An effective home gutter system is designed to successfully divert water away from your home’s foundation and prevent damage to your home’s exterior. However, the pitch of your roof and the amount of rainfall in your area can result in overflowing gutters.
Gutter splash guards are a great solution to this overflow problem. Using my expert knowledge, I’ve compiled this guide to gutter splash guards to help you learn why you may need to make this upgrade to your home’s drainage system. I’ll also cover how to tell if you need gutter splash guards, the best products to use, how to install them, and other gutter system upgrades you may need to help make your system function at its best.
*Costs in this article sourced from products listed at Home Depot.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
What are Gutter Splash Guards?
If your roof has valleys, corners, slopes, or a steep pitch, when water flows to one area of the roof, you could have issues with spillage. Gutter splash guards are pieces of material attached to an existing gutter system that help prevent overspilling.
The gutter valley splash guards stick up over the top of the gutter, and they push water back into the gutter as opposed to down to the ground. During gutter installation, your gutters should be checked to see if they will benefit from a diverter or splash guard to prevent gutter overflow. They can also be installed on an existing gutter drainage system to help redirect water away from your home’s foundation and landscaping. You can also pair gutter splash guards with the best gutter guards, which can help prevent overflowing by keeping debris from clogging your gutter system.
Signs You Need Gutter Splash Guards
At Today’s Homeowner, our expert team recommends inspecting, cleaning, and performing general maintenance on your gutter system at least twice a year, during the spring and fall seasons. This is also a good time to check for the problems below, so you can install gutter splash guards if you need them. Let’s look at a few different indicators that show it may be time for you to invest in this drainage system upgrade.
Overflowing Gutters
The most telling sign that gutter splash guards are necessary is overflowing gutters. If water pours over the gutter’s side, chances are the gutter system needs some attention. Gutter splash guards can be a solution, but depending on the exact reason that a gutter is overflowing, you may need to install a leaf guard, downspout diverter, gutter downspout extensions.
I recommend taking a look at the gutter system’s corners. This tends to be a problem area because of roof overshoots. The roof’s inside corner is an area where water tends to flow quickly. This results in more runoff.
Roof Leaks
Roof leaks can show that water is pooling in certain areas on the roof of your home. Over time, the sealant on the roof will start to deteriorate, and water will seep in under the building materials. Roof leaks can be prevented if water is pushed back into the gutter system the correct way, as opposed to letting it sit on the roof of the home. I recommend contacting a professional if you suspect a roof leak, as the area should be inspected for mold, mildew, or other extensive water damage.
Foundation or Siding Damage
Foundation damage is not always easy to see, but if you see it, the splash shield is undoubtedly necessary. Foundation damage occurs quickly when water flow is directed to the foundation of the home. If you suspect that your home’s foundation has water damage, I again recommend reaching out to a trusted professional in your area so they can help determine how severe the problem is and recommend additional solutions if needed.
Landscape Damage
Excessive amounts of rainwater flowing off your roof can damage plants, create fungus or mushroom growth, or even standing pools of water. If your gutters cannot handle the runoff coming off your house, you may need to install gutter splash guards to solve the problem.
Gutter System Damage
The final sign that you may need to install gutter splash guards on your house’s drainage system are issues with your gutter system itself. This could include water damage, such as mold, mildew, or hard water marks. You might also see your gutters sagging away from your home’s fascia, or falling off the house’s exterior entirely.
In addition to repairing your gutters and downspouts, you may also want to invest in splash guards. This can help divert additional water and make your house’s drainage system more effective.
If you do notice any of the above issues and you are ready to install gutter splash guards yourself, here’s how you can do so.
How To Attach Gutter Splash Guards
Installing gutter splash guards is an easy DIY project if you don’t want to opt for professional installation. I do recommend that you determine whether you have a warranty on your gutter system that could be voided by you installing a splash guard before you attempt this project. Gutter guard costs today are around $7 a piece, although you can often purchase this product in sets of two or more.
Gutter splash guards are sold with three to four pre-drilled holes that allow you to attach it directly onto your gutter system. Once in place, use a bit of caulk to seal any edges, so you don’t see water spilling out under the splash guard. This video is a helpful visual, but remember that your gutter splash guard installation will vary depending on the products used and the area of the home where the splash guards are necessary.
Should I Have My Gutter Splash Guards Professionally Installed?
If you aren’t comfortable working at heights or have additional concerns about your gutter system beyond just installing gutter splash guards, I would recommend contacting a professional in your area. If you opt to have a contractor install this upgrade to your house’s drainage system, they can also perform gutter cleaning services or other maintenance at the same time.
The best gutter installation companies will install splash guards in a few areas of the home to make sure that overflow is not an issue. In addition, they are looking to make sure your gutter protection system holds up for years to come. If your gutters were just installed and you are noticing issues with spillover, gutter splash guards may be covered under your project’s warranty.
What Materials Are Best for Gutter Splash Guards?
Gutter splash guards come in materials which are similar to those used for entire gutter systems. Two of the most popular choices are aluminum or vinyl splash guards, because they are inexpensive and lightweight, making them easy to install. Vinyl splash guards in particular, can become brittle and break over time.
You can also invest in longer lasting and more durable options such as copper or stainless steel. However, these splash guards come with a higher price point and may require professional installation.
Best Gutter Splash Guards
If you are looking to install gutter splash guards by yourself, I’ve compiled the below list of products to help you make an informed purchase. Most of these types of gutter upgrades are built to fit K-style gutters.
Amerimax Home Products Gusher Guard
The Amerimax Home Products Gusher Guard is a great DIY product you can install on your own. This comes in a three-pack and is installed directly in the valleys of the gutter system. The product is made specifically for aluminum gutters, and the fasteners are not included.
LeafFilter Splash Guards
LeafFilter is the best gutter and gutter guard solution on the market. With LeafFilter, you will get a lifetime transferrable warranty and a system built to last. Whether you’re replacing gutters, installing them for the first time, or simply need help with a splash guard or leaf guard system, LeafFilter can do it all. Homeowners typically can find a LeafFilter representative in their area who will come out and quickly offer a quote to get started on the project.
Eagle 1 Rain Splash Guard
The Eagle One Rain Splash Guard is a perfect option for a DIY installation of a gutter splash guard. With this particular model, you will get the 1/2-inch gutter screws necessary to install the aluminum splash guards. In addition, the Eagle one is available in either a straight or a bent corner piece. Although corner pieces are typically necessary for valleys, a straight piece can also be important.
GutterWorks Gutter Valley Splash Guard
GutterWorks is another strong gutter and gutter accessories provider. If you are worried about the look of your gutter splash guards, the GutterWorks product can be a great option. There are color options from low-gloss white to black with everything in between. These gutter splash guards are three inches tall and take just a few minutes to install.
When searching for gutter splash guards, you may also see gutter splash blocks come up as an option to help with overflow issues from the roof of your home. Let’s look at this particular project below.
What is a Downspout Splash Block?
Downspouts on homes that experience heavy rain will often have a puddle of water around them continually. This puddle of water ends up flowing back towards the house, creating long-term foundation issues. A gutter splash block is installed at the end of a downspout to make sure water is pushed away from the house and not towards the home.
Benefits of Splash Blocks
Let’s look at some of the reasons that you may want to install a gutter splash block to help divert rainwater away from your home. You can use these blocks in conjunction with splash guards to have a well-functioning home gutter system.
Can Prevent Basement Flooding
When water collects at the bottom of a downspout, it needs somewhere to go. The downspout does a great job of getting water off the roof and pushing it away from the home, but if the water pools at the bottom of the downspout, it can make its way into your basement. You can use a splash block to prevent this problem.
Easily Installed
Most of the time, the splash block takes minimal effort to install. All you have to do is make sure that the block is properly placed to divert water away from your home’s foundation. I recommend reaching out to a professional if your splash block is not able to successfully redirect water away from the basement.
Come In Several Materials
Splash blocks come in several different materials to make it easier to find something within your budget and will work to make your gutter system more efficient. Concrete and plastic are two common types of splash blocks.
Can Decrease Plant and Landscape Damage
When water pools at the bottom of a downspout, it often results in plant and landscape damage. Luckily, splash blocks can divert some of the water and allow for better growing conditions for plants, grass, and other plant material.
Splash Blocks vs. Downspout Extension
It is important to note that while they are both upgrades to an existing gutter system, splash blocks and downspout extenders are not the same. Downspout extensions are used to extend a downspout and make sure it comes further away from the house. However, depending on the amount of rain you typically get, the extension may still pool with water at the end.
The combination of the splash blocks with downspout extension tends to be a good option for many homeowners. In conjunction with gutter splash guards, these two upgrades can help your house’s drainage system manage heavy rainfall.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
Final Thoughts
I hope you now have a better understanding of the gutter slash guard, why it is necessary, and how your home can benefit from having them properly installed. Remember that LeafFilter is an excellent gutter splash guard installer that can work out any of the issues you are having with your home’s gutter system. Proper water flow from the roof will save you thousands of dollars in home foundation repair. it makes sense to invest in these types of products for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Downspout splash guards are typically called splash blocks, and they can work well if positioned correctly. The idea here is to move water further away from the foundation of the home. As the water flows out of the downspout, the splash block makes sure that it does not flow back towards the foundation of the home.
If your gutter is splashing water over the side, then a gutter splash guard can make a big difference. This small piece of aluminum is installed to push water back into the gutters and divert it through other areas. Also, if your downspout is splashing, you can put a gutter splash block in place.
Gutter splash blocks are installed with the open end away from the house and the closed end on the foundation side of the home. The idea here is to push water into the yard and block it from pooling up and damaging the home’s foundation.
Splash gutter guards are necessary for most homes, but it is highly dependent on the type of roof you have and the type of gutters that were installed. Some homes prepared for larger amounts of rain and installed wider gutters that allow for better water flow.
How We Ranked, Reviewed, and Tested the Best Gutter Guards
Here, we’ve broken down our rating methodology for gutter guards. You should know that we’ve taken the utmost care to provide the most up-to-date information and to ensure that you make the best choice for your budgetary and home maintenance needs.
Why Trust Today’s Homeowner? Our Gutter Ranking Methodology
At Today’s Homeowner, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. We’ve done the homework for you and have researched over 50 gutter guards so you can have the information you need to make the best choice for your home. That’s why we took the time to create an objective rating system and score each gutter guard and gutter guard provider company according to our gutter ranking methodology.
We also dug into the details of each gutter guard to ensure that you could make the best decisions for your home and keep your gutters debris-free for years to come.
To make the most of our research, we developed a formula to objectively determine the best gutter guards based on the following criteria:
- Material: Material durability was the single most important factor that went into our rating methodology for gutter guards. Whether they were stainless steel micro-mesh or plastic screening, we gave an in-depth rating for this criteria.
- Debris Resistance: Our testing served as the primary evaluator for this factor. We curated a rating based on customer testimonials and our own in-house testing here.
- Ease of Installation: Most of the gutter guard options listed have some DIY component involved. For this reason, guards that required the fewest specialty tools got the highest rating here.
- Cost: How reasonable are prices in comparison to the industry average? We compared the costs of each company to competitors.
- Warranty terms: We looked into the warranty of lifetime warranty terms if it is offered by the provider.
- Trust: What do customers rate the company? We looked into what customers are saying about their experience with the company.
- Buying process: if the gutter guard is a DIY installation, how easy is the buying process? We looked for shipping costs and shipping time, as well as where the product can be bought from.
