Signs You May Need Gutter Guards
While gutter guards aren't always needed, the signs of clogged gutters are clear. Issues stemming from persistent gutter problems include:
- Soggy ground or visible erosion patterns around your house's foundation
- Visibly damaged, sagging, or misaligned gutters that no longer correctly direct rainwater
- Frequent clogs that cause overflow and water to spill over gutters
- Leaky seams or joints where water leaks from the gutters
- Mold growth, interior wall stains, or peeling exterior paint on walls near gutters.
How To Choose a Gutter Guard Installer
Assess Their Experience
Companies with extensive gutter guard installation experience that have handled a wide variety of styles and models will know how to take accurate measurements and attach guards to your home’s unique dimensions. Get in touch with these providers to get details regarding their experience and ask for local references.
Verify Proper Licensing and Insurance
When speaking with potential installation providers, always make sure that they are properly licensed, bonded, and insured with both workers compensation and general liability coverage. This protects you if any accidents or injuries happen. Request current licensing and insurance papers from potential providers.
Choose Reputable Brands
Look for installers that offer leading trusted gutter guard brands such as Gutter Helmet and LeafFilter. Steer clear of companies that only offer their own off-brand products or generic no-name guards. These lesser-known products may lack rigorous testing.
Seek Custom Fit Services
For top 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 home instead of using generic options. Well-fitted guards prevent debris-trapping gaps from forming.
Examine Warranties
Top gutter guard companies often offer 20-year or lifetime warranties covering leaks, clogs, rust, and other issues. When picking a company, read through the warranty details for both workmanship and materials guarantees. Warranties offer the best protection for your gutter investment.
Check Reviews and Referrals
Take some time to research online reviews on sites like Yelp, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or Google Reviews to learn more about customer experiences. You can also ask neighbors who they would recommend for quality gutter guard businesses in your area. When researching potential providers, we recommend selecting companies with positive reviews consistently over time rather than just one or two reviews.
Types of Gutter Guards
The six most common types of gutter guards are as follows:
- Foam guards are large pieces of foam that rest in your gutters to catch debris. They're lightweight and easy to install. On average, you can expect to pay $2.45 per linear foot for foam guards.
- Brush guards are precisely what they sound like: large brush bristles that sit in your gutters and let water through while blocking debris. Brush guards cost roughly $4.03 per linear foot.
- Screen guards have large holes that let water through while blocking debris. On average, you can expect to pay $3.97 per linear foot for screen guards.
- Mesh guards have smaller holes than screen guards and similarly catch debris while letting water filter through. Mesh guards are durable and allow debris to slide off rather than sit on top of your gutters. On average, you can expect to pay $3.81 per linear foot for mesh guards.
- Micro-mesh guards have even smaller holes than mesh guards and let even less debris through than mesh. They are extremely effective. Micro-mesh guards cost around $4.91 per linear foot.
- Surface tension guards, also called reverse curve guards, use surface tension to allow water to flow into your gutters while debris slides off. Generally, they are visible from the ground. Surface tension guards cost roughly $2.94 per linear foot.
