Plastic vs. Metal Gutter Guard: What’s best in Australia?

Are you thinking of installing a gutter guard for your property? There is never a bad time to begin protecting your home – however with so many options available to you to choose from on the market, it can be difficult to decide which one is the best solution for your home.

Not only do you have a choice of styles to decide from, but also materials as well and one of the biggest questions property owners ask is which is better, Plastic or Metal?

Metal Gutter Guard has become the default in Australia and is the solution that’s right for most homes. this is due to its greater strength longer life span and fire resistance.

However plastic gutter guard has its place especially in areas where corrosion is a major concern such as coastal areas where there is heavy salt spray. A plastic guard can also get a great option when dealing with a galvanized roof as it won’t react with the galvanic coating the same way and aluminium or steel gutter guard would.

Plastic Gutter Guards

As with any kind of plastic in the world, it comes in all different styles of durability and styles, meaning that not every plastic gutter guard is made equal and contains the same properties. Whilst there are many positives of using plastics, some of the cheaper options should be completely ignored as they are brittle and often made of cheap materials such as nylon; which although are more friendly to your bank balance, can make for a terrible gutter guard.

These cheaper plastics are unable to survive the harsh conditions we face here in Australia, with the heat known to make them warp and buckle whilst the UV rays can lead to them deteriorating. Some homeowners have also reported that seeds are able to find their way through into the gutters before sprouting and growing through the mesh.

However, that is not to say that plastic gutter guards are of no use to your home. Using high-quality plastic, such as polyethylene, will ensure that your guards will last far longer; resistant to the extreme temperatures of summer as well as any freak occurrences such as hail or strong winds. Not only that but using the best possible plastics will ensure that your gutter guards are resistant to the UV rays from the sun, meaning they will not fade or corrode over time.

When compared to metal, some plastics are considered better for your roof as they do not corrode or rust in the same that their metal counterparts do – particularly those made from zinc or steel.

Metal Gutter Guards

Just like the plastic options, there are many varying qualities of metal Gutter Guard out there on the market. Coming in all shapes and sizes, some of the most common forms of metal gutter guards include the galvanised mesh, aluminium, stainless steel, and powder-coated metals.

Each one of these has their pros and cons, but traditionally metal guards provide far greater strength compared to the plastic ones and are more suitable for use in areas prone to bush fires. However, just like plastic, the quality of the metal is vastly different between the cheaper options and those that are more expensive.

The cheaper metal versions are prone to being very flimsy and can warp in the summer heat as well as slowly deteriorate over time with exposure to the UV rays of the sun. These cheaper options are also more likely to rust over time as well.

Using higher quality metals does result in your gutter guards being more expensive, but it reduces the chances of them breaking when exposed to the elements; increasing their durability and ensuring they last a lot longer.

 

Aluminium Gutter Guards

• Most Popular Choice
• Mould well to the roof
• Corrosion-resistant
• Fire-rated
• Low Cost
• Won’t Comply with Bushfire Attack Level FZ Rating

Stainless Steel Gutter Guards

• Can be used in Bushfire Attack Level FZ Rating
• Can be hard to work with
• Cheaper options can corrode 
• More expensive than Aluminium

So which is better?

Deciding which material to use for your property will depend on a number of different factors. Whichever one you decide to use, it is important that you always opt for the highest quality plastic or metal that you can to maximise longevity and durability.

Other factors that come into play when deciding which material to use include the shape and style of your roof, its pitch, the overall size of your property, its location and your overall budget. Here at Aussie DIY Solutions, we offer a premium, high quality integrated aluminium mesh solution that is suitable for any home.

Designed to be as simple to install as possible, our products are the same as is used by professional installers; saving you thousands compared to using professional installers.

We Stock Plastic, Aluminium and Stainless Steel gutter guards meaning we can always find the right solution to you. 

If you cant see what you’re looking for just drop us an email or call and we’d be happy to help.