Signs You May Need Gutter Guards
Gutter guards aren’t always needed, but the signs of blocked and overflowing gutters are clear. Signals of chronic gutter issues include:
- Mold growth, peeling exterior paint, or interior water stains on walls near gutters.
- Leaky seams or joints where water leaks out of gutters
- Frequent clogs that cause overflow and water to spill over gutters
- Soggy ground or visible erosion around your house's foundation
- Visibly damaged, sagging, or misaligned gutters that no longer direct rainwater correctly
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 fit guards to your home’s unique dimensions. Contact these providers to learn about their experience and ask for local references.
Verify Proper Licensing and Insurance
Always ensure professional gutter guard installers are properly licensed, bonded, and hold general liability insurance and workers compensation. This protects you from liability for any injuries or accidents that could occur. Ask to see current licensing and insurance papers when evaluating potential providers.
Choose Reputable Brands
Look for reputable gutter guard brands such as Gutter Helmet and LeafFilter 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
For optimal performance, gutter guards need to be sized and cut on-site to match your unique gutter setup. Pick a company that uniquely sizes and cuts guards specifically for your home, rather than using universal guards. Accurately fitted guards will leave no gaps for debris to get stuck.
Examine Warranties
High-quality gutter guard installers usually offer 20-year or lifetime warranties protecting against clogs, rust, leaks, and other issues. Before picking a provider, 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 Yelp, Google Reviews, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. You can also ask neighbors for recommendations on quality local gutter guard companies. When researching providers, we'd recommend going for companies with consistently positive or good feedback instead of just a single review.
Types of Gutter Guards
There are six typical types of gutter guards. These include the following:
- Foam guards are lightweight and easy to install. With this type of guard, debris lands on the foam instead of in your gutter. On average, you can expect to pay $2.45 per linear foot for foam guards.
- Brush guards are 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 allow water through while stopping debris. Screen guards cost around $3.97 per linear foot.
- Mesh guards have smaller holes than screen guards and similarly catch debris while allowing water to flow through. They are durable and help debris 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, letting even less debris through than mesh. These types of guards are very effective. Micro-mesh guards cost roughly $4.91 per linear foot.
- 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 are often visible from the ground. On average, you can expect to spend $2.94 per linear foot for surface tension guards.
