Gutter Guards
Trusted Gutter Service Professionals
First and foremost, there is no such thing as “NEVER CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS AGAIN”. This is a phrase that is thrown around our industry very loosely. A lot of companies use this phrase, but what they don’t tell you is the GUARD has to be cleaned. Keep in mind that gutter and guards exist in an imperfect world, the real world, and are exposed to conditions only mother nature can on display. Be very skeptical of the home show displays. More than likely, you are going to have to have your guards serviced. Guards are well worth the investment when installed correctly upon the right application. Guards are not for everyone.
Why:
Have you ever tried booking a gutter cleaning and had to wait 2 or 3 weeks, or even longer, to get on the schedule?
Well that’s because gutter companies are extremely busy in the peak seasons of Spring and Fall. Mid-April to Mid-June makes up the Spring season, and Mid-October to Early-January makes up the Fall Season. This is when most debris drop into the gutters, and when most people need to get their gutters cleaned.
The average person waits until there is a problem with their gutters to call a gutter company. The trouble with that is, everybody ends up calling at the same time and the schedule is already filled up.
Investing in gutter guards keeps you out of the race during peak seasons.
Frequency, installing gutter guards will reduce how often you need to service your gutters.
Types of Guards
————————–
Micro Mesh gutter guards:
Pros:
Micro mesh gutter guards keep leaves, pine needles, and roof grit out of your gutter while providing maximum water flow through your gutter. Made from stainless steel micro-mesh that can withstand the elements and avoid warping or rusting year after year. We install this guard slightly under the shingle, with the slope of the roof, therefore eliminating a flat service or shelf, for debris to collect on. Helps stop birds, squirrels and pests from nesting in the gutters. We use a series of Micro mesh guards made by Gutter Glove products, such as Leaf Blaster (40yr product warranty) and Easy On (10yr product warranty) gutter guard.
Cons:
Although micro mesh provides maximum water flow through its filtration, it still restricts flow. All guards restrict flow. Your steeper roofs, and roof valleys put a high volume of water onto the guard at a fast rate, and can fail in your heavy downpours. We recommend installing a 6” gutter system before putting on this guard. Most homes have a 5” gutter system. We do install this guard on 5” gutter systems, but bigger is better in this case.
Cost: Approx $10-$13 per linear foot on full installs. Variables on the price are whether your system is a 5” or 6” gutter system. Additional expenses may apply where accessibility to install the guard is difficult, such as heavy landscape, +2 story structures, and uneven ground conditions which all require additional time and labor to install the guard properly.
————————————————————————————————–
Leaf Logic Gutter Guard
Pros:
Leaf logic has a rippled design which acts like a drying rack and helps prevent wet leaves from sticking to the surface by letting air get underneath the debris and lift it away, therefore less maintenance. The front of the guard has a trough that is engineered to help prevent overflows during heavier downpours. The low profile lays flat and fits snugly on top of the gutter for a less visible view of the guard from the ground. This product does help stop birds, squirrels and pests from nesting in gutters This product is available in brushed nickel and bronze color. We install the brushed nickel by default, but bronze is avail upon request. Leaf logic is Backed by a 20-year material and performance warranty.
Cons:
This guard lays flat on top of the gutter and therefore creates a flat surface/shelf for debris to collect on. The ripples in the guard do trap small seedlings and debris, which can build up on top of the guard.
Cost:
Approx $8-$9 per linear foot on full installs. Variables on the price are whether your system is a 5” or 6” gutter system. Additional expenses may apply where accessibility to install the guard is difficult, such as heavy landscape, +2 story structures, and uneven ground conditions which all require additional time and labor to install the guard properly.
————————————————————————————————–
Plastic guards of any type:
Pros:
Cheap up front costs, quick and easy to install.
Cons:
Plastics warp over time. The sun bakes the plastic and it eventually gets brittle and crumbles into the gutter. Discoloration. Squirrels and birds chew through it easily giving them access to nest in your gutter under the guard. These guards are often fastened to the gutter by a pressure point, and blow off during high winds.
Cost:
$4-$6 per linear foot. We do not offer plastic guards of any kind.
————————————————————————————————–
Reverse curve guards – Helmet guards – Bullnose guard
Pros:
Most of these style of guards are made of aluminum and are very sturdy. They principle behind guard relies on water retention. The guard works great at home shows…..take a look at the cons for the real world situation.
Cons:
This guard is great until it gets dirty. These types of guards need to be clean to work properly. Water does not roll around the reverse curve very well when it is dirty.
This guard is awful for steep roofs and homes with roof valleys. Steep roofs and valleys throw a lot of water at a high rate at this guard, and the water shoots over the guard. Very hard and expensive to service this gutter and guard system.
Cost:
$15 – $50 per linear foot.
Warranty:
Many say lifetime warranty. Check the consumer reviews. Then run, run fast, run far away.
————————————————————————————————–
Foam gutter guards or Sponge guards:
Pros:
Does a great job at keeping large debris out, and filters water fairly quickly.
Cons:
These guards are made of plastic and become brittle and break apart as a dust into the gutter over time. These guards also hold dirt and small debris, which then clogs the guard. Just like a sponge gets dirty, except you can’t ring it out and clean it. Not good for trees that drop little seedlings and debris.
Cost:
Depending on which brand of guard you go with, anywhere between $8-$12 per linear foot.
————————————————————————————————–
Gutter Brush gutter guards:
Pros:
The idea of the brush is for debris to roll off the brush and water go through the bristles. Works great at a home show, and looks good on paper.
Cons:
Debris gets caught up in the brushes, and eventually clogs the brushes. The brushes then need pulled out, cleaned, and re-installed.
Cost:
$9-$15 per linear foot, depending on how much you buy. The more you buy, the cheaper it is per foot.
