Cleaning out gutters is a miserable, messy, stinky job. Installing gutter guards could put that headache behind you, but how the heck are you supposed to know which type to buy? In this article, we’ll examine the three most popular types of gutter guards: screen, surface tension, and fine mesh.
We’ll compare the different features, installation methods, and prices to help you decide which ones will work best for your house. And if you install them yourself, you can save tons of money-some pro installers charge as much as $20 per ft.! The guards we’ll cover are design for 5-in. K-style gutters, typical in many homes.
Experts tend to agree that gutter guards don’t provide foolproof protection against all the debris that can litter and clog gutters. You shouldn’t purchase with the intention of never cleaning your downspouts again. They don’t make your gutters invincible or magically resistant to the debris of the seasons. That being said, gutter guards have been known to reduce the frequency of gutter cleanings.
Installing a gutter guard properly should lessen the number of times you’ll have to clean your gutters. It’s a good idea to take a look at your gutters, especially in the autumn when leaves are falling. You’ll also want to make sure in the winter that snow and ice don’t clog your gutters. Spring and summer can pose their own problems, depending on the foliage surrounding your house.
Best Gutter Guards
If you don’t clean your gutters regularly it can lead to damage to them and even water damage to your home over time. To prevent having to clean your gutters so frequently, especially during the fall season when leaves are falling, you can install a leaf guard to prevent the accumulation of leaves and other debris in your gutters.
- BEST FINE MESH GUTTER GUARDS: Raptor Stainless Steel Micro-Mesh 5” Gutter Cover
- BEST “INVISIBLE” GUTTER GUARDS: A-M Aluminum 5” Gutter Guard
- EASIEST-TO-INSTALL SCREEN GUTTER GUARDS: Amerimax Home Products Lock-In Gutter Guard
- BEST GUTTER GUARDS FOR HEAVY LEAF ACCUMULATION: FlexxPoint 5” Gutter Cover System
Screen Gutter Guards
These gutter guards feature a wire or plastic grid that installs by lifting the bottom row of roof shingles and then sliding the edge of the screen beneath so the weight of the shingles holds it in place. These are the easiest types to install—oftentimes no tools are needed.
Reverse Curve Gutter Guards
Reverse curve gutter guards remade from lightweight metal or molded plastic and water does not flow through them but rather over the top and around a downward curve before dropping into the gutter beneath. Leaves and debris slide right off the edge and fall to the ground below. In order to work properly, the guard strips should be installed at the same angle as the slope of the roof.
Home Depot Gutter Guards
DIY gutter guards from Home Depot are not completely sealed and can feature large holes or openings that allow debris, leaves, and shingle grit into your gutter.
The measure of a gutter guard’s effectiveness will be the warranty provided by the manufacturer. Screen gutter guards made from aluminum or cheap stainless steel sold at major home improvement stores typically do not offer a warranty. If you have a problem with your system, there will be no one to turn to.
There’s no question about it – LeafFilter is the best gutter guard on the market. The proven 3-step installation process combined with a superior product design provides unparalleled protection from the damages of clogged gutters. Even better, with a lifetime, transferable warranty, LeafFilter will provide you with peace of mind that your home – and your family – will be protected for life.
Best Gutter Guards Consumer Reports
Below are the top products that should be on your radar. We’ll also talk about the notable features that make them stand out.
FlexxPoint 30-Year Gutter Cover System
This gutter guard is from a small and family-owned business. The company takes pride in its attention to detail, making sure that every product is evident in premium quality. When you purchase this gutter guard, it is already packaged with stainless steel fastener. This helps to make the installation a breeze to accomplish.
Gutter Brush Leaf Guard For Standard 5-Inch Rain Gutters
This is a simple and affordable alternative compared to the traditional designs of the gutter guards you will find in the market. It does not rely on mesh or screen. Rather, the brush has bristles that prevent leaves and debris from getting in the gutter.
It is also a great choice if you don’t want to go through the hassle of a complicated installation. You won’t need any tools. All that you need to do is to set the brush in the gutter and let it do its magic. In terms of construction, the bristles of the brush are made of double UV-protected polypropylene. The wire core, on the other hand, is 12-gauge galvanized steel.
A-M Aluminum Gutter Guard
When rainwater moves across asphalt shingles, water dislodges tar that is part of the shingle’s foundation. Tar becomes fluid like oil in hi-flow areas (such as a valley or on any section of the roof below a downspout) and moves across the shingles into the gutter. If you have a micromesh gutter guard installed, the tar attaches to the micromesh screen and when it dries, it becomes virtually impossible to remove from the screen.
LeafFilter offers two types of screen: a very fine and more porous screen. The fine screen is for all the straight runs. The porous screen is for inside corners where water flow is greater. If the fine screen is used in these high flow areas instead of more porous screens, odds are the tar will accumulate and seal the openings in the screen.
Do any gutter guards really work?
The thing is, there really isn’t a simple answer. That’s good and bad news. Experts tend to agree that they don’t provide foolproof protection against all the debris that can litter and clog gutters. They don’t make your gutters invincible or magically resistant to the debris of the seasons.
Which gutter guards are best?
- LeafsOut Micro Mesh Rain Gutter Guard System – Best for Pine Needles.
- GutterBrush Leaf Gutter Guard – Best Gutter Guard for Leaves.
- GutterStuff EZ Foam Gutter Filter Insert – Best Insert Gutter Guards.
Are gutter guards worth the cost?
Gutter guards and covers cost between $7.50 and $10 per lineal foot installed. Considering that the average home has about 200 feet of gutter, homeowners should expect to pay about $1,500 and $2,000 for professional gutter guard installation, though more complex gutter guard systems will be more expensive.
Why gutter guards are bad?
They can cause your gutters to be blocked even if they keep them free from debris. Gutter guards will not prevent everything from getting in so they don’t prevent the need to clean your gutters. They can make it more costly to clean your gutters when necessary.