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A close up of gutters filled with pine needles

The 5 Best Gutter Guards for Pine Needles (2023 Guide)

Typical Cost Range: $200 – $4,300

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Pine needles can wreak havoc on your gutter system if you don’t clean your gutters regularly. Rather than repeatedly climbing up a ladder to clean out the clogs they create, you can invest in a gutter guard to block pine needles from building up in the first place. Though the best gutter guards don’t eliminate the need for gutter cleaning and maintenance, they simplify cleaning and dramatically decrease how often you have to do it.

If you have pine trees near your home’s roof and gutters, read our detailed guide to the best gutter guards. Our team expertly analyzed each company based on warranties, design, and other services to help you find the best gutter guards for pine needles.

See our list of top gutter companies based on in-depth research.

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Get a free, no-obligation quote for your home.


Top 5 Best Gutter Guards for Pine Needles

**denotes a DIY-only product

Product Image Star Rating BBB Rating Link
LeafFilter LeafFilter LeafFilter
A+ Visit Site
HomeCraft HomeCraft HomeCraft
B Visit Site
All American Gutter Protection All American Gutter Protection All American Gutter Protection
A Visit Site
LeafFilter
Logo LeafFilter
Product Image LeafFilter
Star Rating
BBB Rating A+
Visit Site
HomeCraft
Logo HomeCraft
Product Image HomeCraft
Star Rating
BBB Rating B
Visit Site
All American Gutter Protection
Logo All American Gutter Protection
Product Image All American Gutter Protection
Star Rating
BBB Rating A
Visit Site
Company
Star Rating
BBB Rating
Best For
A+
Best Filtration
B
Best Additional Services
A
Best Deals and Discounts

LeafFilter

Best Filtration
4.8
BBB Rating : A+

Key Features

  • Stainless steel guard material
  • uPVC frame
  • Hidden hangers
  • Customizable sizes
  • Rustproof
  • Lifetime warranty

What We Like

LeafFilter is our top pick for the best gutter guard for pine needles. The company uses a highly efficient micro-mesh guard fine enough to block the smallest debris. The micro-mesh screen is made from stainless steel and is resistant to corrosion and rust. It’s 275 microns thin and can keep out debris as small as shingle grit.

What To Expect

LeafFilter handles the entire installation for you. Its three-part system creates a secure layer of additional protection for your gutters. First, LeafFilter installs a series of hidden, structural hangers inside your gutter system. These hangers hold up the reinforcing frame, which is the foundation for the stainless steel micro-mesh screen. This system keeps out small debris and withstands impacts from heavier objects.

This thorough installation process ensures that your gutters stay protected for years. It also helps prevent damage to your roof shingles that might void your roof warranty. It should be noted that gutter guards still require maintenance every one to two years, despite marketing that they eliminate the need for cleaning.

What Customers Are Saying

LeafFilter has an A+ rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).* The company also has a relatively high customer review score. Overall, customers are pleased with the quality of LeafFilter’s product and its installation process. However, some reviewers mentioned a confusing quote process, claiming the company initially quoted a high price and then lowered it until they agreed to pay.

HomeCraft

Best Additional Services
4.4
Phone : 855-434-3836 BBB Rating : B

Key Features

  • 304 marine-grade stainless steel
  • Front-lip gutter attachment
  • Compatible with metal roofs
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Price estimates are good for one year

What We Like

HomeCraft Gutter Protection’s guards feature a unique raised-screen design called Diamond Raised Technology. This design helps keep pine needles out of your gutters and allows rainwater to push them off. The gutter guards use a combination of marine-grade stainless steel and finely woven micro-mesh that the company claims can catch debris as small as pollen and shingle grit. As a result, HomeCraft’s gutter guards often create a cycle in which they continuously clean themselves.

What To Expect

Like other professional installers, HomeCraft has a contact form on its website for requesting estimates, or you can call a live agent. Either way, you will need to schedule a home inspection before HomeCraft will provide a quote. The company called us to set up an appointment within minutes after we requested a quote online. Here is what to expect from the inspection and installation process:

    1. During the inspection, the HomeCraft representative will measure your gutters, demonstrate the company’s gutter guard, and provide a quote that remains valid for up to one year. 
    2. Prior to installation, HomeCraft will clean, seal, and repair your existing gutter system as necessary.
    3. The installer will attach the gutter guard and clean any debris. 
    4. You will need to speak to the representative to discuss any necessary steps for registering for the lifetime, transferable warranty. 

What Customers Are Saying

HomeCraft Gutter Protection currently holds a B rating and accreditation from the BBB.* Many reviews praise the family-owned and operated business and its friendly and knowledgeable customer service team. Customers also highlight the company’s transferable warranty and installation process. However, more critical reviews mention difficulty with scheduling.

All American Gutter Protection

Best Deals and Discounts
4.2
Phone : 888-495-7725 BBB Rating : A

Key Features

  • Stainless steel guard
  • Aluminum frame
  • Customizable sizes
  • Over 30 color options
  • Rustproof
  • Lifetime warranty

What We Like

Like HomeCraft and LeafFilter, All American Gutter Protection offers micro-mesh gutter guards. The company customizes its guards to fit each homeowner’s gutters. In addition to a design that blocks pine needles and other small debris, it offers more than 30 color options to match the exterior of your home. All American Gutter Protection also provides gutter installation services if your existing gutters aren’t in good condition and consistently have good deals and discounts.

What To Expect

To start your All American quote, you will need to request an estimate over the phone or on its website and provide basic contact information. We requested an online estimate through All American. The representative informed us that someone would reach out within 12 hours to schedule an in-person inspection. Here is what to expect from the All American installation process: 

  1. On the day of your scheduled appointment, All American will measure your home’s gutters to provide a gutter guard estimate.
  2. You can discuss the gutter guard’s lifetime performance guarantee, military and senior discounts, and the available financing options with your sales representative before signing the contract.
  3. The company will typically schedule the gutter guard installation within two to three days of you signing the contract.

What Customers Are Saying

All American Gutter Protection has an A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB.* The company also has the highest customer review score on this list. Reviews mention how professional the company’s employees are and praise the technicians, who promptly install and thoroughly explain the product, installation, and warranty. Some reviews call attention to leaks or other issues after installation but note that All American fixed the problems when contacted.

Raptor

Best Filter for DIY Brands

Key Features

  • Stainless steel guards
  • V-Bend technology
  • DIY installation
  • 5-inch to 6-inch standard sizes
  • Rustproof
  • 25-year warranty

What We Like

Raptor Gutter Guards offers a cost-effective DIY option for pine needles. The company’s micro-mesh gutter guard features type 304 stainless steel, which is rust- and corrosion-resistant set inside a PVC frame. It also features 900 holes per square inch to protect your gutters against pine needles and other small debris.

Cost

Raptor Gutter Guards are available on Amazon with a listed price of $2.60 per linear foot. For a home with a typical total gutter length of 200 linear feet, expect to pay $520. 

What To Expect

Raptor doesn’t offer professional installation, but all its gutter guards are designed to be easily installed. The gutter guards come in standard sizes and include easy-to-follow installation guides for all purchases.

What Customers Are Saying

Based on more than 100 Amazon reviews we read, satisfied customers said these gutter guards were easy to install because of the instructions, drill bit head, and surplus screws included with the product. The main complaint was that the holes in the mesh were so small they wouldn’t allow all of the water to pass through during a downpour, causing water to flow over the gutters instead.

Amerimax

Best for Easy Installation

Key Features

  • PVC vinyl with micro-mesh screen
  • Snap-in installation
  • 6.5” standard size
  • Low cost

What We Like

Amerimax’s Snap-In Filter Gutter Guard is another DIY micro-mesh gutter guard option, but it offers even more bang for your buck. This guard is made of PVC vinyl and features a micro-mesh screen and diamond-shaped holes to keep out pine needles and other small debris. Because it’s vinyl, the Amerimax guard is more affordable than other products on the market. However, it’s not as strong as steel and aluminum micro-mesh gutter guards.

Cost

Amazon lists the Amerimax Lock-In Gutter Guard at approximately $1.33 per foot. For a home with a 200-feet gutter length, expect to pay around $266.

What To Expect

Installing Amerimax Home Products’ gutter guards is easy and requires no tools. You simply slide and snap the guard under your shingles and onto the front lip of your gutters.

What Customers Are Saying

As with Raptor, you can only find Amerimax reviews on sites where you can buy its products. You can find Amerimax at home improvement stores such as The Home Depot and Lowe’s, as well as through online retailers such as Amazon. Amerimax Home Products’ Snap-In Filter Gutter Guard currently has more than 700 Amazon reviews with a rating of 4.4 stars. Customers praise the company for its low pricing and easy installation, but others mention difficulties with persistent snow and ice buildup.

*BBB information is accurate as of October 2023.


Factors to Consider When Determining the Best Gutter Guards for Pine Needles

Pine needles are tricky to keep out of your gutters because they are small and thin. They slip easily into gutter systems and collect until they create a clog. Below, we’ve listed factors to consider when deciding which gutter guard system is best for keeping pine needles out of your gutters.

Type of Gutter Guard

Not all gutter protection systems combat pine needles. Mesh and micro-mesh gutter guards are best for pine needles and other small debris because they have tiny holes or no openings in the top. Guards with larger holes allow pine needles to slip through.

Installation

Though you can install gutter guards on your own, many DIY options, such as screen gutter guards and brush guards, aren’t effective at keeping out pine needles. Brush guards, for example, are good for leaves and seed pods, but pine needles and other small debris can slip right through the bristles. 

If you want your home to be equipped with the best gutter guards for pine needles, you’ll likely have to get professional installation, which means higher costs. However, using a professional gutter guard company carries a wide range of benefits, including warranty protection, higher-quality installations, and access to additional services such as gutter cleaning.

Holes and Openings

Though mesh, micro-mesh, and reverse-curve guards are best for pine needles, they’re not all the same. Take note of how many holes or openings are present in the gutter guard and their size. Pine needles may still pose a problem if the holes are too big—around a half-inch or more. The finer the holes, the better.

Maintenance

Though gutter guards make cleaning and maintaining your gutter system easier, they don’t outright eliminate the need for maintenance. Take some time to compare how often you’ll need to clear off pine needles from each gutter guard. For example, some pine needles may build up on a flatter gutter guard, but they’ll likely fall off of one with a built-in pitch.


Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best gutter covers for pine needles?

Any gutter cover that uses stainless-steel micro-mesh is best for pine needles. Some reverse-curve gutter guards can also work if the cover’s opening is less than a quarter-inch.

Do foam gutter guards work for pine needles?

Foam gutter guards do not work well for pine needles. They are often too flat and may even cause plant growth from falling seeds.

How often should you clean gutter guards?

Gutter guards do a decent job at maintaining a self-cleaning cycle, but we recommend you check on your guards annually for possible cleaning and maintenance.

Can pine needles damage your gutters?

Yes, pine needles can damage your gutters by accumulating and causing damns and clogs. Over time, clogged gutters will become less effective, frequently overflowing, spilling, and freezing over. These issues can result in costly problems such as foundation erosion, water damage, and soil saturation.


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.