The Pros and Cons of Gutter Guards for Your Home
Tired of cleaning your gutters? Gutter guards might be your answer.
Standard screen gutter guards can last five to 10 years.
Common gutter guard types include foam, brush, and screen.
Professional gutter guard installation varies from $1,000 to $2,000.
Poorly installed guards can damage your roof.
Nobody enjoys cleaning the gutters, especially if you live in an area with heavy rains. Most people clean their gutters twice a year. However, depending on the climate and the type of trees nearby, you may need to clean your gutter as frequently as every three months. With average gutter cleaning ranging from $120 to $235 for an average home, your expenses can build up quickly over the years. As for DIY cleaning, any project involving height comes with significant risk, let alone the time and effort it would take. In recent years, more people have turned to gutter guards either to save on regular cleaning or add an additional layer of protection against severe storms. Learn the pros and cons of gutter guards so you can decide whether they’re right for you.
What Are Gutter Guards?
Gutter guards are a type of gutter protection system designed to prevent debris from entering your gutters. Most gutter guards add a blockage layer on your gutters or cover them up. The three popular types of gutter guards in the market are mesh, foam, and brush.
Mesh gutter guards are the most effective model. These systems use plastic or metal micro-meshes to block out most debris from entering the gutters. Plastic meshes are typically made with polyethylene or PVC, and metal meshes are often made with stainless steel.
Foam gutter guards are the most affordable option in milder climates. However, they are the easiest to install and remove. On the other hand, brush gutter guards are a medium option between foam and mesh guards. They can prevent most large debris, but the brush design may allow smaller pieces to fall through.
| Types | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Mesh | Most durable, blocks out most debris even in heavy storms | Higher cost, requires professional installation |
| Foam | The most affordable option, easy DIY installation | Not effective in heavy rain, shorter lifespan |
| Brush | Easy installation, blocks out larger debris, relatively affordable | Small debris can pass through, high maintenance and hard-to-clean |
Pros of Gutter Guards
The biggest benefit of installing gutter guards is to protect your gutters and therefore extend their lifespan. By installing gutter guards, you can block out most debris, ensuring your gutter remains clear and allows water to be properly diverted. Less debris also means less cleaning which while inexpensive, is time-consuming and the costs add up over time.
Ensures Proper Water Drainage
Water buildup isn’t just an annoyance—it can severely damage your gutters and the roof fascia they’re attached to. Ice can clog your gutters in the winter, and if it builds up (called ice damming), it can also cause serious damage. Gutter guards should all but prevent these two problems from happening.
Reduces Gutter Cleaning Costs
Gutter cleaning can be done by intrepid homeowners, but it’s not the fastest job and often involves working on ladders for extended periods of time, increasing safety risks. Regular cleaning also has the potential to damage the gutters over time, as it involves strong forces to remove debris and clogs. Gutter guards turn regular maintenance into simply regular monitoring.
Maximizes Gutter Lifespan
You wouldn’t expect your living roof to last very long if you didn’t have a roof. Gutter guards protect your gutters from all of the common reasons gutter lifespans shorten—debris buildup, physical damage, and damage incurred during maintenance.
Cons of Gutter Guards
Gutter guards are an upfront investment and can be costly, which is the main reason some people turn them away. However, gutter guards also have a few other drawbacks.
Doesn’t Completely Block Debris
Gutter guards may prevent large debris from entering, but some small pieces will inevitably get through. Another issue is pine needles, twigs, and seeds a tree may drop, as both can easily sneak past brushes or mesh openings, leading to a clog. These issues are not as easy to spot due to the gutter guards covering the gutter.
Makes Cleaning Gutters More Difficult
With a gutter guard system, it will be much harder to clean out the gutters since the system must be removed first. Therefore, once clogged, you face a more intensive project to get your gutters back up and running.
Faulty Installations May Damage Your Roof
Improper installation can damage your roof and compromise its water resistance. Low-quality or poorly installed gutter guards may also void your roof’s warranty or raise problems with insurance claims, but this applies to gutters of all types. Make sure your pro is skilled and aware of your roof’s warranty before starting work.
Gutter Guard Alternatives
For those wanting to go the extra mile, consider installing gutter helmets instead of gutter guards. Gutter helmets are a more extensive gutter protection system and can block out almost all debris. Surface tension gutter helmets cost $3.50 to $6.50 per linear foot and are the most expensive gutter protection system available.
Another alternative is to add additional water diversion systems since gutter guards’ main purpose is to prevent subsequent water damage caused by clogged gutters. For example, add a drain edge if your gutter doesn’t have one by default. Another effective method is rain chains, a traditional Japanese system to replace downspouts. You don’t need to worry about clogging with rain chains. They also create unique aesthetics.
Are Gutter Guards Right for You?
Ask yourself if you truly need gutter guards. How extreme are the rain storms? Do you deal with inclement weather often? If clogged gutters have been a regular occurrence, installing some gutter guards could be a game-changer. You can only install a partial system if a specific portion of the gutters is more prone to clogging. Also, think about how cold your winters get, as that determines if you can use foam guards.
Another thing to consider is your personal goals. Do you plan on staying in this home for the long term, or are you in transition and plan to move within a year or two?
How Much Do Gutter Guards Cost?
The cost of gutter guards is determined by several factors: type and material, location, and type of house. On average, gutter guard installation costs $1,125. This price can fluctuate significantly depending on material costs.
Generally, foam guards cost from $2 to $3.50 per linear foot. Brush guards cost from $3 to $4.50 per linear foot. Regular mesh guards cost from $1 to $2.75 per linear foot, and micro-mesh guards cost from $2 to $4 per linear foot.
Because faulty installations can damage your roof, we recommend you hire a professional gutter guard installation company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally, most gutter guards do well in heavy rain. But of course, not all products are made the same. Depending on your gutter guards’ material and design, some might clog during a heavy storm with large amounts of debris, and others, such as vinyl gutter guards, might even break. Therefore, you should choose your gutter guards based on your local climate.
The installation may have been done correctly. However, improperly installed gutter guards can easily damage your shingles. Also, cheap gutter guards rarely come with installation fixtures. In the worst cases, they simply ask you to nail the guards in, which would sabotage your roof’s water resistance and thus void the warranty. To be sure, always check with your home warranty provider before making any modifications.
While gutter guards come in various materials and grades, stainless steel mesh gutter guards are generally considered the best type of gutter guard due to their durability and effectiveness. The mesh prevents most debris from entering the gutter. It's also much longer lasting and easier to clean than gutter guards made with other materials.
