As detailed above, everything went well. Leaf Blaster gutter guards performed well, and RJ Scalzi did a great job with the installation.. In short: save money, great soltuion, and a solid contractor.
Description of Work: First, the RJ Scalzi team did a great job. They followed up quicklyi, arrived on time, offered a very competitive quote, and worked with us to install a new "gutter guard" product. I have worked with many contractors over the years, and their team is top-notch. Now the Long Story that led to this successful installation! Pine and maple trees surround our home -- a blessing for most of the year, until pine needles and leaves clog our gutters. I was tired of paying for "gutter cleaning" that lasted for a few months, until the gutters were clogged again. One year this led to water damage in our dining room, when water running down the exterior wall leaked in. First, I tried Angie's List -- a favorite resource. In the "gutter maintenance" category, however, there were many companies and options. WhIch one should we choose? After a lot of research on the Web, I found that 'reverse curve' gutter guards, e.g. "Gutter Helmet", "LeaFree" and "Elko", simply do not work with pine needles and the grit from asphalt roofs. This approach was first patented in 1908, and many videos are available on the Web showing real-world results. Consumer Reports also ran an independent study, showing that these products simply do not perform as advertised, particularly when pine needles and asphalt shingles are part of the mix. > Here is a good resource: http://www.guttertalkblog.com/?tag=micro-screen-gutter-guards 'Micro-screen' technology was created in the 2000s. This is the only solution if your home is near pine trees or has an asphalt shingle roof. Tightly woven stainless steel mesh blocks pine needles and grit, and only water gets through. A number of products are available, but the prices were too high for our budget -- approximately $20 / foot installed. (Approximately the same cost ast solid 'reverse curve' gutter products.) I finally found one micro-screen solution that fit our budget: Leaf Blaster. (See: www.LeafBlaster.com) They sell via the Web, for 25% to 35% of the competition. The price was good, but I was concerned about quality -- and ordered a sample. I've done quite a bit of work with metal products, and LeafBlaster looked solid. So... I contacted a number of "gutter maintenance" companies on Angie's List, and ordered 140' of Leaf Blaster via the Web. (A close-up photo of Leaf Blaster is attached to this review, along with photos after it was installed by the RJ Scalzi team.) Matt at RJ Scalzi responded quickly and agreed to clean our gutters, replace a missing gutter, and install Leaf Blaster. Their quote was competitive, and we scheduled the install. Weather intervened, but Matt checked with me for the best date -- and the project was completed without a hitch. So far, Leaf Blaster is performing as advertised -- water goes in, and pine needles do not! Hallelujah! Gutters that reallly work! If you read through this entire post, here is the recap: Leaf Blaster gutter guards, installed by RJ Scalzi. Save money, great soltuion, and a solid contractor. I am an IT manager, by the way, and have no connection to the building industry, Leaf Blaster or Rj Scalzi -- other than as a satisfied customer. Mark Hays