Signs You May Need Gutter Guards
Gutter guards aren't required for all homes, but evidence of obstructed gutters is clear. Indicators of chronic gutter troubles are:
- Mold growth, interior wall stains, or peeling exterior paint on walls near gutters.
- Leaky joints or seams where water leaks out of gutters
- Soggy ground or visible erosion around your foundation
- Frequent clogs that lead to overflow and water spilling 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 extensive 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. Get in touch with these companies to find out about their experience and ask for local references.
Verify Proper Licensing and Insurance
When getting in touch with potential installation providers, always confirm that they are properly licensed, bonded, and insured with both general liability and workers compensation policies. This protects you if any injuries or accidents happen. Ask for current licensing and insurance papers from potential providers.
Choose Reputable Brands
Look for installers that provide leading trusted gutter guard brands such as Gutter Helmet and LeafFilter. Steer clear of companies that only install their own off-brand products or generic no-name guards. These lesser-known products may not have gone through rigorous quality testing.
Seek Custom Fit Services
For the best performance, gutter guards should have to be measured and fitted on-site to match your gutters. Select a company that takes custom measurements and trims guards for your house instead of using universal guards. Well-fitted guards avoid debris-trapping gaps.
Examine Warranties
High-quality gutter guard companies typically offer 20-year or lifetime warranties for clogs, rust, leaks, and other problems. Before choosing a company, carefully read through the warranty terms for workmanship and materials guarantees. Warranties are the most effective means of protecting your gutter investment.
Check Reviews and Referrals
It's a good idea to look at online reviews on sites like Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Yelp to see what customers say about their experience. You can also ask neighbors to suggest quality gutter guard businesses in your area. When researching potential providers, we recommend selecting companies with a history of consistent positive feedback rather than just one or two reviews.
Types of Gutter Guards
The six most common types of gutter guards are as follows:
- Brush guards are just what they sound like: large brush bristles that sit in your gutters and catch debris while letting water through. Brush guards cost roughly $4.04 per linear foot.
- Foam guards are light and easy to install. Debris collects on the foam instead of in your gutter. On average, you can expect to pay $2.46 per linear foot for foam guards.
- Screen guards have large holes that allow water through while keeping out debris. Screen guards cost around $4.32 per linear foot.
- Mesh guards have smaller holes than screen guards and similarly catch debris while letting water filter through. They are durable and encourage debris to slide off rather than sit on top of your gutters. On average, you can expect to spend $4.08 per linear foot for mesh guards.
- Micro-mesh guards have even smaller holes than mesh guards, letting even less debris through than mesh. They are very effective. On average, you can expect to spend $5.16 per linear foot for micro-mesh guards.
- Surface tension guards, sometimes called reverse curve guards, use surface tension to allow debris to slide off while water flows through into the gutter. They can typically be seen from the ground. Surface tension guards cost roughly $3.18 per linear foot.
