Signs You May Need Gutter Guards
Gutter guards aren't always necessary, but evidence of obstructed gutters is clear. Indicators of ongoing gutter troubles are:
- Soggy ground or visible erosion around your home's foundation
- Leaky joints or seams where water leaks out of gutters
- Mold growth, peeling exterior paint, or interior water stains on walls near gutters.
- Frequent clogs that cause overflow and water to spill over gutters
- Visibly saggy, damaged, or misaligned gutters that no longer direct rainwater correctly
How To Choose a Gutter Guard Installer
Assess Their Experience
Providers with years of gutter guard installation experience that have worked with a wide variety of styles and models will know how to measure accurately and fit guards to your home’s unique dimensions. Reach out to these providers to get details regarding their experience and ask for local references.
Verify Proper Licensing and Insurance
Always ensure professional gutter guard installers are licensed, bonded, and hold workers compensation and general liability insurance. This protects you from liability for any accidents or injuries that might happen. Ask to see current licensing and insurance papers when speaking to potential providers.
Choose Reputable Brands
Seek out companies that carry tenured and trusted gutter guard brands such as Gutter Helmet and LeafFilter. Be wary of companies only offering generic no-name or their own off-brand guards, as these likely have not undergone the same rigorous testing as major brands.
Seek Custom Fit Services
For superior performance, gutter guards need custom measurements and trimming on-site to match your gutters. Select a company that takes specific measurements and trims guards for your house instead of using universal guards. Correctly-fitted guards prevent debris-trapping gaps from forming.
Examine Warranties
Top gutter guard installers typically have 20-year or lifetime warranties that cover clogs, rust, leaks, and other defects. Before choosing a company, thoroughly review the warranty terms for both workmanship and materials guarantees. Warranties are the best way to safeguard your gutter investment.
Check Reviews and Referrals
Take some time to look at online reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, Yelp, and other review sites to read customer feedback. Ask neighbors which companies they recommend for quality local gutter guard installation. When researching, look for providers with plenty of satisfied customers rather than only one or two sporadic reviews.
Types of Gutter Guards
There are six most common types of gutter guards. These include the following:
- Foam guards consist of pieces of foam that sit in your gutters to catch debris. They're lightweight and easy to install. Foam guards cost around $2.46 per linear foot.
- Brush guards are precisely what they sound like: large brush bristles that sit in your gutters and block debris while letting water through. Brush guards cost roughly $4.04 per linear foot.
- Screen guards have large holes that allow water to pass through while blocking debris. Screen guards cost around $4.32 per linear foot.
- Mesh guards have smaller holes than screen guards and similarly stop debris while letting water filter through. They are durable and let debris slide off rather than sit on your gutters. On average, you can expect to spend $4.08 per linear foot for mesh guards.
- Micro-mesh guards are generally the most effective. They have smaller holes than standard mesh guards and let even less debris through. On average, you can expect to pay $5.16 per linear foot for micro-mesh guards.
- Surface tension guards, sometimes called reverse curve guards, use surface tension to encourage debris to slide off while water flows through into the gutter. They can usually be seen from the ground. Surface tension guards cost around $3.18 per linear foot.
