly into the gutter in preformed 1-metre packs. The installation is fast as the guard is placed in the gutter. The product reviews highlight its easy installation methods.
The aluminium stay mesh comes in silver. It complies with StandardAS3959 but does not provide mesh hole sizes. Therefore, it may need to meet ember guard specifications or drinking water standards which customers should investigate if they require that type of gutter guard solution. The mesh does not specify powder coating, which may reduce durability and lifespan. No product warranty is specified.
The Plastic StayMesh option is UV stabilised, which helps improve the guard’s lifespan; however, all plastic guards have shorter lifespans. Again, this product does not specify a warranty. Like foam guards, the flat surface works well to disperse most debris, but a build-up can occur without regular maintenance – you can see this reflected in the product reviews.
Compare Bunnings’ range to our SteelMesh range.
Approx. $20-25 per metre
GumLeaf 1200mm Colorbond® Metal Corrugated Gutter Guard uses precision scalloping that contours to a corrugated roof and is secured with roofing screws. It recommends silicone to seal it in place. You can also purchase Gumleaf corrugated saddles for a more aesthetic finish. However, it comes in limited colours for colour-matching and is sold separately. It is also suitable for tiled roof installation; folded to slip under the first row of tiles and secured to the gutter lip with roofing screws.
It is supplied in 1.2-metre lengths and made of strong BlueScope Colorbond® steel material in over Colorbond® colours: one of its best features and benefits.
Unlike other Bunning gutter guards, it comes with a 20-year warranty for the mesh. The GumLeaf Gutter Guard is CSIRO fire-rated zero, and the 2mm hole size complies with ember guard ratings. However, ensure that the installation method complies with your area’s BAL ratings.
Colorbond® Metal Corrugated Gutter Guard states its suitable for water tank systems. However, the product does not specify AS4020 drinking standard certificates. If you require these certificates enquire at the Bunnings special orders desk.
A consideration from reviews indicates that the mesh material is hard to meld to the corrugated roof shape. This is true of many Colorbond® steel gutter guards.
Compare Bunnings’ range to our TuffMesh® range.
Approx. $26 per metre
The Blue Mountain Co Gutter Mesh kit is a special order product made from Colorbond® steel for corrugated and tiled roofs and an aluminium kit for Trimdek® roofs. Unlike other products in the Bunning gutter guard range, it is supplied as a kit with mesh, trims, saddles/clips and roofing screws sold in 10, 15 and 30-metre rolls. A Valley mesh is also available.
It boasts an impressive 30 Colorbond® colour range, and the mesh’s 2mm aperture size complies with ember guard specifications meeting Australian Standard AS3959-2009, compliant for non-combustibility. It also has an impressive 20-year product warranty.
Colorbond® steel is widely considered a niche gutter guard product for ember guard BAL40 & FZ zones. The steel is more challenging to work with and is less malleable and flexible to fix the roof and gutter profile. Therefore, many professional installers prefer aluminium to Colorbond® steel unless specified. Colorbond® steel is also a more expensive product compared to aluminium mesh.
Approx. $5 per metre
Fields Watergate Leaf Guard is a mesh panel in zinc-preformed 1-metre packs. The installation is fast as the guard is placed in the gutter. The product reviews highlight its easy installation methods.
This product does not meet ember guard standards and is unsuitable for Bushfire prone areas and rainwater harvesting systems where rainwater is used for household use. The mesh does not specify powder coating, which may reduce durability and lifespan. No product warranty is specified.
Like foam guards, the flat surface works well to disperse most debris, but a build-up can occur without regular maintenance – you can see this reflected in the product reviews.
Compare Bunnings’ range to our SteelMesh range.
Approx. $2-4 per metre
The Whites Fire Gutter Guard is easy to install and conforms to Australian standards for use in bushfire-prone areas, tested and certified by CSIRO to AS1530.2 with a flammability index of 1. It comes in two sizes to fit wider gutters and valleys. To install, cut with tin snips, bend by hand, shape & insert into the gutters. It is a good value-for-money solution.
While it conforms with Australian standards, the Fire Guard Gutter Mesh does not comply with ember guard standards with a 6.5mm aperture. The larger aperture will also have difficulty filtering smaller foliage and debris like pine needles.
Approx. $15 per metre
Whites Ember Mesh Ultra Covers is an ember guard with 2mm aperture that prevents the entry of burning embers from openings and gutters. It is corrosion-resistant Stainless Steel wire with a black powder-coated finish that Ember Mesh Ultra complies with Standard AS3959 – 2009/2011. It is installed by hand – shaped & inserted into the gutters.
Unlike mesh kits, this ember guard requires shaping before gutter insertion, which some DIY customers may find difficult due to the robust and unmalleable stainless steel material. It is also important to note that this gutter guard has no product warranty.
Want to know more? ScreenTech sends gutter guard samples and guides to architects and discusses projects and considerations.
Look no further than ScreenTech’s TuffMesh®, GutterMesh, SteelMesh and SolarMesh products. Our mesh suits Klip-Lok®, Timdeck® corrugated roof types and tiled roofs. Get in touch with a ScreenTech installation partner today.
