After testing the most popular gutter guards on the market, we came to a strong conclusion. If you want the best professionally installed gutter guard, go with LeafFilter — hands down. If you’re the DIY type and want solid performance without the markup, Raptor Micromesh is your best bet.
Gutter guards do one thing: keep junk out of your gutters so water can flow properly. Done right, they cut down on cleaning, prevent water damage, and keep your roofline and foundation in good shape. Done wrong? You’re stuck with clogs, overflow, and wasted money.
LeafFilter blocks even the smallest debris, and since it’s professionally installed, it comes with a strong lifetime warranty — no DIY headaches. Raptor is a tough, stainless-steel option that holds up well in rough weather, with multiple sizes to fit different gutter types. But if neither of these fit your situation, there are other solid choices out there.
Expect to pay between $900 and $2,000 for gutter guards, depending on your home’s size, roof accessibility, and installation method. Before buying, focus on quality, cost, warranty, and reputation—not just flashy marketing.
In this guide, I’ll break down the best pro-installed and DIY options, what makes each one worth considering, and what you need to know about cost, materials, and warranties.
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What Are the Best Gutter Guards in 2025?
Compare the Highest-Rated Gutter Guards
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Company
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Star Rating
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BBB Rating
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Link |
|---|---|---|---|
 LeafFilter
Get Quote
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A+ | Get Quote | |
 LeafGuard
Get Quote
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A+ | Get Quote | |
 HomeCraft Gutter Protection
Our Review
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B | Our Review | |
 All American Gutter Protection
Our Review
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A | Our Review | |
 Gutter Guards America
Get Quote
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A+ | Get Quote | |
 Raptor Micro-Mesh Gutter Guard
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A+ | ||
 Amerimax Home Products
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F | ||
 GutterBrush
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NR |
What To Consider Before Buying Gutter Guards
Not all gutter guards are the best for all homes. Before selecting a type or company, consider these various factors.
Material Quality and Durability
Gutter guards come in varying materials, which impacts each product’s quality and durability. Companies tend to use these:
- Foam: Foam is the cheapest gutter guard material and the easiest to install. They’re viable in dry or less extreme climates. However, you’re receiving reduced quality and longevity. They’ll also require more cleaning and maintenance than other materials.
- Plastic: Plastic and vinyl gutter guards are a definite step up in quality from foam, but they’re far from the top of the line. Effective at keeping even heavy debris out of your gutters, they come in solid or mesh screens and reverse-curve models.
- Stainless Steel: One of the most heavy-duty, durable options for gutter protection is stainless steel gutter guards. You’ll find most mesh and micromesh screens are stainless steel.
- Aluminum: Some companies combine stainless steel and aluminum. However, the effectiveness and durability depend entirely on the product’s gauge, so you get varying degrees of quality.
- Copper: Although not as popular as the other materials, copper gutter covers are a top choice for homeowners looking for its specific appearance.
Size and Length of Your Gutters
The average full-scale residential gutter system spans 200 linear feet. The more linear feet of gutters your home has, the more gutter guard installation will cost.
You’ll also want to determine the width of your gutters. Standard gutters have a 5” width, but 6-inch gutters are common on larger roofs. Some companies offer multiple sizes, while others sell only one size.
You can measure the outer footprint of your home to get a total length figure for gutter guard material. However, multi-story homes will likely require professional consultation and installation.
Cost
A gutter guard’s price depends on a few factors, including the total linear feet needed, material, number of home stories, and whether you opt for DIY or professional installation. On average, gutter guard installation tends to cost between $900 and $2,000. On the low end, you might pay as little as $200. However, some homeowners could pay between $4,000 and $10,000 or even more.
Professional gutter guard companies don’t usually share pricing information without a free in-person consultation. During these appointments, a representative will visit the home, inspect the gutters, and provide a custom estimate based on the homeowner’s needs, foliage, accessibility, and more. Many customers have found that gutter guard brands are open to negotiation.
Here’s a quick look at my favorite brands and their average costs:
| Brand | Average cost per linear foot |
| LeafFilter | $17 – $45 |
| Leafguard | $17 – $34 |
| HomeCraft | $4.50 – $7.75 |
| All American* | $15 – $20 |
| Raptor | $2.60 – $3.13 |
| Amerimax | $0.86 |
| GutterBrush | $4.91 – $5.83 |
*Cost sourced from HomeAdvisor.
Visual Appeal
Most gutter guards are invisible from the ground. However, you’ll notice the guard’s appearance if your gutters’ interior is visible due to their pitch or the slope of your roof. In this case, you’ll want to go with a color option that matches your home. Most gutter guard providers offer various colors, but LeafGuard doesn’t offer a low-profile design.
Warranty Options
Gutter guard warranties vary widely. Some offer none, while others offer ten or 25-year or lifetime transferable policies. These plans typically cover cleaning in the event of a clog or the cost of replacement if your gutter guard starts to deteriorate, rust, or corrode. Professionally installed gutter guard warranties are usually more comprehensive than DIY products.
Brand Reputation and Services
Always consider the company’s reputation before making a final call on whether it’s the right pick for your home. Research their ratings on trusted review sites, such as the BBB and TrustPilot.
You’ll also want to review their general services. Do they offer gutter installation, repair, cleaning, and/or downspout installation? Do they provide online chat, email, and phone support during, before, and after installation?
So, What Is the Best Gutter Guard for Your Home?
For professional installation, I’d recommend LeafFilter thanks to its durable stainless steel micromesh, efficient performance, and strong reviews. However, some homeowners might find the cost hard to swallow.
For DIY projects, Raptor is my top choice. Cost-effective, they sell a test kit so you can try it out before you commit. Their stainless steel micromesh is easy to install with step-by-step instructions, but you’ll have to be careful. During testing, it was all too easy to bend or dent the material.
I recommend considering each facet of your gutter guard project before moving forward with a specific product. Go over all relevant factors, including your budget, area’s weather patterns, tree coverage, existing gutter condition, roof warranty, and more.
Gutter guard quotes are always free from any licensed professional. Even if you’re thinking of going the DIY route, it’s worthwhile to schedule a professional consultation. You’ll get valuable information, and you may even discover that professional installation is less expensive than you thought.
What Are the Types of Gutter Guards and Materials?
There are several types of gutter guards, each with varying levels of durability, installation difficulty, and overall structure.
Screen
Screen gutter guards, made from aluminum or stainless steel, are thin sheets with perforated holes. They’re durable and easy to clean. However, the holes are too large to prevent small debris, such as pine needles or seed pods, from entering your gutters. So, while screen guards are a good choice if you have oak or other deciduous trees around your property, they won’t cut it for pine trees.
Mesh
Mesh gutter guards use interwoven metal or plastic wires to create a mesh filter. Compared to screen guards, they have a more condensed hole pattern to block smaller debris. However, the holes still aren’t small enough to keep pine needles, seed pods, and shingle grit out of your gutters. Mesh-style guards are ideal for those who live in a climate with heavy rainfall.
Micromesh
Micromesh are the most effective gutter guards at keeping out small debris, thanks to a much finer filter than standard options. They even block pine needles and shingle grit. Homeowners can also use them as overlaps on more porous screens to provide the best protection. However, micromesh screens come with higher price tags than other guards.
Reverse-Curve/Surface Tension Helmets
Reverse-curve gutter guards, also called gutter helmets, are large plastic or aluminum caps that attach to the top of your gutters. They use the scientific principle of liquid adhesion and surface tension to block debris, promote water flow, and self-clean. You’ll likely have to hire a professional to install these, but they’re a fantastic solution if you have trees directly over your home or live in a high-wind area.
Foam Inserts
Foam inserts resemble large, triangular foam blocks. They allow water to pass through and block almost all debris. Although they’re inexpensive, easy to install, and effective, they degrade quickly in sunlight, so you’ll have to replace them every few years. As a result, foam guards are well-suited for short-term installations.
Brush
A brush gutter guard, which resembles a large pipe cleaner, sits within a gutter and uses bristles to catch debris. As with foam inserts, they’re easy to install and inexpensive. However, since their design intentionally clogs with debris, homeowners have to clean them regularly. Brush guards tend to last between two to 10 years.
Are Higher Quality Gutter Guards Worth it?
Choosing the best gutter guard can help extend the life of your gutters and delay the cost of a new system. Here are some reasons you might want to spend a little extra to go with a high-quality gutter guard.
Block Smaller Debris
Anything from shingle grit to leaves and large debris to pine needles can get stuck in your gutters, blocking water flow. High-quality gutter guards block just about everything, from pine needles to large oak leaves.
Keep Pests Away
Pests can turn your gutter system into a home, especially if they’re not well maintained or clean. Standing water attracts mosquitoes, while clumps of leaves are inviting to wasps and mice. A top-of-the-line gutter guard helps you to avoid this issue and worry almost entirely.
Improve Drainage
Clogged gutters give water nowhere to go but over the troughs and down toward your home’s foundation. Over time, the pooling water can damage the foundation and surrounding landscape. High-quality gutter guards allow for proper water drainage from the roof.
Lessen Gutter Maintenance & Cleaning
No one enjoys the hassle of keeping their gutters clean each season. Plus, working on a ladder is dangerous. The best gutter guards reduce the need to clean your gutters. Some companies even offer generous warranties—if you’ve installed their product and find a clog, they’ll come clean your gutters for free.
DIY Vs. Professional Gutter Guard Installation
The cost of gutter guard installation can vary greatly depending on whether you take the DIY installation route or hire a professional.
There are several DIY options for homeowners. Certain gutter guards, such as snap-in style gutter guards, are easy to install. Adding gutter guards to single-story homes is also simple, even with minimal tools and expertise.
Although a DIY project is much less expensive, professional installation is the better option for most gutter guard projects. Many gutter guard companies don’t allow DIY installation, so your options are limited. With professionals, you’ll also get quality assurance and lifetime warranties. Plus, doing it yourself puts you at risk, and if you install it incorrectly, you’ll have to spend extra time and potentially money to fix the covers.
Many DIY gutter guard kits come with detailed instruction manuals and materials lists, making the process easy.
Here are a few key points to consider.
| Factor | Professionally Installed | DIY |
| Product quality | Premium materials last longer. | Cheaper materials degrade quicker. |
| Warranty | A lifetime transferable warranty is standard. | Warranty lengths vary and only cover materials. |
| Labor | You’ll get peace of mind from installation by trained professionals. | You won’t get quality assurance or a company to stand by the work. |
Our Picks of Top Gutter Guards
Now that you know what to look for when gutter guard shopping, you’re ready to explore some of the best options on the market. Here are my top seven picks to help keep your gutters debris-free.
LeafFilter
4.1
Our Rating
LeafFilter claims my top spot for the best gutter guards on the market. Its proprietary three-piece design has high marks, as professionals can install it on your existing gutters while keeping even the smallest debris out—which our team found to be true during testing. Moreover, LeafFilter’s installation team proved to be professional and efficient.
LeafFilter gutter guards are a prime option for eliminating maintenance calls and gutter cleaning from your seasonal to-do lists. With a built-in pitch, most debris rolls off for easy cleaning.
Our team tested the following system components that come with every installation package, which proved to keep gutters debris-free:
- Structural hangers: Each LeafFilter system has built-in stainless steel hangers anchored to your home’s fascia board, which provide the underlying support for the other components.
- uPVC frame: The middle component is a plastic frame that allows optimal water flow into your gutters while ensuring that the overlaid screen doesn’t warp or bend over time.
- 275-micron stainless steel screen: The top layer keeps even the smallest debris out of your gutters, blocking branches, leaves, pollen, and shingle grit.
The company also offers additional gutter services, including gutter cleaning and repair.
LeafFilter has locations in the following 47 states:
- Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
LeafFilter gutter guards cost between $17 and $45 per linear foot of gutters. Most homeowners can expect to pay between $2,600 and $6,300, but some larger homes can cost over $10,000. Pricer than the competition, its products require professional installation.
On the BBB, LeafFilter has an A+ and a 3.69/5 across nearly 7,000 reviews as of this writing. On TrustPilot, the brand has an impressive 4.3/5 and over 120,000 reviews.
Customers largely enjoyed LeafFilter’s resilience in heavy downpours and debris accumulation, as well as the performance of the brand’s representatives and technicians. Most customers note that representatives are polite, helpful, and knowledgeable, while service technicians are skilled and professional.
However, negative reviews reference poor scheduling. Multiple complaints note LeafFilter failed to meet appointments, which led to rescheduling and other post-scheduling conflicts.
LeafFilter provides a transferable, lifetime warranty, promising to replace your system or refund the price for all LeafFilter materials installed on your home if it ever clogs. The policy doesn’t cover “damage to gutters, fascia boards, or roof substrate or surface caused by the installation of LeafFilter products.”
The coverage is invalid in the following scenarios:
- The guard “sustained damage from structural changes, adjacent trees or plant life, or an uncontrollable act of nature.”
- The guard was “modified or altered from its original installation or any willful action was taken to impede or restrict the flow of water through the gutter system.”
- An overflow occurred due to an improper number or placement of downspouts.
- Style: Three-piece construction with a micro-mesh screen
- Material: Stainless steel screen and uPVC frame
- Visibility: Blends in with your existing gutters
- Cost: $17 – $45 per linear foot
- Size: Can be sized to any gutter system
LeafGuard
3.5
Our Rating
LeafGuard isn’t just a gutter guard manufacturer but a complete seamless gutter manufacturer and installer. With this brand, you’ll get one complete unit—both a gutter and a gutter guard. The reverse-curve style pushes the debris off the roof and allows water to flow through a small channel.
LeafGuard claims that the guards can accommodate up to 32 inches of rain in an hour. When put to our simulated rainfall testing, LeafGuard held up extremely well, with water quickly flowing into the gutters without any issues. LeafGuard’s screens didn’t warp or tear throughout the week of testing, but some pine needles, shingle grit, and seed pods made it through.
Here are some highlights of the product:
- One-piece design: LeafGuard doesn’t sell their guards separately but instead sells a complete reverse-curve gutter system. It uses liquid adhesion and surface tension to filter debris, and the larger downspouts keep water moving quickly.
- Scratch-proof paint: ScratchGuard® paint finish coats LeafGuard’s products, making them durable and resistant to peeling, chipping, blistering, and other damage.
- No-clog guarantee: LeafGuard states that its design will never clog. Although some debris does move into the gutter area sometimes, it shouldn’t cause any issues.
There is no option for DIY installation.
LeafGuard offers professional installation finishing paint to the color of your choice and a lifetime warranty in 36 states:
- Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
LeafGuard costs will vary considerably due to the size of your home and the location, but it’s one of the most expensive options on this list. Customers can expect to pay between $17 and $34 per linear foot of gutters, which is on par with LeafFilter’s prices, but this cost isn’t just for the guards—it includes the gutters themselves, too.
All told customers tend to pay between $2,200 and $7,400 for a completed project, but reviewers on the BBB and Trustpilot have cited higher figures.
LeafGuard has been in the industry for over 30 years and has a reputation and presence across most of the United States. They’ve maintained an A+ BBB rating and accreditation since 2013, but reviews on the BBB and Trustpilot are mixed.
Customers note the professionalism and expediency of its representatives and installation crews, as well as the products’ effectiveness. However, critical comments express concerns about LeafGuard’s sales tactics, comparing its sales pitches to timeshare or used car sales pitches. However, even critical reviewers rarely fault the quality of LeafGuard’s product.
LeafGuard provides a limited lifetime transferable warranty, which covers all manufacturing defects in the guard and its materials. If your system has a clog or the gutters or guard degrade, LeafGuard will clean or replace the entire system for free.
However, the policy doesn’t cover:
- Accidental damage
- Building settlement and structural failures
- Damage as a result of the installation of incompatible accessories
- Exposure to damaging atmospheric conditions such as salt spray or acid rain
- Fires, floods, earthquakes, radiation, lighting, storms, hail, or other “acts of God”
- Homes within a half a mile of a coastline
- Improper installation
- Misuse, intentional damage, or vandalism
- Mold and mildew
- Normal weathering
- Unreasonable use
- Wind-borne or falling objects
- Style: Reverse-curve gutter and guard
- Material: Aluminum
- Visibility: Custom painted to match current home colors
- Cost: $17 – $34 per linear foot
- Size: Seamless gutters available in all sizes
HomeCraft Gutter Protection
4.4
Our Rating
HomeCraft Gutter Protection gutter guards can fit roofs of any material and gutters of any size. The system utilizes a patented raised-diamond structure to prevent debris buildup on top of your gutters.
When put to our simulated debris and rainfall tests, HomeCraft’s sturdy aluminum frames and marine-grade stainless steel screens held up extremely well without warping or bending. The angled and raised design allowed debris to slip off the side easily, and the micromesh prevented mulch from penetrating the screen.
The gutter guards themselves are highly versatile. No matter the slope of your roof, the width of your existing gutters, or the size of your gutter system, you can install HomeCraft guards.
I recommend these gutter guards for homeowners who want a seamless look, as once installed, you can’t see them from the ground.
HomeCraft is available in the following 12 states:
- Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Average gutter guard pricing for HomeCraft ranges between $4.50 and $7.75 per linear foot, which includes material and labor costs. However, HomeCraft only releases pricing information for specific homes after an inspection.
Since this provider offers service across 12 states—primarily in the Southeastern U.S.—price points can vary. Get a quote to ensure HomeCraft installation costs align with your budget. The brand can also save you money by reducing the cost of gutter repair.
HomeCraft Gutter Protection is one of the highest-rated gutter guard companies on Trustpilot, where it has a 4.2/5 rating as of this writing. Less than 8% of these reviews cite negative experiences. However, on the BBB, the brand isn’t currently accredited and has an F rating for “failure to comply with an arbitrated decision or mediated settlement” and complaints. Customers on the BBB rate HomeCraft 2.46/5 stars.
Generally, customers rate this system well for small to medium-sized debris in milder climates. Happy customers note HomeCraft’s excellent customer service and personal approach.
However, a majority of low reviews actually mention poor customer service, persistent sales tactics, and communication from HomeCraft representatives. In addition, some customers report that the guards warp over time, which could be caused by frequent temperature changes or debris accumulation.
HomeCraft offers a lifetime transferable warranty for its gutter guards, but consumer reviews on BBB and Trustpilot indicate that the warranty includes a number of unadvertised limitations for labor and other factors. The brand isn’t very transparent about its policy either—HomeCraft’s website doesn’t have any specific details about what it does or doesn’t cover.
- Style: Raised-diamond micromesh gutter guards
- Material: Marine-grade 304 stainless steel
- Visibility: Not visible from the ground
- Cost: $4.50 – $7.75 per linear foot
- Size: Can be custom-cut to fit any gutter system
All American Gutter Protection
4.1
Our Rating
All American Gutter Protection is one of my top choices due to the quality of its product and its history within the industry. Its reliable and durable micromesh gutter screens, supported by an aluminum frame, are available across 17 states.
Whether you have four or six-inch gutters of any style, All American’s gutter guard is a fantastic choice for long-term gutter protection. When put to the test, our experts easily installed the guards on our 5-inch gutters. The stainless steel micromesh screen kept hay, mulch, and topsoil from entering the gutters.
However, All American’s product isn’t installed at an angle. As a result, homeowners will have to occasionally clean the top to prevent debris buildup.
All American Gutter Protection is available in the following 17 states:
- Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
All American isn’t transparent with its installation costs, but customers can expect to pay between $15 and $20 per linear foot, according to HomeAdvisor.
You’ll need to contact All American for an estimate. However, the brand offers deals, including senior and military discounts.
All American is a BBB-accredited business with an A rating and a 2.78/5 stars from just over 20 customer reviews as of this writing.
Most customers were happy with the sales approach, product’s durability, installation experience, and color options. However, negative reviews cite issues with overflowing corners, leaking gutters, and late subcontractors.
All American offers a lifetime warranty, or “performance guarantee,” with a promise to correct problems or defects. However, its website fails to specify terms, limitations, conditions and other warranty details and instead asks customers to call for more information.
- Style: Micromesh
- Material: Stainless steel and aluminum
- Visibility: Blends in with your gutter’s profile
- Cost: $15 and $20 per linear foot*
- Size: Can fit any gutter system
*Cost sourced from HomeAdvisor.
What Are The Top DIY Gutter Guards for Your Home?
Keep reading to learn about our picks for homeowners looking to install gutter guards themselves.
Raptor Micro-Mesh Gutter Guard
2.6
Our Rating
Raptor Micromesh Gutter Guard by Gutterglove is our top pick for the best DIY gutter guards. Manufactured from high-quality stainless steel, they come with all the instructions, tools, and fasteners you’ll need to install.
Raptor’s high-quality, stainless steel micromesh and aluminum frame gutter guards will fit just about any size gutter, including five- and six-inch systems, and can stand up to most climates and conditions. The installation kit comes with a detailed, easy-to-understand instruction manual, and customers can find additional advice on Raptor’s website, including instructions for uncommon or complex gutter and roof systems.
You’ll likely need to purchase multiple gutter guard kits to cover your entire system. Our test team found the guards easy to fasten to existing gutters, and they held up the best to the simulated rainfall and debris out of all the DIY options we tried.
However, we noticed that the aluminum gutter guard wasn’t easy to cut to fit, so be sure to order the correct size. I also recommend using care when installing the thin screen, as it’s easy to bend and dent.
Raptor’s V-bend design and trough on the outer attachment point make it a far stronger option than many standalone micromesh gutter guards. The corrugations in the metal’s surface allow for high debris tolerance, so water can easily flow around any debris collection.
During testing, we applied an assortment of debris to the guard, including pine needles, deciduous tree leaves, seedpods, twigs, pine cones, and shingle grit. Raptor’s screen kept all of the materials out except tiny pieces of shingle grit and dirt. If you deal with heavy debris, you might have to clean the screen’s troughs on occasion.
Raptor Micromesh Gutter Guards are available on Amazon and include all installation hardware and instructions. Costs range from $125 to $150 for a 48-foot stainless steel kit—a sample kit is only $8.99. Since most homes require more than that, you’ll likely have to purchase multiple kits for full coverage. For example, for a 200-linear-foot gutter system, you need at least five packs.
As of this writing, this DIY option has a 4.5/5 rating on Amazon with nearly 6,000 reviews.
Most customers are satisfied with Raptor’s performance, price, and installation. Positive reviews specifically highlight the instruction booklet, how easy the guards are to install, and the screen’s effectiveness. They were also particularly impressed with Raptor’s ability to block pine needles.
Critical reviews note the difficulty of installing Raptor on nonstandard roof and gutter systems, with customers expressing frustration about altering or modifying the guard to fit on their gutters or fascia. Other negative reviews cite the product’s shortcomings with snow and ice. Since the guard doesn’t filter snow, it created a platform for the snow, causing the snow to pile up or create ice dams.
Raptor products come with a 25-year warranty, which is detailed on the last page of its instruction manual. The warranty only covers parts and doesn’t protect against labor and reinstallation problems. If you live in a coastal area, the policy only covers 5 years.
- Style: Micromesh with v-bend design
- Material: Stainless steel
- Visibility: When installed correctly, Raptor guards aren’t visible from the ground
- Cost: $124.99 to $149.99 for a 48-foot gutter guard kit
- Size: Fits five and six-inch gutters
Amerimax Home Products
4.0
Our Rating
Amerimax Home Products offers a wide variety of guards for DIY installations, including mesh-screen, reverse-curve, and micromesh guards. Its Lock-In Gutter Guard is my choice for the best DIY mesh gutter guard. It provides a fairly simple solution for homeowners in areas with less extreme weather patterns.
Castle Windows is the best choice for homeowners seeking comprehensive, long-term warranty protection for their replacement windows. The company provides lifetime guarantees on windows and workmanship, giving customers some of the best buyer protection in the industry.
Castle’s protection applies to window units, glass, and labor, as long as the windows remain in their original openings. Even if you sell your home, its Castle Windows will retain non-prorated protection with transferable lifetime warranty coverage.
Castle provides customers with additional support in its troubleshooting and service guides. The troubleshooting guide provides extensive window maintenance and repair information, and the service guide video tutorials visually demonstrate how to care for your Castle Windows products.
Our testing team found installing the Lock-In Gutter Guard the easiest out of these listed DIY products, as the guard proved fairly pliable. However, I recommend wearing thick gloves for safety—the product has sharp edges.
During testing, the mesh screen kept most larger debris out of the gutters, and the large holes allowed the simulated rainfall to flow easily. Pine needles, shingle grit, and seed pods were able to get through.
Although these gutter guards from Amerimax Home Products held up well over the course of our week-long testing, we concluded that homeowners would likely have to do some light maintenance a few times a year to keep small debris from building up. The guard can also warp over time if left under more extreme debris accumulation.
Amerimax is ideal for K-style gutters between four and six inches wide, but the easy “lock-in” installation allows it to fit almost any gutter. Simply slide the straight edge under your roof shingles while snapping the leading edge into your gutters.
On Amazon, as of this writing, Amerimax’s Lock-In Gutter Guards are only sold in single 25-foot packs, which cost $64.49 on Amazon, or $0.86 per linear foot. You can also find this product and larger packs in major home improvement stores.
Amerimax’s Lock-In Gutter Guards are rated at 4.6/5, with 1,900 reviews on Amazon as of this writing. Customers praise its sturdiness, clarity of instructions, value, and easy installation. Some reviewers have even noticed that their guards did block some pine needles.
Negative reviewers claim to have received the wrong product or that materials were missing from their shipment. Other customers state that the pitch of their roof combined with the guard’s design resulted in frequent overflows.
Amerimax’s gutter guard warranty varies depending on which guard you buy. The metal mesh guard has a 10-year product warranty and manufacturer’s warranty, which covers product failure. I wasn’t able to locate additional information about the policy’s terms or limitations.
- Style: Steel mesh
- Material: Powder-coated steel
- Visibility: Depends on gutter width; mesh can bow upward when installed on four-inch gutters
- Cost: $64.49 for a single 25-foot pack
- Size: Available in four, five, or six-inch widths
GutterBrush
2.1
Our Rating
GutterBrush is my recommendation for the best brush option for DIY gutter guards. This supplier’s three-foot lengths make customization for any gutter system easy, and installation is among the quickest you’ll experience with any gutter product.
Castle Windows is the best choice for homeowners seeking comprehensive, long-term warranty protection for their replacement windows. The company provides lifetime guarantees on windows and workmanship, giving customers some of the best buyer protection in the industry.
Castle’s protection applies to window units, glass, and labor, as long as the windows remain in their original openings. Even if you sell your home, its Castle Windows will retain non-prorated protection with transferable lifetime warranty coverage.
Castle provides customers with additional support in its troubleshooting and service guides. The troubleshooting guide provides extensive window maintenance and repair information, and the service guide video tutorials visually demonstrate how to care for your Castle Windows products.
During testing, our team found that GutterBrush’s guards offered decent protection against leaves and light debris. The gaps between the brush and the gutters made it easy for small dirt and branches to make their way into the gutter, making semi-regular cleaning a necessity. Heavier debris bent the bristles out of shape.
However, they’re fairly durable as far as brush guards go. Depending on where you live, you should get between two and 10 years of use. That said, GutterBrush’s product is one of the best options if you’re looking for a quick, easy gutter guard installation without drilling.
Your GutterBrush gutter guard cost will depend largely on the size of your gutter system, as the brand sells several sizes, each with different price points.
According to GutterBrush’s website, prices start here:
- 4-inch: $4.91 per foot
- 5-inch: $4.66 per foot
- 6-inch: $5.83 per foot
I’ve found that if you buy larger amounts, the cost per linear foot decreases. For example, if you purchased 15 feet of 5-inch gutter guards, it’s $4.66 per linear foot. If you purchased 30 feet of the same product, it’s only $4.30 per linear foot. So, you can save if you need to purchase more.
In addition, you can find deals for GutterBrush’s products. As of this writing, its website was offering 20% to 35% off your purchase..
GutterBrush currently holds a 4.5/5 on Amazon across nearly 900 reviews. Positive feedback praises the gutter guard’s affordability, efficiency, easy installation, water flow, and customer service. Some customers even note the guard kept out pine needles.
Customers who left 1-star reviews explain that leaves or standing water collected under the brush, inviting pests. Others state that while the brush worked for most debris, certain types of material, such as helicopter seeds from maple trees, were difficult to remove.
GutterGuard’s products come with a manufacturer’s 10-year guarantee, which promises that the leaf guards will be free from defects for 10 years after your purchase. In addition, there’s also a customer satisfaction guarantee. Customers who are unhappy with their recent purchase (within one year) can contact the company for options.
GutterGuard doesn’t supply specific warranty terms and limitations on their website.
- Style: Brush
- Material: Plastic
- Visibility: If correctly sized, GutterBrush will only be visible when you’re at eye level
- Cost: $4.91 – $5.83 per linear foot or less if you buy more
- Size: Fits nearly all gutters and is available from 3.25 to 8-inch diameters
Tips for Choosing and Installing DIY Gutter Guards
You should consider your experience and knowledge before installing gutter guards yourself. For example, if you’re concerned about working on a tall ladder, DIY gutter guards might not be for you.
You’ll also need to think about how you attach the guard to your gutters. Adhesive products are easy to apply, but they’re difficult to remove later. The glue could break down over time, too. Screw-in products are more difficult to install, but they’re long-lasting. Snap-in products could blow off in high winds. Some guards slide under your shingles, which could damage your roof or void its warranty.
In addition to purchasing the gutter guard materials, you’ll need specific tools. Some products don’t come with all of the required hardware, such as screws. You’ll have to buy these separately. Here’s a list of what you should gather before you start:
- Bucket
- Electric drill
- Gloves
- Hose with spray nozzle
- Ladder
- Ladder stabilizer
- Quarter-inch self-piercing screws
- Safety glasses
- Safety harness
- Screwdriver
- Tape measure
- Tin snips
Installing gutter guards can be dangerous, especially if you’re not comfortable working at heights or don’t have experience. If your home has more than one story, I highly recommend going with a professional.
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FAQs About Gutter Guards
Yes, gutter guards work. However, their effectiveness depends on the type of gutter guard and the types of debris in your area.
Clogs in the gutter can lead to standing water, overflow, damage to the home, mold, mildew, and pests. Gutter guards block debris from entering your gutter, which helps to prevent clogs. Some guards protect against all types of debris, including pine needles and shingle grit, while others only keep larger materials, such as leaves, out.
While gutter guards don’t completely eliminate the need to clean your gutters, they significantly decrease the number of times you have to climb a ladder to do it. If debris collects on top of your guard, you can often just wash it off with a hose.
Yes, for many homeowners, gutter guards are worth the money. They reduce the need for gutter cleaning and protect the home and surrounding landscape from water damage. Blocked gutters can lead to costly problems like roof leaks, insect infestations, and foundation damage.
To determine if gutter guards are worth it for your home, consider how much and what type of debris collects in your gutters. If you’re spending a lot of time and/or money removing clogs, it’s likely a good investment.
However, if you live in a dry climate or have little foliage collecting in your gutters, guards may not be worth the extra expense. You can talk with a professional installer to determine the cost and weigh the pros and cons for your unique situation.
Professionally installed gutter guards range from around $4.50 to $45 per linear foot of gutter. DIY gutter guards tend to cost between $0.86 and $5.83 per linear foot.
The exact cost varies depending on a number of factors, including the type of installation, the material used, and the linear footage of your roof. Your location and roof pitch could also impact the final price.
Even if you decide to install the gutter covers yourself, I recommend getting a quote from a professional first. It can give you valuable insight into your home’s needs, and the cost may be less than you anticipated.
Plastic gutter guards often last between five and 10 years. Metal gutter guards, such as aluminum or stainless steel, can last 10 to 20 years. Brush guards tend to have a lifespan between two to 10 years.
The life expectancy of gutter guards varies depending on their material, your area’s climate, surrounding foliage, and frequency of maintenance and cleaning.
If you’re looking for a temporary yet affordable solution, I recommend going with a foam insert or brush guard. For longer results, opt for a metal product, including stainless steel. However, metal gutter guards are more expensive than plastic, foam, or brush options.
While some companies advertise that you’ll never need to clean your gutters again after installing their guards, this isn’t true. No matter how effective the product, gutter guards can’t completely replace the need for regular gutter cleaning and maintenance. However, they make required cleaning easier and less frequent.
Without gutter guards, you likely need to clean your gutters at least twice per year. With a good set of gutter guards, you can clean them once every year or two. Instead of grabbing a scoop and digging debris out of your system, you can brush the debris off the top of the guard or spray it down with a hose.
While you’re cleaning, inspect your gutter and gutter guards for rust, corrosion, mold or mildew growth, and other signs of damage. If you notice anything amiss, I recommend calling a professional right away to prevent water damage to your home.
In freezing weather, some gutter guards, such as reverse-curve and micromesh guards, can contribute to forming ice dams—ice that builds at your roof edge and prevents melting snow from draining. However, most ice dams stem from improper attic ventilation.
Left unchecked, ice dams can cause water to freeze under the shingles. As the ice melts, the water then leaks into a home, causing damage to ceilings, insulation, walls, and more.
I recommend ensuring your attic is properly ventilated and insulated to protect against ice dams. If you have reverse-curve or micromesh guards installed, you can add heated tape to counteract any ice dams that form.
Certain weather conditions can cause gutter guards to degrade quicker than usual. The two biggest culprits are heavily pollinating trees and climates with higher salinity, or salt.
Some types of pollen produce acidic compounds when they break down in water, which causes some gutter guards to corrode faster than usual. To prevent pollen buildup, trim overhanging trees and clean your gutters regularly.
If you live within a few miles of a coastline, the air is more saturated with sea salt, which also corrodes gutter guards. In this situation, I recommend using plastic covers over metal ones.
In addition, some gutter guards work better in heavy rainfall than others. For example, mesh, micromesh, screen, and brush guards can handle heavy downpours. Foam and reverse-curve guards are susceptible to overflows during heavy rain.
Unfortunately, there is no simple way to know how gutter guards will affect your existing roof warranty. Chances are you’re in the clear if you have your gutter guards professionally installed, but faulty installation nullifies some manufacturer’s warranties. For example, some policies don’t cover damage caused by installing equipment, which would include gutter guards.
I recommend reading over the roof warranty’s fine print or calling the contractor for more information before you install gutter guards. You can also discuss how the guards are installed with the gutter guard company ahead of time and what coverage exists if the installers damage your home or roof in the process.
How We Tested Which Gutter Guards Were Best
At Today’s Homeowner, we value transparency and authenticity when rating any of the products we review. We purchased sample packs for each DIY gutter guard option and installed them at our facility. Eight feet of each gutter guard was installed on our five-inch gutters and was tested for a full week under harsh conditions.
We replicated these by loading the tops of our gutters with the following types of debris while subjecting them to periodic heavy rainfall (greater than 50 mm per hour). The debris below was loaded at a weight not exceeding eight ounces per foot, by the percentages listed.
- Hay (30%): Dried hay was meant to replicate the weight and consistency of dry leaves and smaller sticks that could fall onto gutters in any location. Most of this would roll off the gutters at the start of any simulated rainfall and would not pose an issue for most gutter guards.
- Mulch (45%): Cedar mulch is a bit weightier and of more mixed consistency. This would affect any non-micro-mesh gutter guards, as the varied texture would be troublesome when coupled with wet conditions.
- Screened Top Soil (25%): Screened top soil (no more than two ounces per foot) would simulate shingle grit, pollen, and any other small granulated debris that could accumulate on gutters.
Each gutter guard was tested outdoors for a full week with the above debris piled on. In addition to natural elements, we simulated heavy rainfall (50 mm per hour) each for at least two hours to ensure proper water flow for the duration of testing.
