Gutter guards
Summary: Celtic Rainwater Systems installs several gutter guard styles, including micromesh for fine debris and a guard made for copper gutters. It says guards protect downspouts and buried drain lines from clogs but that their tops still need cleaning once or twice a year[1].
What does the company say about guards?
The company’s gutter guard page opens with the question it says customers ask most, “Are gutter guards really worth the money?”, and answers yes[1]. Its reasoning: guards keep downspouts from clogging and protect the below-ground drainage system from “expensive and unnecessary repair”. It describes the mechanism as debris sitting on top of the gutter while “the steel mesh allows water to still enter the gutter system as intended”. It adds a caveat that is easy to miss in sales material elsewhere: guards are low maintenance, not no maintenance, and “the tops still need to be cleaned once or twice a year to ensure optimal function”.
Which guard types are offered?
The page lists four products by what they are for, not by brand[1]:
- A gutter guard “suited for all debris types”
- A gutter guard compatible with copper gutter systems
- A micromesh gutter guard for fine debris
- A premium gutter guard
The company says it offers several styles “to be sure we are correctly handling the types of debris that falls around your home”. In practice that means matching the guard to the trees: broad leaves, pine needles, seed pods and shingle grit behave differently on a guard surface.
How do the main guard types differ?
| Design | How it works | Typical trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Micromesh | Fine stainless steel mesh over a frame; water passes through, debris stays on top | Stops small debris such as pine needles and seeds; fine mesh needs its surface brushed or rinsed |
| Perforated or screen | Metal or plastic sheet with larger holes | Cheaper; small debris can pass through or lodge in holes |
| Surface tension (reverse curve) | Water follows a curved nose into the gutter; leaves slide off | No mesh to clog; can overshoot in very heavy rain and is visible from the ground |
| Brush or foam inserts | Sit inside the gutter | Easy to fit; collect debris and need removing to clean |
This table is a general description of designs sold in the US market, not a list of the company’s products. The company does specify a micromesh option for fine debris and a separate guard for copper gutters, which matters because some metals should not touch copper[1].
Why do copper gutters need a matching guard?
Copper and aluminum or galvanized steel in contact, with rainwater as an electrolyte, set up galvanic corrosion, which eats the less noble metal. That is why copper systems use copper or stainless fasteners and guards. The company lists a “Gutter Guard compatible with Copper Gutter Systems” and shows copper gutters and scupper boxes among its projects[1][2]. See gutter materials for more on copper.
Are guards worth it in Indianapolis?
Guards make most sense where trees overhang the roof, where gutters are hard to reach, or where downspouts feed buried drain lines that are costly to clear. That last point is the company’s main argument: debris that passes through a downspout can end up in the underground pipe[1][3]. They make less sense on a single-story house with no trees nearby, where cleaning twice a year is quick. Either way, guards still need their tops cleaned, as the company itself notes[1]. Combining guards with a seasonal cleaning plan is one option it offers.
See also
Common questions
Do gutter guards stop all cleaning?
No. The company says guard tops still need cleaning once or twice a year.
Which guard is best for pine needles?
Fine micromesh guards are designed for small debris such as needles and seeds; the company lists a micromesh guard for fine debris.
Can guards go on copper gutters?
Yes, with a guard made to be compatible with copper; the company lists one.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Gutter Guards. Celtic Rainwater Systems (celticrainwater.com). Accessed 9 November 2026.
- ^ Gutter Installation. Celtic Rainwater Systems (celticrainwater.com). Accessed 9 November 2026.
- ^ Drainage (PVC downspout drainlines, French drains, basement drainage and sump pumps). Celtic Rainwater Systems (celticrainwater.com). Accessed 9 November 2026.