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Sam Wasson is a content writer specializing in gutters, roofing and pest control. He has more than five years of experience in content production, writing and critical research. Sam creates accurate and informative content through thorough analysis, firsthand testing and industry experience. Sam’s content and data have been featured and referenced in various online publications.
Mike Miller is an editor for USA TODAY Homefront, covering topics that range from moving to gutters and gutter guards. He lives in North Carolina, but as a Minnesota transplant he has firsthand knowledge of long-distance movers’ pain points. Mike has written about home and life insurance providers for Marketwatch, This Old House and Architectural Digest. He also edited three national consumer magazines about natural health and wellness — Alternative Medicine, Eating Naturally and Natural Solutions. He has a BS in creative advertising with a certificate for technology, arts and media. In his spare time, Mike rides his motorcycle, plays with his two cats and spends time with his wife and twins.
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LeafFilter is our top pick for professional gutter guard installations. We like Raptor for do-it-yourself (DIY) projects. But before you choose the best gutter guards for your home, you must decide whether to hire a professional or install them yourself.
The decision often comes down to price. It’s not always that simple, though. Costs for a DIY project can escalate quickly if you don’t account for equipment needs, safety measures and potential time lost.
Mike Miller is an editor and gutter guard tester for USA TODAY Homefront. He has spent more than 20 hours in hands-on gutter guard testing, in addition to surveying homeowners, speaking with gutter guard installers and interviewing gutter experts.
On the other hand, hiring a professional installer can cost thousands of dollars upfront but includes benefits such as higher product quality, trained installation and a better warranty.
We conducted thorough research and hands-on testing to help you determine the company and gutter guard products that suit you. Based on our reviews and test results, we recommend choosing a stainless steel micro-mesh system for your home due to its performance and durability.
Here are our top picks for professionally installed and DIY gutter guards to protect your gutters from debris and leaves and help prevent clogging:
Not sure whether DIY or professional installation is right for you? Here are a few key points to consider.
Hiring a professional can cost more, and you’re stuck with scheduling the project on their timetable. But with professional installation, you can expect the following benefits:
On the other hand, doing it yourself might bring a sense of personal accomplishment and pride. It also can cost significantly less than professional installation. But going the DIY route also carries risks, such as the following:
Gutter guards are typically worth it if your yard sees rain and debris from your roof and nearby foliage — and if you have realistic expectations of the benefits. I found in testing that no gutter guard can eliminate the need for gutter cleaning, but a good one can make it easier.
Whether you choose professional installation or DIY, you will want to select the right type of gutter guard for your home. The chart below shows that more than two-thirds of people we surveyed in October 2023 preferred screen, mesh or micro-mesh gutter guards.
These guards are functionally similar to mesh guards but have a much finer filter. The fine mesh on these guards is the most effective at keeping out small debris, including pine needles and shingle grit. While they are more expensive than other products on the market, these gutter guards can be a great option if your home is surrounded by pine trees.
Screen guards are thin metal sheets with perforated holes. They’re durable and easy to clean. However, the holes are too large to prevent small debris, such as pine needles or seedpods, from entering your gutters. These guards may be a good fit for your home if you have oak or other deciduous trees around your property but not pine trees.
Reverse-curve gutter guards, also called gutter helmets, are large plastic or aluminum caps that attach to the top of your gutters. They use the scientific principle of liquid adhesion and surface tension to block debris, promote water flow and self-clean. These guards are the most durable because they act as a shield on your gutters. We recommend reverse-curve guards if you have trees directly over your home or live in a high-wind area.
These guards resemble large pipe cleaners with thick plastic bristles. Brush guards are inexpensive and easy to install, but because their design intentionally clogs with debris, they must be cleaned more often than other guards. Brush guards may work as a short-term solution but only last up to five years with proper maintenance. For many homeowners, they don’t provide enough value for the effort.
These guards resemble large, triangular foam blocks. Foam guards allow water to pass through and block almost all debris. They’re inexpensive and relatively effective but degrade in sunlight, which means they need to be replaced every few years. Foam guards are well-suited for short-term installations but become expensive as time passes and you continuously replace them.
We on the USA TODAY Homefront team tested the primary types of gutter guards, including every DIY brand featured in this article. We purchased DIY gutter guards and installed them on a model of a roof and gutter system.
Additionally, LeafFilter provided us with a floor model of its gutter guard system, and we were able to test its professionally installed guard.
This test determines how difficult it is to install a DIY guard on existing gutter systems. We affixed standard 5-inch, vinyl, K-style gutters with hidden hangers to our model roofing system. We installed the guards on these gutters by following the instructions as closely as possible.
We applied an assortment of debris to the guard, including deciduous tree leaves, pine needles, pine cones, seedpods, twigs and shingle grit. We applied water to observe which materials passed through the filter.
We thoroughly inspected each guard for structural weaknesses, material quality and other design factors that could impact performance. If we noticed any potential problems, we applied a stress test to check whether the guard could be easily damaged, warped or bent.
We applied water at varying speeds and intensities to the roof and gutter system to simulate different levels of rainfall.
We applied water directly to the debris atop the guard to see how easily it was pushed off to the ground. If any debris remained, we used a brush or gloved hands to remove it and noted how difficult it was to dislodge.
As mentioned earlier, the first decision you should make is whether to do it yourself or buy a professionally installed gutter guard product.
Here are some major considerations for each path:
Average cost of professionally installed gutter guards is based on our October 2023 survey of 865 homeowners. Average cost of DIY brands is based on retail prices for top brands we’ve reviewed.
If you hire a professional installer, you’ll want to know how best to evaluate these companies. Our reviews are based on a comprehensive list of standards that can serve as your buying guide.
Here is a detailed look at how the gutter guard companies we tested scored with our review standards. The numbers represent their scores on a 5-star scale for each review category.
Find out what styles the company offers and what filter and frame materials it uses to understand if its product is suitable for your needs. Stainless steel filters and aluminum frames, such as Homecraft’s, score higher, while aluminum filters and vinyl frames score lower.
Micro-mesh gutter guards — LeafFilter in particular — performed the best during our testing. LeafFilter blocked more than 90% of debris, allowed water to flow freely with no overflow, and we cleaned it off easily with a swipe of a long-handled push broom.
If aesthetics are important to you, ask each company about color options and whether it offers low-profile designs. All five prominent gutter guard providers we reviewed scored well in this category, although LeafGuard was the only one not to offer a low-profile design.
How versatile is the company? A well-rounded suite of services should be available, including gutter installation, repair, cleaning and downspout installation. Of the companies we reviewed, only All-American did not offer downspout installation.
How much does the company’s gutter guard cost per linear square foot? Anything more than $20 per linear foot is above average, based on our survey results. Also, find out whether the company offers binding quotes for at least one year and offers financing options.
Tip
Professional gutter guard companies often do not share any information about pricing without an in-person consultation, where a representative will come out to your home, inspect your gutters and provide a custom estimate. There is often room for negotiation during these appointments.
The table below shows that Gutter Guards America offered the lowest prices among the companies we’ve reviewed.
Does the company provide online chat, email and phone support? While all providers we’ve reviewed have email and phone support, only Gutter Guards America provides the convenience of online chat.
Does it offer a lifetime warranty? Is that warranty transferable to new owners? Though most companies we reviewed got perfect scores for their transferable lifetime warranties, All American Gutter Protection stood out for not allowing you to transfer its warranty to the next homeowner.
Good communication and a well-rounded warranty are signs that a gutter guard installer will be easy to work with if issues arise after the installation is complete.
Your decision to install gutter guards yourself should be based on your experience and knowledge regarding home improvement projects. For example, if you’re concerned about working on a tall ladder, DIY gutter guards might not be for you.
Make sure you’re prepared before attempting a DIY installation. During testing, I found dull tin snips and worn work gloves can make it difficult to work with metal guards; starting with poor equipment leads to extra trips to the hardware store and more money spent.
On the other hand, if you’re confident in your ability to do the job, there is something to be said for the satisfaction of doing the work yourself. Just be sure you take the proper safety precautions and understand everything you need to know about the equipment you’ll need for the job.
In addition to purchasing the gutter guard materials and a safety harness from a manufacturer or hardware store, you’ll need to acquire the following tools:
The table below shows how we on the Homefront team rated six popular DIY gutter guard manufacturers based on our review standards. Raptor scored best overall, while A-M Gutter Guard and Amerimax Screen tied for the best price.
Here is a detailed look at how the gutter guard products we tested scored with our review standards. The numbers represent their scores on a 5-star scale for each review category.
You’ll want to know whether the manufacturer offers a variety of styles, such as micro-mesh, foam or brush, as well as what colors are available if you’re looking at products you can see from the curb. Of the six companies we reviewed, only A-M Gutter Guard and Gutter Brush don’t offer color options.
Ensure you understand what the gutter guard is made of — gauging its durability and suitability for your home. Stainless steel is a long-lasting material that resists corrosion while vinyl is more susceptible to warping, cracking or bending.
Take note of the attachment method, too. An adhesive product will be easy to apply but difficult to remove and the glue could break down over time. Screw-in products are more difficult to install but long-lasting while snap-in products may blow off in high winds. For example, we tested Raptor’s stainless steel micro-mesh gutter guard, which screws into your gutter lip for added security.
It’s also helpful to know (before your installation weekend) if the necessary hardware is included with the gutter guard itself. The roll-on products we tested, such as FrostKing, didn’t come with the required screws to prevent the material from curling.
Finally, does the gutter guard slide up under your shingles? If so, that can potentially damage your roof or void its warranty. Of the six brands we reviewed, only Raptor’s product does not insert under the shingles.
Is the material under warranty? Does the company provide clear, accessible installation instructions? Are you able to contact the company with questions via email or phone?
DIY gutter guard warranties vary by product. GutterBrush warrants its materials for 10 years while Raptor includes a 25-year warranty. Still, you’ll get the best warranty with a professionally installed product. They typically last for the life of your home, transfer to the next homeowner, and include their own version of a clog-free guarantee.
We tested cleanability, water flow, debris filtration, durability and overall ease of installation. We found Raptor scored best in this category thanks to its above-average water flow capability and debris filtration.
Note
Consider professional installation for reverse-curve gutter guards. While DIY options are available, the reverse-curve guards we tested from Amerimax and Waterlock Pro exhibited significant overflow issues. You may see better performance from a professional product expertly installed under the right conditions, such as proper roof pitch. We recommend LeafGuard for its durable one-piece design.
Installing DIY gutter guards is more work for you and often results in an inferior product attached to your roof. That’s why low cost is important for good DIY gutter guards.
Of the companies we reviewed, only A-M Gutter Guard and Amerimax Screen offered their flagship products for less than $299 per 200 linear feet. By contrast, Raptor — our highest-rated DIY product — charged $626 for linear 240 feet and GutterBrush charged $599 for 210 linear feet.
Installing gutter guards will drastically reduce the time and effort required to clean and maintain your gutters. But they aren’t a free pass to ignore this important part of your home’s drainage system. Here’s what to keep in mind after installing gutter guards.
The life expectancy of gutter guards varies depending on their material and your home’s location.
Your climate, surrounding foliage and frequency of maintenance also impact how long they last.
While some companies advertise that you’ll never need to clean your gutters again after installing their guards, this isn’t true. No matter how effective the product, gutter guards can’t completely replace the need for regular gutter cleaning and maintenance. However, they make cleaning easier and less frequent.
Without gutter guards, you likely need to clean your gutters at least twice per year. With a good set of gutter guards, you can clean them once every year or two. Instead of grabbing a scoop and digging debris out of your gutter system, you can brush the debris off the top of the guard or spray it down with a hose.
While you’re cleaning, it’s a good time to watch for larger maintenance risks developing. Inspect your gutter guards for rust, corrosion, mold or mildew growth and other signs of damage. If you notice anything amiss, we recommend calling a professional to repair your gutter guards immediately.
Some gutter guards, such as reverse-curve and micro-mesh guards, can contribute to forming ice dams — ice that builds at your roof edge and prevents melting snow from draining. However, most ice dams stem from improper attic ventilation.
We recommend ensuring your attic is properly ventilated to protect against ice dams. If you have reverse-curve or micro-mesh guards installed and are experiencing ice dams, you can install heated tape to counteract the issue.
Weather conditions can cause gutter guards to degrade quicker than usual. The two biggest culprits are heavily pollinating trees and air with higher salinity (salt).
Some types of pollen produce acidic compounds when they break down in water, which will cause some gutter guards to corrode quicker. To prevent pollen buildup, trim overhanging trees and clean your gutters regularly.
If you live within a few miles of a coastline, the air is more saturated with sea salt, which also corrodes gutter guards. In this situation, we recommend using PVC or plastic gutter guards over metal ones.
Some gutter guards work better in heavy rainfall than others. For example, mesh, micro-mesh, screen and brush guards can handle heavy downpours. Foam and reverse-curve guards are susceptible to overflows during heavy rain.
Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question. Chances are you’re in the clear if your gutter guards are professionally installed, but the only way to know for sure is to read the fine print of your roof warranty document or call the contractor and ask.
Faulty gutter guard installation might nullify some manufacturer’s warranties. For example, the limited warranty for Certainteed asphalt shingles does not cover “damage caused by structural changes, alterations or additions, or by the installation of equipment (such as, but not limited to, aerials, signs or air-conditioning equipment) to the building after the original shingles have been applied.”
Based on our research, survey results and firsthand testing, stainless steel micro-mesh gutter guards provide the best gutter protection. Our testing revealed that this guard type blocked the most debris and promoted efficient water filtration.
We recommend LeafFilter and Gutter Guards America for professionally installed micro-mesh guards. If you prefer to do the job yourself, Raptor offers a fine micro-mesh alternative.
We recommend scheduling at-home inspections with a few gutter guard providers. They will assess your gutter system and provide personalized quotes for the cost of installing gutter guards on your home.
The Homefront team incorporates our carefully developed methodology to rate professional gutter guard providers and do-it-yourself (DIY) products. We research and test gutter guards, interview industry experts and speak with company representatives to provide the information you need to make an informed decision before investing in gutter guards.
We assess professional gutter guard installation companies on construction materials and appearance, services and installation methods, cost, communication and customer service. We rate DIY gutter guard products on similar factors while emphasizing our product testing results.
We synthesize this information into review standards focusing on key aspects of the gutter guard buying experience and scoring each company out of 100. This score translates to the 5-star rating you see in our reviews.
BBB and other third-party ratings are accurate as of April 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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