Gutter guards, also known as gutter covers or leaf guards, prevent leaves and other debris from accumulating in your gutter system. Professionally installed and DIY gutter guards reduce how often you need to clean your home’s gutters. To help you choose the best gutter guards for your gutter system, we’ve reviewed top gutter guard providers and products that can keep your gutters free from clogs and functioning correctly.
The 9 Best Gutter Guards of 2023
Our team read hundreds of customer reviews, dove into company history, and analyzed each gutter guard product based on its materials, performance, and overall quality. After comparing each gutter guard against our objective rating and review methodology, we chose the following gutter guards as our top recommendations:
- LeafFilter: Our Top Pick
- LeafGuard: Best for Large Debris
- HomeCraft: Best Additional Services
- All American Gutter Protection: Best Deals and Discounts
- Gutter Guards America: Best Customer Responses
- Raptor*: Best Filter for DIY Brands
- A-M Gutter Guard*: Best for Easy Cleaning
- Amerimax Home Products*: Best for Easy Installation
- GutterBrush*: Best for Easy Replacements
*Brands are independently sold gutter guards that require do-it-yourself (DIY) installation.
Our Top Pick
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Our Top Professionally Installed Gutter Guards of 2023
Getting gutter guards professionally installed can help prevent damage to your home’s fascia, cladding, and foundation by keeping gutters free of clogs that cause rainwater to spill over. While DIY gutter guards can save you money, a professional gutter guard company offers durable products paired with long-lasting warranties.
Here are our top picks for the best professional gutter guards:
Our Top DIY Gutter Guards of 2023
You can purchase your own gutter guard materials and install them yourself.
Choosing DIY gutter guards can save you money on installation costs. However, you miss out on the quality provided by a professional gutter guard company. Handling a DIY installation can be tricky and dangerous, requiring special tools and experience working on ladders.
If you do decide on the DIY route, choose a gutter guard that meets the needs of your home and gutter system. Here is an overview of our top recommended DIY gutter guards, with information on design, cost, and debris type:
Gutter Guard | Design | Cost | Best For |
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Raptor Gutter Guard | Micro-mesh | $2.60 per foot | Leaves, seed pods, pine needles, insects, shingle grit |
A-M Gutter Guard | Screen | $1.78 per foot | Leaves, seed pods, pine needles |
Amerimax Lock-In Gutter Guard | Mesh | $1.33 per foot | Leaves, seed pods, pine needles |
GutterBrush Gutter Guard | Brush | $3.65 per foot | Leaves, seed pods, pine needles |
Gutter Guard Buying Guide
Gutter guards can be installed DIY or by a professional gutter company, depending on where you make a purchase. Both variations typically have warranty protection, but the terms will vary among manufacturers and gutter service providers. The size, material, and appearance of the gutter guard should be key factors to consider when choosing a product for your home.
Installation
DIY gutter guard installations are straightforward if you have the right tools and are comfortable with heights. DIY gutter guard brands provide the product, instructional materials, and customer service if you need additional assistance.
A major benefit of working with a professional gutter guard company is the trained eye and industry knowledge its technicians bring to the table. A gutter pro can identify serious issues such as leaks, sags, alignment problems, and missing downspouts. Below, Kevin O’Connor demonstrates how to install a gutter system with a built-in gutter guard. This guard is tested to handle 32 inches of heavy rain per hour.
Cost
Self-install gutter guards are available from many gutter service providers, home improvement stores, and online retailers. These retailers sell gutter guards in packs of 30 to 50 linear feet. Below, we’ll break down the cost of DIY-installed brands. We calculated the total cost using a home in need of 200 linear feet of gutter guards.
Brand | Package Price (Amazon) | Price Per Linear Foot | Total Cost |
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Raptor Micro-Mesh Gutter Guard | $125 for 48 linear feet | $2.60 per foot | $625 |
A-M Screen Gutter Guard | $85 for 50 linear feet | $1.70 per foot | $340 |
GutterStuff Foam Gutter Guard | $66 for 32 linear feet | $2.06 per foot | $462 |
Professional installers seldom provide pricing information for gutter guards without first inspecting your home to determine the required linear footage. After researching brands, analyzing customer responses, and secret shopping, we’ve estimated the national average cost of gutter guard installations to be between $1,000 and $7,000.
Warranty
Many gutter guard brands come with some form of warranty protection. Professional installs are more expensive but often include lifetime, transferable warranties for both materials and workmanship.
DIY gutter guard manufacturer warranties typically range from zero to 20 or more years. Cheaper DIY gutter guards, such as foam and brush guards, may not include any warranty protection.
Size
Gutters most commonly have a 5- or 6-inch width, though 7-inch gutters are sometimes used in locations with heavy rainfall. Since gutters come in various sizes, it’s important to measure your gutters before buying gutter guards to ensure a proper fit. For a common K-style gutter, you need to measure from the backside of the gutter that touches the fascia board to the outer edge.
Appearance
If curb appeal is important to you, choose a guard that either can’t be seen from the ground or comes in a color that matches your home’s exterior.
The micro-mesh designs offered by professional installers are typically not visible from the ground. Some installers provide multiple options for matching a more visible gutter guard with your home’s aesthetic. One company that impressed us, LeafGuard, offers its one-piece gutter and gutter guard design in up to 12 colors.
Materials
Gutter guards are made from various materials, with professionally installed guards often exhibiting superior build quality to DIY options. Some materials last longer, have greater durability, or possess greater corrosion resistance. However, they are typically more expensive as a result. “The material of the gutter guard is essential,” says Andrew Johnson, CEO of Prime Seamless Gutters & Roofing. “Homeowners should look for durable materials like stainless steel or aluminum.”
A gutter guard’s material will affect its cost and determine its longevity, durability, and appearance. Before deciding on a guard, we recommend familiarizing yourself with common gutter guard materials:
- Plastic: Vinyl and other types of plastic are affordable but not as strong as aluminum or steel and can warp or crack over time.
- Aluminum: Aluminum is used for gutter guard screens and bodies and is stronger than plastic but not as strong as steel.
- Steel: Steel, or more commonly stainless steel, is the primary material used for mesh and micro-mesh screens.
- Copper: This is an expensive gutter guard material with moderate strength, an elegant appearance, and chemical resistance to mold and mildew.
Design
There are many different types of gutter guards, from DIY brush guards to professionally installed micro-mesh. Each kind of gutter guard has unique benefits, drawbacks, and associated costs. Below, we’ll analyze some of the most common types of gutter guards and explain how they function:
- Screen: Screen gutter guards have large holes that keep out leaves and other large debris but do not provide protection against finer debris, such as pine needles or shingle grit.
- Mesh: Mesh guards are typically made of metal or plastic and have small holes that filter water while blocking debris.
- Micro-mesh: Micro-mesh gutter guards are similar to mesh guards, but their holes are much smaller, allowing them to keep out even the tiniest debris.
- Reverse-curve or surface tension: Reverse-curve, or surface tension gutter guards, use their distinct shape and surface tension to force water into the gutter while directing leaves and debris to the ground below.
- Brush: Brush gutter guards resemble large pipe cleaners that filter out debris while allowing water to pass through.
- Foam: Foam gutter guards are a wedge of polyurethane that fits into the gutter and keeps out large debris.
What Are The Advantages of Gutter Guards?
Not all homeowners agree on the benefits of gutter guards, and much of the debate can be attributed to misinformation. Whether you install a mesh gutter guard, a basic screen, or a reverse-curve design, clogged gutters can still happen with neglected maintenance. However, as long as you don’t fall for claims that you’ll never have to climb a ladder again, you can benefit from reduced maintenance costs and effort.
Gutter guards significantly reduce gutter cleaning frequency by blocking pests and debris while allowing water to flow through. This effectively prevents your gutters from clogging and you from having to clean them twice per year.
They’re also a great way to protect your home from damage. When your gutters remain free and clear, they direct water safely away from your house and avoid water damage to your basement and foundation. Water won’t back up and rot your fascia or damage your roof, either. Even when dry, leaves and debris that accumulate in your gutters pose a fire hazard to your home and its inhabitants.
The advantages of gutter guards make them a smart choice for most homeowners. However, no product is perfect. While they make cleanings easier and less frequent, they do not eliminate gutter cleaning entirely. Debris can accumulate on top of the gutter guard and require you to brush it away.
Are Gutter Guards Worth the Money?
Your gutters will experience clogs from pine needles, tree branches, leaves, and other debris, even with proper maintenance. Without gutter guards, this gunk buildup can lead to expensive problems such as foundation erosion, soil saturation, and water damage to walls, fascia, and basements. Homeowners typically need to clean their gutters at least twice per year to prevent clogs.
Gutter guards help keep this material out of your gutter system using various designs. While no guard can completely remove the need for gutter cleaning, it reduces the number of times you need to clean your gutters and simplifies the cleaning process. Gutters fitted with quality gutter guards only need to be cleaned once every year or two, depending on region and local plant life.
Gutter guards can be a valuable investment for homeowners. How much mileage and value you get out of your gutter guards will vary depending on your gutters’ condition and your home’s location. Homeowners in arid climates or locations without much plant life won’t benefit from gutter guards as much as those in heavily forested, rainy regions. Homes with old gutter systems in a state of disrepair won’t get as much value out of gutter guards because older gutters will likely leak regardless of how well the guards function. Installers such as LeafFilter and LeafGuard can replace entire gutter systems when installing new gutter guards.
How To Clean Gutter Guards
Some gutter guard companies claim that you’ll never have to clean your gutters again after installation. However, even the best gutter guards need cleaning every year or two. Here’s a quick overview of how to clean your gutter guards:
- Gather materials: To clean your gutter guards, you’ll need a ladder, a hose, and a broom—you can also use an extendable pole with a brush attachment or a leaf blower. Wear gloves, eye protection, and long-sleeved clothing. A ladder stabilizer is optional, and a spotter is optional but recommended.
- Pick a safe location: Position your ladder on a flat, dry surface. Ensure it does not rest on the gutters or gutter guards, which can cause warping or denting.
- Ascend the ladder: Carefully ascend your ladder with your broom, pole, or leaf blower.
- Remove built-up debris: Using your tools, carefully brush off built-up debris from the top of the gutter guards. Be gentle. Some gutter guards, such as micro-mesh guards, are delicate, and too much pressure can result in damage.
- Rinse: Descend the ladder, grab the hose, and reascend. Use the hose to wash off any remaining debris or gunk. Watch for any leaks or overflows that may need to be repaired or replaced.
- Repeat: Repeat this process for each gutter section until your guards are clean.
How To Choose a Reliable Gutter Guard Company
Follow these simple steps to find the right gutter guard installer for your home.
- Look for local providers: Search for gutter companies in your area.
- Research company history: Look into each company’s customer reviews, service offerings, licensing, and history of complaints. Websites such as the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Google My Business are excellent sources for honest customer reviews and complaints. Your state government typically has a department or sector that manages contractor licensing and may offer a free search tool. For example, you can verify licensing in North Carolina using this online portal.
- Schedule appointments for free quotes: Once you have a small pool of potential candidates, schedule appointments to receive free quotes from each. Compare quotes to find the best option for the lowest price.
- Make your selection: Contact your company of choice to schedule an installation appointment for your new set of gutter guards.
Our Conclusion
The best gutter guards can handle heavy rain with ease, providing efficient filtration and protecting your home from possible water damage. Though gutter guards don’t completely eliminate the need for cleaning, they save you time and stress by reducing the frequency. We recommend LeafFilter as our top pick for the best professional installation.
LeafGuard is another great option for its one-piece design that replaces your existing gutter system. We also ranked HomeCraft among our top picks, noting its unique, raised-diamond micro-mesh that elevates debris to improve filtration. For our top-ranked DIY gutter guard, we chose Raptor Gutter Guard for its durable micro-mesh design that offers protection against most types of debris.
We recommend comparing at least three different gutter guards to find the right option for your gutter system.
Note: BBB ratings are accurate as of August 2023.
FAQ About Gutter Guards
Our Rating Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team backs up our gutter guard recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each gutter guard product and provider. We conduct research by reviewing product specifications and provider website information, speaking with customer representatives, and analyzing customer reviews. We then score each provider against our review standards for gutter guard design, customer support, the quote process, services, and reviews to arrive at a final score on a 5-point rating scale.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.