Are Gutter Guards Worth It?
There is certainly a hype surrounding gutter guards, and many people wonder if they are effective. This is a fair concern, because not all gutter guards are created equally.
Material:
- Aluminum
- Steel
- PVC
Lifespan:
Varies
Maintenance:
Must have 5″ or 6″ gutters installed, or plan to install before buying guards.
We will break down the three types of gutter guards in this article and discuss the pros and cons of each one, along with which is our professional recommendation.
The first style is the perforated gutter guard. Our brand of choice is Bulldog, which you can see an example of to the right. Perforated guards are usually a strip of aluminum (.017 gauge) punctuated with small holes (less than 1/4″). Any debris large enough to fall through these holes is small enough to easily drain through the gutter and out the downspout. It is also composed of channels to allow the wind to pick up any debris sitting on top of the guard and blow it off over time.
Pros:
- You can clean these gutter guards easily by using a leaf blower or hose over the top.
- They are the only gutter guard that strengthens the gutter. Screws to the front and back of the gutter reinforce it.
- The dark bronze color helps melt ice in Winter.
- It is low-profile, which means it is not visible from the ground.
- 25-year clog-free warranty
Cons:
- Does not prevent pine needles from entering gutter.
- Heavy debris such as helicopter seeds will sit on top until removed. Water will still drain through gutter, but some homeowners find this unsightly.
Summary
In general, the perforated style is what we recommend for most homes with light, medium, and heavy overhead foliage because it functions the best with little to no maintenance done. Other companies claim their guards do not require cleaning, but this is untrue. Every gutter guard requires cleaning because the true purpose of a gutter guard isn’t to prevent cleaning – it’s to keep the gutter flowing freely. We know most of us (myself included) don’t ever clean their gutter guards and that being the case, our customers seem to see the best results with this brand and style.
LeafBlaster Pro
The second style is known as micromesh, which has risen significantly in popularity in the last decade or so. Micromesh gutter guards have one or several layers of very fine metal threads which creates a sieve-like filtration system. The picture on the right is an example of our brand choice, LeafBlaster Pro. These gutter guards screw onto the front of the gutter and sit underneath the shingles. They can also be installed similar to the Bulldog guards depending on the layout of your home.
Pros:
- Does not allow any debris into gutter, including shingle granules
- Only type of guard on the market to block pine needles
- 40-year clog-free warranty
- Can be installed under shingles or against back of gutter
Cons:
- Can be overly restrictive if guards are not kept clean, and requires a hose or brush to clean
- More expensive than Bulldog, but less expensive than helmet
Summary
LeafBlaster Pro is a great option if you have lots of pine trees near your home. It works very well for virtually all debris, but may require slightly more maintenance than the perforated style to keep water from running over the gutter guard and onto the ground. If maintained, it will do the best job at keeping your gutters open able to drain water effectively.
The third style is gutter helmet. This type of gutter guard is typically made out of aluminum and sits on top of the gutter and underneath the shingles. They are designed to carry water into the gutter due to the shape of the nose on the gutter helmet.
We do not recommend gutter helmet due to it’s tendency to allow water to shoot off the nose and right past the gutter during heavy downpours. Its also a hub for hornet activity, and therefore not recommended if you have small children in your home. It is the most expensive of the three options.
Conclusion:
All in all, there is no perfect solution when it comes to gutter guards. I wrote this article to be as informative as possible because there are upsides and downsides to each gutter guard, and the best way to find the right solution is to learn about them all to decide which is best for you. With over a decade of experience, we have the style and brand of gutter guard narrowed down to only a couple options.
LeafBlaster Pro for pine needles specifically, and Bulldog guards for everything else. Neither of these gutter guards are maintenance-free (as is the case with all types of gutter protection), but they provide above average results in their respective roles. If you are interested in receiving a quote, please fill out the form below and we will be happy to help you.
Are Gutter Guards Worth It?
There is certainly a hype surrounding gutter guards, and many people wonder if they are effective. This is a fair concern, because not all gutter guards are created equally.
We will break down the three types of gutter guards in this article and discuss the pros and cons of each one, along with which is our professional recommendation.
Material:
- Aluminum
- Steel
- PVC
Lifespan:
Varies
Maintenance:
Must have 5″ or 6″ gutters installed, or plan to install before buying guards.
The first style is the perforated gutter guard. Our brand of choice is Bulldog, which you can see an example of to the right. Perforated guards are usually a strip of aluminum (.017 gauge) punctuated with small holes (less than 1/4″). Any debris large enough to fall through these holes is small enough to easily drain through the gutter and out the downspout. It is also composed of channels to allow the wind to pick up any debris sitting on top of the guard and blow it off over time.
Pros:
- You can clean these gutter guards easily by using a leaf blower or hose over the top.
- They are the only gutter guard that strengthens the gutter. Screws to the front and back of the gutter reinforce it.
- The dark bronze color helps melt ice in Winter.
- It is low-profile, which means it is not visible from the ground.
- 25-year clog-free warranty
Cons:
- Does not prevent pine needles from entering gutter.
- Heavy debris such as helicopter seeds will sit on top until removed. Water will still drain through gutter, but some homeowners find this unsightly.
Summary
In general, the perforated style is what we recommend for most homes with light, medium, and heavy overhead foliage because it functions the best with little to no maintenance done. Other companies claim their guards do not require cleaning, but this is untrue. Every gutter guard requires cleaning because the true purpose of a gutter guard isn’t to prevent cleaning – it’s to keep the gutter flowing freely. We know most of us (myself included) don’t ever clean their gutter guards and that being the case, our customers seem to see the best results with this brand and style.
LeafBlaster Pro
The second style is known as micromesh, which has risen significantly in popularity in the last decade or so. Micromesh gutter guards have one or several layers of very fine metal threads which creates a sieve-like filtration system. The picture on the right is an example of our brand choice, LeafBlaster Pro. These gutter guards screw onto the front of the gutter and sit underneath the shingles. They can also be installed similar to the Bulldog guards depending on the layout of your home.
Pros:
- Does not allow any debris into gutter, including shingle granules
- Only type of guard on the market to block pine needles
- 40-year clog-free warranty
- Can be installed under shingles or against back of gutter
Cons:
- Can be overly restrictive if guards are not kept clean, and requires a hose or brush to clean
- More expensive than Bulldog, but less expensive than helmet
Summary
LeafBlaster Pro is a great option if you have lots of pine trees near your home. It works very well for virtually all debris, but may require slightly more maintenance than the perforated style to keep water from running over the gutter guard and onto the ground. If maintained, it will do the best job at keeping your gutters open able to drain water effectively.
The third style is gutter helmet. This type of gutter guard is typically made out of aluminum and sits on top of the gutter and underneath the shingles. They are designed to carry water into the gutter due to the shape of the nose on the gutter helmet. We do not recommend gutter helmet due to it’s tendency to allow water to shoot off the nose and right past the gutter during heavy downpours. Its also a hub for hornet activity, and therefore not recommended if you have small children in your home. It is the most expensive of the three options.
Conclusion:
All in all, there is no perfect solution when it comes to gutter guards. I wrote this article to be as informative as possible because there are upsides and downsides to each gutter guard, and the best way to find the right solution is to learn about them all to decide which is best for you. With over a decade of experience, we have the style and brand of gutter guard narrowed down to only a couple options. LeafBlaster Pro for pine needles specifically, and Bulldog guards for everything else. Neither of these gutter guards are maintenance-free (as is the case with all types of gutter protection), but they provide above average results in their respective roles. If you are interested in receiving a quote, please fill out the form below and we will be happy to help you.