Signs You May Need Gutter Guards
Gutter guards aren’t always needed, but the signs of overflowing and clogged gutters are clear. Signals of chronic gutter issues include:
- Soggy ground or visible erosion patterns around your home's foundation
- Leaky seams or joints where water leaks from the gutters
- Frequent clogs that cause overflow and water to spill over gutters
- Visibly saggy, damaged, or misaligned gutters that no longer direct rainwater correctly
- Mold growth, peeling exterior paint, or interior water stains on walls near gutters.
How To Choose a Gutter Guard Installer
Assess Their Experience
When selecting an installation company, look for one with extensive experience and knowledge about various brands and guard types. A company with experience will understand how to take measurements and install gutter guards for your specific needs. Ask about a provider's years of experience and request referrals from local customers.
Verify Proper Licensing and Insurance
When speaking with potential installation companies, always confirm that they are properly licensed, bonded, and insured with both workers compensation and general liability protection. This protects you if any injuries or accidents occur. Request current licensing and insurance papers from potential providers.
Choose Reputable Brands
Look for well-known gutter guard brands such as LeafFilter and Gutter Helmet when selecting an installer. Avoid generic no-name or off-brand guards, which likely have not gone through rigorous quality control testing.
Seek Custom Fit Services
Gutter guards should be sized and cut while at your home to match your gutters. Pick a company that specifically measures and trims guards for your house rather than using universal guards. Guards fitted for your home leave no gaps for debris accumulation.
Examine Warranties
High-quality gutter guard installers normally offer 20-year or lifetime warranties for leaks, rust, clogs, and other problems. Before picking a company, carefully read through the warranty terms for materials and workmanship guarantees. Warranties are an excellent means of protecting your gutter investment.
Check Reviews and Referrals
It's a good idea to look at online reviews on sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Yelp, or Google Reviews to learn more about customer experiences. You can also ask your neighbors to suggest quality gutter guard businesses near you. When researching potential providers, it's best to opt for companies with positive reviews consistently over time rather than just one or two reviews.
Types of Gutter Guards
There are six typical types of gutter guards. These include the following:
- Foam guards are large pieces of foam that sit in your gutters to block debris. They're lightweight and easy to install. On average, you can expect to spend $2.45 per linear foot for foam guards.
- Brush guards are made of large brush bristles that are installed in your gutters, allowing water to pass through while blocking debris. On average, you can expect to spend $4.02 per linear foot for brush guards.
- Screen guards have large holes that allow water to pass through while keeping out debris. On average, you can expect to spend $3.88 per linear foot for screen guards.
- Mesh guards stop debris but let water through. Mesh guards have even smaller holes than screen guards. They're durable and encourage debris to slide off as opposed to sitting on top of the gutters. Mesh guards cost roughly $3.74 per linear foot.
- Micro-mesh guards have even smaller holes than mesh guards and allow even less debris through than mesh. They are extremely effective. Micro-mesh guards cost around $4.85 per linear foot.
- Surface tension guards, also called reverse curve guards, use surface tension to encourage water to flow into gutter system while debris slides off. Typically, they can be seen from the ground. On average, you can expect to pay $2.88 per linear foot for surface tension guards.
