Over the last few years, commercial gutter guards have filled an increasing demand in Australia as modern architecture and designs incorporate more box gutters and parapets. These larger gutter spaces and commercial gutters require a thicker, more robust mesh to span.
So, what is a commercial-grade gutter guard? A commercial-grade gutter guard is typically a thicker, more robust mesh able to span wider spaces such as box gutters and parapets found in modern architecture and commercial buildings. Its material is specifically designed for commercial applications but can also be used for residential properties.
ScreenTech engineered a commercial-grade gutter guard with its TuffMesh® range designed to protect commercial buildings and residential properties.
Continue reading to learn more about commercial-grade guards and whether it is the best solution for your gutter protection system.
Commercial Grade Guard Features
Commercial-grade gutter guards are part of an integrated mesh system comprising commercial-grade mesh, fixtures including trims, saddles (for metal roofs) and roofing screws.
The key to an integrated mesh system is the ski slope created by the fixture of the mesh to the roof and gutter. A standard aluminium mesh thickness is typically 0.5mm, which begins to sag spanning gaps over 500mm wide. The sag creates a dip in the gutter guard, where leaves and other debris build up over time.
ScreenTech increased the thickness of the gutter mesh by 50%, finding it more suitable for a 750mm wide gap without sagging while maintaining its strength and durability over time.
See our TuffMesh® range.
Aluminium commercial vs standard guards
The following chart details key differences in features between ScreenTech’s commercial and standard leaf guard ranges.
Comparison
TuffMesh Aluminium (commercial grade)
GutterMesh Aluminium (standard grade)
Base Material
Aluminium
Aluminium
Aperture
3.3 mm
3.5 mm
Coating/Colouring
powder coating D1010
powder coating D1010
Manufacturing Technique
expanded
expanded
Strand width
1.0 mm
1.0 mm
Strand thickness
0.7 mm
0.5 mm
Mesh weight
700 gsm
500 gsm
Warranty
20-years
15-years
Max size
50m
50m
Standard widths in mm
250, 330, 500, 750,1000
250, 330, 500, 750,1000
Gutter guard bushfire attack level (BAL) suitability
BAL-12.5, BAL-19, BAL-29
BAL-12.5, BAL-19, BAL-29
Order a sample pack with commercial and standard gutter mesh samples.
Poly commercial vs standard guards
The following chart details key differences in features between ScreenTech’s commercial and standard poly gutter mesh ranges.
Comparison
TuffMesh Poly (commercial grade)
GutterMesh Poly (standard grade)
Base Material
Polyethylene
Polyethylene
Aperture
3.5 mm
4.0 mm
Coating/Colouring
100% virgin food-grade material, masterbatch
100% virgin food-grade material, masterbatch
Manufacturing Technique
extruded
extruded
Strand width
2.3 mm
2.3 mm
Strand thickness
expanded
2.3 mm
Mesh weight
1.0 mm
550 gsm
Warranty
1.0 mm
10-years
Max size
1.0 mm
50m
Standard widths in mm
1.0 mm
0.5 mm
Bushfire tested
N/A
N/A
Gutter guard bushfire attack level (BAL) suitability
N/A
N/A
Order a sample pack with commercial and standard gutter mesh samples.
Commercial vs standard ember guards
The following chart details key differences in features between ScreenTech’s commercial and standard poly gutter mesh ranges.
Comparison
TuffMesh Ember Guard (commercial guard)
GutterMesh Ember Guard (standard guard)
Base Material
aluminium
aluminium
Aperture
1.6 mm
1.9 mm
Coating/Colouring
powder coating D101o
powder coating D1010
Manufacturing Technique
expanded single direction
machine-woven w/ rolled edge
Strand width
1.5 mm
0.5 mm
Strand thickness
0.7 mm
0.5 mm
Mesh weight
700 gsm
500 gsm
Warranty
25-years
15-years
Max size
103 cm x 2200 mm Sheets
30m
Standard widths in mm
custom width in 25mm increments
250, 500, 1000
Bushfire tested
AS 3959-2018 compliant
AS 3959-2018 compliant
Gutter guard bushfire attack level (BAL) suitability
BAL-12.5, BAL-19, BAL-29
BAL-12.5, BAL-19, BAL-29
Need gutter guard installed?
Commercial gutter guard solution
Commercial grade gutter guards provide a more permanent solution, including:
- Commercial projects, industrial roofs
- Leaf guards as gutter protection, including blocked gutters and reduced gutter cleaning and maintenance
- Leaf guard for a box gutter
- Bird proofing and pest infestations
- Ember guard for bushfire protection against burning embers and ember attack
- Rainwater harvesting and protection for water tanks
- Leaf guard for investment property
Commercial guard for gutter & roof profiles
Commercial grade gutter protection is available for every Australian roof and gutter type, including:
- Corrugated roof
- Trimdek® roof
- Klip Lok® roof
- Tiled roof
- Flat roofs
- Industrial roofs
- Box gutter
- Bull gutter
- Parapet
- Roof valleys
All gutter mesh comes with fixture accessories for each roof profile. For example, a corrugated roof will also come with corrugated saddles, trim, mesh and screws in Colorbond® colours to colour match the roof and gutters.
Need gutter guard installed?
Gutter guard installation
Installing gutter guards on commercial gutters
ScreenTech’s local Melbourne installation partners, Aussie Gutter Protection, report commercial-grade gutter guards such as ScreenTech’s Tuffmesh in over 80% of their installations.
Furthermore, ScreenTech pioneered specialised gutter guard bracing, which allows a commercial-grade mesh to span gaps more significant than 1m, including wider box gutters or on parapets preventing block gutters and minimising gutter maintenance.
Commercial guards & residential buildings
The commercial-grade TuffMesh® line is also suitable for domestic homes in a setting where a standard mesh would suffice previously. This is due to a combination of factors:
- The mesh makes up a relatively small cost of a gutter guard installation, so upgrading to a more robust mesh has minimal price impact;
- Commercial-grade products have more extended warranties than traditional gutter guard products, generally over 20 years, providing customers peace of mind;
- The thicker gutter guard aesthetics is far superior; while the aperture size is the same, the thicker wire strands blend better with the roof from the ground;
- People want the best for their homes and don’t want to compromise a vital safety feature, i.e. in a bushfire-prone area.
- A more robust gutter mesh is best for bird proofing, especially for larger birds such as pigeons, but also to prevent possum attacks.
- It can be used as a 100% bird proofing solution to cover spanning wall cavities and roof cavities.
ScreenTech advises homeowners to always speak with their installer for informed decisions on the best gutter mesh type. Most installers are well-equipped to advise you on the best gutter guard got pricing.
ScreenTech TuffMesh
ScreenTech commercial TuffMesh® range is suitable for commercial gutter installations and maximum protection for efficient water drainage and bird protection. We provide commercial building contractors with reliable product advice and services for a comprehensive range of roofing products.
ScreenTech provides curated sample packs designed for architects, including standard and commercial-grade materials. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
See our TuffMesh® range.
