This DIY project can cut down on gutter maintenance
Every homeowner knows the trials and tribulations of gutter maintenance. Gutter guards are a tool that can cut down on the time, stress, and hassle of making sure your gutters function properly. Certain kinds of gutter guards can only be installed by the pros, but others can be installed by homeowners who are moderately comfortable with DIY work (and climbing ladders). Read on to learn how to install DIY-appropriate gutter guards yourself and when it’s time to call a nearby gutter guard installer.
Before beginning the installation, make sure to select the best gutter guards for your home. The average cost of gutter guards is $1,445, but with so many different types on the market, homeowners pay anywhere between $610 and $2,279, depending on the product.
Choosing the right gutter guards depends on a number of different factors, including budget, the product’s lifespan, and the length of your gutters. Two other important considerations are climate—since certain styles of gutter guards don’t perform well in heavy rain or freezing temperatures—and the type of debris most likely to clog your gutters. If your roof catches a lot of pine needles, for example, you’ll need a style like micro-mesh designed to keep out smaller materials. Here are the different styles of gutter guard to consider.
Gutter guards made from steel, aluminum, or plastic screens are one of the most popular and affordable styles. They are typically designed for simple DIY installation. Screen guards are best suited to shielding the gutters from large debris, like sticks and leaves. Make sure to understand how they might affect your roof warranty, since improper installation could potentially void your coverage. The average cost for plastic screens runs between $0.40 to $1 per linear foot, while metal screens usually cost between $1.50 and $3.50 per linear foot.
One of the pricier options on the market, micro-mesh gutter guards are ideal for homeowners most concerned with keeping smaller debris—like sand—out of their gutters. The micro-mesh is attached to a metal screen that comes in different shapes for different kinds of gutters. Micro-mesh gutter guards typically need more frequent cleaning than other styles, and many of them require professional installation. On the plus side, they are among the most durable options. Expect to pay $2 to $4 per linear foot.
Foam is a low-cost option that typically makes for simple installation. Other benefits of foam gutter guards include the fact that they cannot be seen from below and only require occasional cleaning. But foam gutter guards aren’t well-suited to particularly rainy or cold climates (they need to be removed when the temperature dips below freezing). There is also a wide variation in quality from brand to brand, and lower-quality products can be ineffective and potentially even dangerous, so make sure to do your research. Homeowners typically pay between $2 and $3.50 per linear foot for materials.
Made up of metal and thermoplastic bristles, gutter brushes can simply be placed into standard size gutters. The design allows water to pass through safely while keeping out large debris such as leaves. As with foam gutter guards, gutter brushes can pose hazards to your home in freezing temperatures. The average costs fall between $3 and $4.25 per linear foot.
Reverse curve—also known as surface tension—gutter guards are one of the oldest available styles. They function as a kind of hood placed over your gutters, with a small slit to let water through. Usually made from aluminum or plastic, they come in sizes between four and six inches wide. They last a long time and can help prevent gutters from rusting and corroding.
Downsides of reverse curve gutter guards include the fact that they can interfere with proper gutter function during heavy rainstorms, potentially leading to foundation damage. Plus, the warm, dry pocket they create in gutters can be attractive to pests. Expect to pay between $5 and $25 per linear foot.
Before installing gutter guards, you must fully clean your gutters as well as your downspouts—which carry water out of the gutters and away from your home’s foundation—to avoid trapping dirt and debris in place. There are tools available that can be attached to a hose or a wet/dry vacuum that allow you to clean the gutters from the ground. Otherwise, you will need to use a sturdy and reliable extension ladder (never a step ladder), secured with an s-hook or stabilizer arms and supported by an on-the-ground assistant. From there, you can empty out the gutter with a leaf blower, a power washer, or by hand.
Alternatively, you can hire a local gutter cleaning service to take care of the messy part for you. The average cost of a gutter cleaning runs between $119 and $228, depending on the length, type, and condition of your gutters and the location of your home.
Once you have fully cleaned and emptied out your gutters, use a hose to run water through the whole system and make sure everything is draining smoothly. After confirming that water can flow fully through the gutters and downspouts, inspect the gutters for signs of rust, holes, or leakage. Look out for nests or any other signs of pest infestation, too.
If all looks good, you can move on to the next steps. If your gutters require repairs, however, you should perform that work before installing gutter guards. If you have holes or leaks, you may be able to fix them yourself with a gutter patching kit or by installing roof flashing. You can also learn how to repair sagging gutters as a DIY project. More serious issues could require a nearby gutter repair pro.
If your gutters have started to rust, they have reached the end of their life and need to be replaced. The cost of gutter replacement typically falls between $4 and $30 per square foot.
The installation process will vary depending on the style and brand of your gutter guards. Carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions; many companies also offer instructional videos. As with other stages of the process, ladder safety is paramount. Make sure you’re using an extension ladder of the proper height that can be secured with an s-hook or stabilizer arms. It’s always best to work with an assistant who can steady the ladder from the ground.
Some gutter guards are designed to be snapped into place, while others must be anchored with screws or other kinds of fasteners. Whichever method your gutter guards require, make sure they are secure before moving on; loose gutter guards cannot do their job and could pose hazards to those on the ground.
Whether your gutter guards are slip-in or require screws or nails, you will likely end up with a little extra material that must be trimmed at the edges and joints of your gutters. Use a tool appropriate to the material: Plastic or thin metal can be cut with a utility knife or tin snips, while thicker materials may require the use of a hand saw or circular saw.
Some gutter guard brands, especially those offering micro-mesh and reverse curve styles, can only be installed by professionals. Others are explicitly designed for easy DIY installation, especially foam gutter guards and brush covers. But even the easiest kinds of gutter guards to install require the use of an extension ladder, which always poses some potential hazards.
If you hire a professional gutter guard installer, expect to pay between $2 and $6 per linear foot in labor. For a home with 150 linear feet of gutters, professional installation could add between $300 and $900 to the total bill.
Your roof warranty is another factor to consider, since it might be voided by the improper installation of gutter guards. Make sure you understand your policy fully and opt for professional installation if you have any doubts; the money saved by DIY installation would be paltry compared to the liability of an uninsured roof.
Gutter guards can cut down on the frequency of gutter cleaning, but no model is perfect. While gutter guards are efficient at keeping yard debris out of gutters, that same material can end up clogging the guards themselves. In addition, some gutter guards can trap seeds that will eventually sprout foliage if left untreated. And some models can be aesthetically unappealing, potentially reducing the curb appeal of your home. But perhaps the biggest risk is that improper gutter guard installation could void your roof warranty.
For homeowners who do not opt for gutter guards, the most common alternative is annual or biannual gutter cleaning. There are other products on the market designed to cut down on gutter cleanings, such as whole gutter systems like LeafGuard (which offers both gutter and guard in a single product) and guards and inserts designed to protect your downspouts.
