Signs You May Need Gutter Guards
Gutter guards aren't always necessary, but the signs of clogged and overflowing gutters are clear. Signals of ongoing gutter troubles are:
- Leaky joints or seams where water leaks from the gutters
- Soggy ground or visible erosion patterns around your house's foundation
- Mold growth, interior wall stains, or peeling exterior paint on walls near gutters.
- Visibly saggy, damaged, or misaligned gutters that no longer correctly direct rainwater
- Frequent clogs that cause overflow and water to spill over gutters
How To Choose a Gutter Guard Installer
Assess Their Experience
When choosing an installation company, look for one with considerable experience and knowledge about various brands and guard types. A company with experience will understand how to take measurements and fit gutter guards for your specific needs. Inquire about a provider's years of experience and request referrals from local customers.
Verify Proper Licensing and Insurance
When contacting potential installation providers, always verify that they are properly licensed, bonded, and insured with both general liability and workers compensation policies. This protects you if any accidents or injuries happen. Request current licensing and insurance papers from 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 that only carry 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 the best performance, guards should be sized and trimmed on-site to fit your gutters. Pick a company that specifically measures and trims guards for your home rather than using universal guards. Properly fitted guards minimize gaps where debris can get trapped.
Examine Warranties
Top gutter guard installers normally have 20-year or lifetime warranties against rust, leaks, clogs, and other issues. Before choosing a company, carefully read through the warranty terms for both materials and workmanship guarantees. Warranties are the best way to safeguard your investment into your gutters.
Check Reviews and Referrals
Take some time to look at online reviews on sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, or Yelp to hear more about customer experiences. You can also ask neighbors to suggest quality local gutter guard companies. When researching providers, it's best to choose companies with consistently positive or good feedback instead of just one or two reviews.
Types of Gutter Guards
The six primary types of gutter guards include the following:
- Foam guards are light and easy to install. This type of guard catches debris on the foam and keeps it out of your gutter. Foam guards cost around $2.46 per linear foot.
- Brush guards are exactly what they sound like: large brush bristles that sit in your gutters and catch debris while letting water through. Brush guards cost around $4.04 per linear foot.
- Screen guards have large holes that let water through while keeping out debris. Screen guards cost roughly $4.31 per linear foot.
- 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 rather than sitting on top of your gutters. Mesh guards cost roughly $4.07 per linear foot.
- Micro-mesh guards have even smaller holes than mesh guards and allow even less debris through than mesh. These types of guards are very effective. Micro-mesh guards cost around $5.15 per linear foot.
- 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 are normally visible from the ground. On average, you can expect to spend $3.17 per linear foot for surface tension guards.
