5 Best Gutter Guards for Metal Roofs (2023 Guide)
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Metals roofs are an attractive choice in home design, requiring less long-term maintenance than many other roofing materials. While metal roofs are aesthetically pleasing and require less upkeep than traditional asphalt shingles, they can produce large amounts of runoff. To ensure your foundation, lawn, and other home structures are protected from water damage, you need to keep your gutters free from clogs and debris.
One of the most effective ways to keep your gutters clog-free and functioning at peak performance is to install a good set of gutter guards. To help you find the right gutter guards for your home, we’ve researched the top brands in the industry and evaluated them using our objective review criteria. Below, we’ll look at some of the best gutter guards for metal roofs and provide useful tips for picking the right guards for your home.
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5 Best Gutter Guards for Metal Roofs of 2023
Here are our top gutter guard solutions for metal roofs:
- LeafFilter: Best Overall
- LeafGuard: Best for Large Debris
- All American Gutter Protection: Best Deals and Discounts
- MasterShield: Best for the Environment
- HomeCraft: Best Additional Services
| Product Image | Star Rating | BBB Rating | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeafFilter | |  | A+ | Visit Site | |
| LeafGuard |  |  | A+ | Visit Site | |
| All American Gutter Protection |  |  | A | Visit Site | |
| MasterShield |  | Visit Site | |||
| HomeCraft |  |  | B | Visit Site |
| LeafFilter | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
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| Product Image |
 |
| Star Rating | |
| BBB Rating | A+ |
| LeafGuard | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
 |
| Product Image |
|
| Star Rating | |
| BBB Rating | A+ |
| All American Gutter Protection | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Product Image |
 |
| Star Rating | |
| BBB Rating | A |
| MasterShield | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
 |
| Product Image | |
| Star Rating | |
| BBB Rating | |
| HomeCraft | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Product Image |
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| Star Rating | |
| BBB Rating | B |
LeafFilter
Best Filtration
LeafGuard
Best for Large Debris
MasterShield
Best for the Environment
Types of Gutter Guards
Gutter guards add an important layer of protection to your home’s gutter system, improving water flow, preventing clogs, and making regular cleaning easier.
Not all types of gutter guards are suited to every kind of gutter or roof system. Due to their steep inclines and higher-than-average water flow, metal roofs require gutter guards that can handle large amounts of water per minute. Below, we’ll look at each type of gutter guard and explain if it’s a good fit for your metal roof.
Screen
A screen gutter guard has openings that allow water to flow uninterrupted while blocking large debris. This is often a simple DIY installation, constructed with a lock-in design that clips to one side of the gutter and then slides beneath the outermost roof shingles. You slightly overlap sections of screen to close any potential gaps. Note that designs requiring you to slide the screen beneath shingles will not be compatible with a metal roof.
Gutter screens may be effective for blocking twigs and other large debris but are typically too porous to block fine particulates, such as shingle grit, from entering the gutter. They may also come unseated in adverse weather conditions.
Mesh
Mesh gutter guards have a more tightly bound construction than basic gutter screens, using small holes to let water into the gutter while shedding debris. These mesh designs are typically made of PVC or metal and often use a similar installation process to gutter screens. Some designs are more difficult to install, requiring attachment to the home’s fascia boards.
A fine mesh will typically perform better than a more porous screen, but you should still expect small particles, such as crushed leaves and shingle grit, to enter the gutter system.
Mesh guards work well on metal roofs since the larger holes can accommodate large amounts of water. But if you live in an area with pine needles or large amounts of pollen, you may need something that can better handle small particles.
Micro-Mesh
These gutter guards use an ultra-fine mesh, often a steel material, to block debris from entering the home’s gutter system. You’ll find that many micro-mesh gutter guard designs require professional installation. One common installation process uses an insert that conforms to your existing gutter. This is essential for metal roofs that don’t have shingles you can lift to slide in a gutter screen.
Micro-mesh solutions tend to be more costly, but the design has increased effectiveness for filtering minute pieces of debris while still permitting steady water flow. In general, micro-mesh guards are some of the most effective for metal roofs, as they keep out the most debris while still allowing large amounts of water to pass through them.
Reverse-Curve and Surface Tension
Reverse-curve gutter designs rely on liquid adhesion, using surface tension to direct water over a curved component and down into the gutter. Leaves and other debris do not adhere as easily to the top of the gutter, sliding off the roof and onto the ground. These gutters typically require a brand-new installation rather than an addition to an existing gutter and can be expensive.
While some DIY options may be available, a reverse-curve gutter system can be difficult to install correctly, and many companies exclusively offer professional installation.
Reverse-curve guards can be effective on metal roofs, but some brands have small openings that cannot handle large amounts of water.
Brush
Brush gutter guards are bristle-covered inserts for your existing gutters. For DIY enthusiasts, this gutter guard style allows for an easy installation compared to many alternative options. You simply place the brush into the gutter, where it may or may not be invisible from the ground depending on your gutter design. The brush catches debris as it moves toward the gutter, allowing water to flow between the bristles.
This gutter guard design is effective at catching large debris, but finer detritus, such as shingle grit and pollen, will still accumulate in the gutters. Large sticks and twigs may also damage the bristles, necessitating periodic replacement. These guards also need to be cleaned often; if enough debris is caught within them, they can clog.
Foam
Similar to brush-style gutter guards, foam inserts are a DIY gutter guard option that you can often find at hardware stores or on online marketplaces, such as Amazon. Foam gutter guards sit inside the gutter, blocking debris and allowing water to permeate the foam and trickle into the gutter. Debris can build up on the foam quickly, requiring you to remove the inserts for regular cleaning maintenance.
This guard type is one of the worst options for metal roofs, as the foam doesn’t filter water fast enough, and the debris buildup issue requires frequent cleaning.
Buying Guide
Choosing the right gutter guards for your metal roof requires research and comparison. There are many different brands, both professional and DIY, that offer similar products and services. To find the best option, we recommend considering the following factors before choosing a gutter guard solution for your home:
Warranty
Gutter guard manufacturers and installers often advertise warranties with their products and services. It’s important to research the provider and ask the right questions to understand what will be covered and what will not in the event of future issues. Lifetime warranties, for instance, may only apply to certain types of damage or deterioration.
You should also review your roof warranty to confirm whether the installation of a gutter guard or a new gutter system will void the warranty.
Installation
Another deciding factor is whether you want a DIY or professional installation for your gutter guard system. The latter option typically proves more expensive but can result in a more effective long-term solution. Brush and foam gutter guards are DIY-friendly options but may require more maintenance.
A professionally installed gutter guard is often more durable, yields additional options, and may come with attractive warranties.
Size
Take the time to measure your gutters before purchasing a gutter guard. Most gutter systems come in 5- and 6-inch widths, but there are exceptions, and you need to confirm that the gutter guard will fit properly.
Appearance
Some gutter guards are high-visibility designs, making appearance an important consideration. Mesh designs cannot typically be seen from below, and brush and foam inserts can often be tucked away when sized correctly. Many companies offer gutter guards in various styles and colors to match the product to your home when low-visibility designs are not an option.
Our Conclusion
When choosing a gutter guard for your home, you’ll want one that can: handle large amounts of water, filter out both small and large debris, and fit to the unique dimensions of your roof. Some DIY options match these criteria, but your best bet is to go with one of the professional companies outlined in this article.
While LeafFilter and LeafGuard are the two best choices for most roofs, we recommend getting quotes from multiple companies before making a final decision. By comparing multiple free quotes, you can find the right company for the lowest cost. If you’re interested in beginning your search for reliable local gutter companies, you can fill out the following quick form.
FAQ About Gutter Guards for Metal Roofs
Will gutter guards work with a metal roof?
Yes, gutter guards will work with a metal roof, but this may be dependent on the design. DIY gutter screens may not be compatible, for example, because there are no shingles in which to tuck one side of the screen.
How do you put gutter guards on a metal roof?
The method to install a gutter guard on a metal roof will vary among designs. Many gutter guards clamp to the gutter itself or attach to the fascia, making them compatible with most roofing systems.
Is it better to have gutter guards or not?
Gutter guards are an attractive option for many, reducing the maintenance involved with cleaning gutters and potentially preventing damage to a home’s foundation, fascia, soffits, and landscaping. However, some gutter guard solutions are expensive, and your budget should be a foremost consideration.
Do I still need to clean my gutters with a gutter guard?
Yes, you still need to clean your gutters with a gutter guard. While some gutter guard companies advertise that “you never need to clean your gutters again,” no gutter guard completely removes the need for cleaning and regular maintenance. However, good gutter guards make cleaning your gutters easier and reduce the frequency at which you need to clean them.
How often should you clean your gutters?
You should clean your gutters at least twice per year, once at the end of fall and again at the end of spring. However, with gutter guards, most gutter systems only need to be cleaned once every year or so.
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.
