Signs You May Need Gutter Guards
Gutter guards aren’t always necessary, but the signs of blocked and overflowing gutters are clear. Signals of chronic gutter issues include:
- Soggy ground or visible erosion around your foundation
- Leaky joints or seams where water leaks from the gutters
- Visibly saggy, damaged, or misaligned gutters that no longer correctly direct rainwater
- Frequent clogs that lead to overflow and water spilling over gutters
- Mold growth, interior wall stains, or peeling exterior paint on walls near gutters.
How To Choose a Gutter Guard Installer
Assess Their Experience
When picking an installation company, look for one with extensive experience and knowledge about various brands and guard types. A company with experience will understand how to take measurements and install gutter guards for your specific needs. Ask about a provider's years of experience and request referrals from local customers.
Verify Proper Licensing and Insurance
Confirm that any providers you're considering are properly licensed, bonded, and insured, with both general liability and workers compensation protection. This protects you from liability for possible injuries and accidents. Ask potential providers for current licensing and insurance papers.
Choose Reputable Brands
Seek out companies that provide 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 lack the rigorous testing of larger brands.
Seek Custom Fit Services
For superior performance, gutter guards should have on-site sizing and cutting to match your gutters. Select a company that takes specific measurements and trims guards for your house instead of using generic options. Correctly-fitted guards avoid debris-trapping gaps.
Examine Warranties
Leading gutter guard companies often offer 20-year or lifetime warranties for clogs, rust, leaks, and other issues. When choosing a company, carefully examine the warranty details for both materials and workmanship guarantees. Warranties offer the best protection for your gutter investment.
Check Reviews and Referrals
Take some time to research online reviews on Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Yelp, and other review sites to read about customer experiences. Ask neighbors to recommend quality local gutter guard companies. When researching providers, we'd recommend opting for companies with consistent positive feedback instead of just one or two reviews.
Types of Gutter Guards
There are six typical gutter guard types. These include the following:
- Foam guards are large pieces of foam that are placed in your gutters to catch debris. They're lightweight and easy to install. On average, you can expect to spend $2.47 per linear foot for foam guards.
- Brush guards are just what they sound like: large brush bristles that sit in your gutters and let water through while catching debris. Brush guards cost roughly $4.06 per linear foot.
- Screen guards have large holes that allow water through while keeping out debris. Screen guards cost around $4.67 per linear foot.
- Mesh guards have smaller holes than screen guards and similarly stop debris while letting water flow through. These guards are durable and let debris slide off rather than sit on top of your gutters. On average, you can expect to spend $4.35 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 very effective. On average, you can expect to spend $5.41 per linear foot for micro-mesh guards.
- Surface tension guards, also called reverse curve guards, use surface tension to allow water to flow into your gutters while debris slides off. Normally, they can be seen from the ground. On average, you can expect to spend $3.42 per linear foot for surface tension guards.
