The Brothers That Just Do Gutters · Los Angeles
Gutter fire hardening for Los Angeles homes, before the next Santa Ana.
In January 2025 the Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed more than 16,000 structures across Los Angeles County. Most homes in a wind-driven fire are not taken by the flame front. They are taken by embers landing in dry gutters, under roof edges and on anything plastic along the roofline. We replace vinyl with metal, cover the trough with non-combustible BroGuard mesh and clean before fire season, so there is nothing up there to catch.
- Free written estimates
- Seamless metal gutters formed on-site
- Serving Greater Los Angeles
Quick answer
Fire Hardening in Greater Los Angeles, CA: The Brothers That Just Do Gutters Los Angeles hardens the roofline against embers with metal gutters formed on-site instead of vinyl, non-combustible BroGuard stainless mesh so dry debris cannot collect, screened downspouts, closed fascia gaps and cleanings timed before Santa Ana season. California’s Wildland-Urban Interface Code (Section 504.4, formerly Chapter 7A) requires gutters in wildfire areas to have a means to keep leaves and debris from accumulating, and Cal Fire’s 2025 maps expanded Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones across LA County. Estimates are free. Call (213) 205-6598 or book online.
By the numbers
The January 2025 fires rewrote what “fire zone” means in Los Angeles.
These are Los Angeles County’s own numbers from the Palisades and Eaton fires, and the state’s own hazard mapping.
- 16,251structures destroyed by the Palisades and Eaton fires in January 2025, per LA County
- 37,469acresburned across the two fires between January 7 and full containment on January 31, 2025
- 30%+more LA County land rated Very High Fire Hazard Severity under Cal Fire’s March 2025 maps than in 2011
- 100ftof defensible space required around homes in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone
Sources: County of Los Angeles Eaton and Palisades Fires fact sheet; Cal Fire Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for Los Angeles County, released March 24, 2025; California Public Resources Code defensible space requirements.
What January 2025 did
Wind, embers and dry rooflines: what the 2025 fires changed for LA homes.
Both fires started on January 7, 2025 and ran on Santa Ana winds. The Palisades Fire burned 23,448 acres and destroyed more than 6,800 structures. The Eaton Fire burned 14,021 acres and destroyed more than 9,400 structures in and around Altadena. Whole streets went house to house on embers, not on a wall of flame. The roofline is where those embers landed first.
Get a Free Roofline CheckWhere the hazard is now
The new Very High zones reach into neighborhoods that never carried the label.
Cal Fire’s March 2025 maps moved the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone north of Ventura Boulevard in the Valley, across San Vicente into Santa Monica, south of Sunset in West Hollywood, on top of the hillside communities that have carried it for years. If your address is in one of those zones, the roof edge is the part of the house doing the most work.
- 01
Embers in the trough
A gutter holding a summer of leaves, needles and roof grit is kindling pressed against the fascia. In a Santa Ana wind that is how a house across the street from the fire catches.
- 02
Plastic on the roofline
Vinyl gutters and plastic guards soften, drop and burn. The state wildfire code (Section 504.4, formerly Chapter 7A) calls for gutters that keep debris out, and fire agencies call for noncombustible material at the roof edge.
- 03
Open downspouts and fascia gaps
An unscreened downspout top drops embers straight into the system. A gap at the fascia lets them work under the first course of roofing.
- 04
Zone 0 is coming
The state Board of Forestry adopted Zone 0 rules on August 19, 2026 (withdrawn from state review on September 8, 2026 for technical edits and not yet in effect) for Very High zones and state responsibility areas. Roofs and gutters kept clear of combustible debris is written into them.
The hardening visit
A fire-hardened roofline, done before the wind picks up.
A Solutionist walks the whole roofline and gives you a written scope and price first. Then the crew does the work, usually the same day. You get a report of what was cleared, what was replaced and what we recommend before the next red flag warning.
Get a Free Roofline Check(213) 205-6598
- Metalaluminum, bonderized steel or copper, never vinyl
- StainlessBroGuard mesh is non-combustible
- LocalLA crews, LA phone number: (213) 205-6598
- Strip the fuel out of every runCleared by hand, downspouts flushed and tested, and the debris carried off your property.
- Replace vinyl with metalSeamless aluminum, bonderized steel or copper formed on-site to the exact length of your roofline.
- Cover the trough with BroGuardNon-combustible stainless micro-mesh. Leaves and needles stay out, rain still flows through, nothing plastic on the roof edge.
- Screen the downspouts, close the gapsDownspout tops screened, hangers reset and fascia gaps closed so embers have nowhere to work in.
- Time it to the seasonCleanings scheduled before Santa Ana season, not after the first red flag warning.
- Put it in writingA written scope and price before any work, and a roofline report when it is done.
The rules in 2026
What California’s wildfire rules actually say about gutters
A lot of what homeowners hear about fire rules is out of date. Here is where things stand for gutters as of September 2026, with the source behind each one.
State building code
Gutters must keep debris out
Since January 1, 2026, California’s wildfire construction rules live in the new California Wildland-Urban Interface Code. Section 504.4 keeps the old Chapter 7A wording: roof gutters must have a means to prevent leaves and debris from building up. It applies to new construction and permitted alterations in mapped fire hazard areas.
City of Los Angeles
LA requires metal gutters in fire zones
The Department of Building and Safety’s 2026 fire zone checklist requires gutters and downspouts of noncombustible material, plus an approved way to keep debris out, on new buildings, additions and alterations in High and Very High zones. Vinyl does not pass.
Zone 0, the first five feet
Adopted, then pulled back for edits
The Board of Forestry adopted Zone 0 rules on August 19, 2026, including keeping roofs and rain gutters clear of small flammable material. The filing was withdrawn from state review on September 8, 2026 for technical edits, so the rules are not in effect yet. When they are, they cover Very High zones in cities and all state responsibility areas.
IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home
Metal gutters, then metal guards
The insurance industry’s wildfire standard asks for noncombustible gutters and downspouts plus routine debris removal at its base level, and adds noncombustible gutter guards at the Plus level. Metal gutters with BroGuard stainless mesh check both boxes.
Insurance discounts
Gutters are not on the state discount list, and they still matter
California’s Safer from Wildfires discount list covers Class A roofs, ember-resistant vents, enclosed eaves, upgraded windows and the five-foot zone, but not gutters. The reason every fire agency still talks about gutters is embers: IBHS research found that as many as 90 percent of homes damaged or destroyed in wildfires were first ignited by embers, and a gutter full of dry debris is where they land.
Sources: California Building Standards Commission, LADBS fire zone checklist, Board of Forestry, Office of Administrative Law, IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home, CA Department of Insurance, Gov. Code 51182.
Fire hazard zones
Is your Los Angeles neighborhood in a Very High zone?
The State Fire Marshal released the new Los Angeles County fire hazard map on March 24, 2025. Very High land in the county grew by more than 30 percent from the 2011 map, and it now reaches north of Ventura Boulevard in parts of the San Fernando Valley, across San Vicente Boulevard in Santa Monica and south of Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood.
These hillside and canyon neighborhoods we serve sit in or right next to Very High zones, so we treat every roofline there as a fire-hardening job:
Check your exact address
Zones are drawn parcel by parcel, so two houses on the same street can land in different zones. The state map viewer shows yours in about a minute.
Open the state fire zone mapLAFD brush clearance was due May 1, 2026, and its rules already require roofs to be kept free of leaves, needles and twigs, with five feet of clearance between the roof and overhanging branches.
Sources: CAL FIRE LA County map release, LAist, LAFD brush clearance.
Checklist
The ember-ready roofline checklist
This is the order our crews work in on every fire-hardening visit. Steps one and seven you can do yourself. Everything that needs a ladder, call us.
- Clear the roof and every gutterState law already requires roofs in fire hazard areas to be kept free of leaves and needles. Start there, then flush every downspout.
- Swap vinyl for metalIBHS asks for noncombustible gutters and downspouts. We form aluminum, bonderized steel or copper on-site, so nothing on the roof edge melts or burns.
- Cover the trough with a metal guardA noncombustible guard like BroGuard stainless micro-mesh keeps dry leaves out between cleanings, the IBHS Plus step and a CAL FIRE recommendation.
- Close the gap at the roof edgeResearch cited by the Board of Forestry found gutter debris can carry fire into the home at the roof-to-gutter joint. Drip edge and a tight fit close it.
- Clear valleys, dormers and cornersIBHS notes that the spots where debris collects on a roof are the same spots where embers pile up.
- Keep the ground under the gutters cleanSwap bark mulch and plants under the downspouts for gravel or hardscape, part of the five-foot ember-resistant zone on the state discount list.
- Trim what hangs over the roofLAFD asks for five feet of clearance between the roof and overhanging branches.
- Book it before Santa Ana wind seasonSchedule the work in late summer or early fall, before the dry offshore winds that drive ember storms.
Sources: Gov. Code 51182, IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home, CAL FIRE, Board of Forestry, Office of Administrative Law, CA Department of Insurance.
Services
More Ways We Help LA Homeowners
Related services from the same local crews.
Aluminum, copper and bonderized gutters formed on-site to the exact length of your roofline. No seams to leak, matched to your trim.
Learn more Gutter CleaningGutters and downspouts cleared by hand, flushed and tested. We do not leaf-blow debris onto your patio.
Learn more Gutter RepairLeaking seams, sagging runs, loose hangers and rotted fascia, repaired the same visit when possible.
Learn more BroGuard Gutter GuardsStainless micro-mesh that stops leaves, needles and grit while heavy rain flows through. Non-combustible.
Learn more Maintenance ProgramScheduled cleanings before and after storm season so your system is ready when the rain arrives.
Learn more Free estimateRequest a Free EstimateTell us what is going on with your Los Angeles gutters. A local Solutionist walks the roofline, explains what you actually need and leaves a written price. No pressure, no obligation.
Book my free estimate or call (213) 205-6598How it works
From first call to clean rooflines
- 1Call or book online
Tell us what is going on with your LA gutters. Same local team answers.
- 2On-site walkthrough
A Solutionist checks the roofline, downspouts and drainage and gives you a written estimate.
- 3The work gets done
Seamless runs formed in your driveway, cleaning and repairs finished the same visit when possible.
- 4Walkthrough and clean-up
We flush-test the system, show you the results and leave the property cleaner than we found it.
Why the Brothers
Why LA Homeowners Call the Brothers
Our truck carries the machine. Each run is extruded on-site to the exact length of your roofline, so there are no factory seams to split in the first heat wave.
Local employees, local phone number, and an owner who lives in the neighborhoods we serve. When you call (213) 205-6598 you reach the local team that works in LA every week.
Aluminum, bonderized steel and copper gutters with metal mesh guards. Nothing plastic on your roofline, which matters in a city where ember exposure is real.
Pre-season cleanings, downspout flushing and repairs scheduled before the first big system hits, so your gutters are not the weak link when El Niño shows up.
Year-round
Your LA gutter calendar
What we are doing on LA rooflines each season, so your system is ready before the weather asks it to work.
- Fall · Oct to NovPre-storm cleaning and repairs
Troughs and downspouts cleared and flush-tested, loose hangers and leaking seams fixed before the first big system.
- Winter · Dec to MarStorm season response
Overflow and clog calls prioritized ahead of forecast storms, plus emergency repair when a run pulls loose.
- Spring · Apr to MayPost-bloom clean-out and guards
Jacaranda, sycamore and oak drop cleared, and BroGuard installed so the trough stays clear all summer.
- Summer · Jun to SepInstall season and hardening
Best window for new seamless runs, metal upgrades and non-combustible guards before fire season peaks.
The Work
Real Crews. Real LA Homes.
Watch
On a Los Angeles roofline.
Fire-hardening work starts with what is already on your house. This is our crew looking at exactly that.
- Seamless gutter formed on site, in one continuous run
- Background checked W-2 employees on every job, never day labor
- A free written estimate before any work starts
- BroGuard fine metal mesh gutter guards available
Reviews
What the Greater LA area Homeowners Say
“I hired The Brothers That Just Do Gutters to install some gutters above my driveway. The installer was Emiliano. He did an amazing job, didn’t take too much time, was very professional, and charged a fair price. I would highly recommend this company and installer to anyone.”
Posted on Google“Brothers Gutters were amazing. Their quoting and invoicing system was super easy to work with. Hannah and Rhys who did the back end and quote were super responsive. They gave us a really fair price and got the job done a few days later. Really top quality service and work!!”
Posted on Google“We had been looking for someone to install our gutters for quite some time and thought a handyman would be less expensive and more reliable. Were we wrong…”
Posted on GoogleService area
Los Angeles communities we serve
Every community on this list is inside our service area and gets the same local crews, on-site seamless gutters and free written estimates. Cities with an arrow have their own local page. For anywhere else on the list, call (213) 205-6598 or request a free quote and a Solutionist will come out.
- Agoura Hills
- Atwater Village
- Bel Air
- Beverly Hills
- Brentwood
- Burbank
- Calabasas
- Cheviot Hills
- Culver City
- Eagle Rock
- Encino
- Glendale
- Hancock Park
- Hidden Hills
- Highland Park
- Hollywood
- Hollywood Hills
- Holmby Hills
- La Cañada Flintridge
- Ladera Heights
- Los Angeles
- Los Feliz
- Malibu
- Mar Vista
- Marina del Rey
- Mount Washington
- North Hollywood
- Pacific Palisades
- Playa Vista
- Santa Monica
- Sherman Oaks
- Silver Lake
- South Pasadena
- Studio City
- Tarzana
- Toluca Lake
- Topanga
- Valley Village
- Van Nuys
- Venice
- West Hollywood
- Westwood
- Woodland Hills
Frequently Asked Questions
Embers land on the roof edge first. A gutter full of dry leaves, needles and roof grit is kindling pressed against the fascia and roof deck, and IBHS research found that as many as 90 percent of homes damaged or destroyed in wildfires were first ignited by embers, not the flame front.
We clean and flush the whole system, replace vinyl or failing runs with metal gutters formed on-site, install BroGuard stainless micro-mesh, close gaps at the roof edge and downspouts, and walk you through anything else on the roofline worth fixing before fire season.
Not yet. The Board of Forestry adopted Zone 0 rules for the first five feet around homes on August 19, 2026, but the filing was withdrawn from state review on September 8, 2026 for technical edits. State law already requires homes in fire hazard areas to keep roofs free of leaves and needles, and the adopted rules extend that to rain gutters.
Since January 1, 2026, the rule is Section 504.4 of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, which replaced Chapter 7A and R337. Roof gutters must have a means to prevent leaves and debris from building up. The state text does not name a material, but the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home standard calls for noncombustible gutters and downspouts.
Gutter guards are not on California’s Safer from Wildfires discount list, which covers roofs, vents, eaves, windows and the five-foot zone. The IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home standard does call for noncombustible gutters, and noncombustible gutter guards at its Plus level, so ask your insurer how they treat that designation.
Yes. Vinyl gutters and plastic or foam guards can melt or burn when embers land in them, and a melted gutter lets debris and embers sit right against the fascia. Metal gutters with a stainless mesh guard give embers nothing to catch.
For new buildings, additions and alterations in High and Very High zones, yes. The Department of Building and Safety’s 2026 fire zone checklist requires gutters and downspouts of noncombustible material, plus an approved way to keep leaves and debris out.
For 2026, LAFD brush clearance was due May 1, with inspections starting the same day. The rules also require roof surfaces to be kept free of substantial leaves, needles and twigs, with five feet of clearance between the roof and overhanging trees.
Free estimates
Ready for a roofline that will not feed the next fire in Greater Los Angeles?
Free, no-pressure estimates from local Solutionists. Metal gutters formed at your home, non-combustible BroGuard protection and pre-season cleanings scheduled before the wind picks up.
The Brothers That Just Do Gutters · Los Angeles · (213) 205-6598 · Serving Los Angeles, CA and the Greater LA area
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A Year of Gutter Care in LA: A Season-by-Season Maintenance Guide
Cleaning vs. Guards: The Real Math on Keeping Your Gutters Clear♿
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Licensed, Bonded & Insured · California Contractor License #1140218