Best Gutter Leaf Guards by Type

Gutter guards also known as gutter covers, gutter domes, and leaf filters are a great way to save time cleaning your gutters. These handy devices cover all types of gutters to prevent debris from clogging them up. While gutter guards can be installed yourself, it is probably a good idea to hire a gutter contractor especially to protect your gutters in case they’re under warranty.

Best Gutter Guards for Pine Needles

A pesky invader that can build up and become a fire hazard, pine needles are not only annoying but can be dangerous. They are especially troublesome to clean from gutters. For that reason, you need to carefully consider what type of gutter leaf guard you install if you have pine or other conifer trees around your house. For help installing gutter protection, look at gutter guard installation services near you.

Surface Tension

Surface tension gutter guards are made of a solid piece that dips down into the gutter, allowing debris to fall right off and water to drip into the gutter. Although they are the most expensivetype of gutter guard, they also last the longest. If installed properly, surface tension gutter guards should require little to no maintenance. This kind of gutter guard does not work with all shingles.

Fine Mesh of Micro-Mesh

Fine mesh gutter guards allow debris to flow right over your gutter, although particulates like shingle sediment will still get stuck in them. They only need occasional blowing or brushing to be cleaned. Fine mesh gutter guards are easy to install and simple to clean. They are compatible with most types of shingles, including those that can’t be lifted for installation. The strongest brands of fine mesh gutter guards resist damage from branches and ice.

Most experts agree that gutter screens using fine mesh are the most effective gutter guard systems available. The finely woven filter prevents all types of debris like pine needles, twigs, leaves, and dirt from entering the gutter, while still allowing rain water to easily enter. Similarly, insects and animals cannot enter the gutter either when the screens are used.

The downside of fine-mesh screens is that when they are extremely fine, they can begin to grow algae or mold if used in very wet enviroments. Because the gaps in the mesh are so small, some water droplets might remain stuck in the gaps due to surface tension. Typically, this isn't a problem because the water eventually evaporates when rain ceases or the temperature rises. However, if the region is particularly rainy, humid, or cloudy, these droplets might rarely get the opportunity to dry, and microscopic algae or mold can start to grow within the water and slowly spread accross the mesh. Over time, this can start to impede water flow or damage the mesh. However, this usually will take months to happen, so regular cleaning can prevent this issue. Furthermore, most companies that offer this style of guard also offer a warranty that will protect the homeowner against early wear and damage.

Best Gutter Guards for Metal Roofs

Homes with metal roofs don’t have shingles to place gutter guards under. While this might seem troublesome, there are specially-designed gutter guards for metal roofs.Research the cost of gutter guards in your area when deciding to install them.

Screen

Screen gutter guards work well to keep out large debris, like leaves. However, the holes in this kind of gutter guard are too big to prevent pine needles and seeds from entering. They are suitable for most kinds of shingle roofs.

Screen gutter guards must be cleaned regularly, which may be difficult. You may also need to clean the underlying gutter sometimes since small debris can accumulate inside. Due to the size of their holes, they can be damaged by ice and winds.

Sponge

Sponge gutter guards fit in the gutter itself, making them invisible from the curb. This kind of gutter guard has tiny holes that fine matter like pollen might get stuck in. For that reason, sponge gutter guards have to be cleaned regularly. They can be ripped by branches and heavy snowfall.

Gutter Guard Materials

Gutter guards also come in different materials which vary in terms of durability. For the most part, the style of guard will determine which materials are available. That said, homeowners will want to consider the following factors when deciding which materials are best for their

home:

Frequency of extreme temperature events

Amount of sun exposure

Amount of snowfall

Here are the pros, cons, and key considerations for each material used

to make gutter guards.

1. Aluminum

Aluminum is one of the most commonly used materials for gutter guards, especially gutter screens and surface tension gutter guards. It is lightweight, easy to shape in manufacturing, and structurally

durable. As such, it is one of the best options for gutter guards in most areas because of its combination of durability and cost. Aluminum does very well in both hot and cold environments because it is resistant to warping and cracking. Sunlight also does not damage

aluminum. However, if not coated or painted, aluminum can oxidize, which changes its appearance. While this may not look appealing, it does not affect aluminum’s structural integrity. Fortunately, most

gutter guards that use aluminum are coated with some treatment layer or painted in order to prevent oxidation and changing appearance over time. However, if the gutter guards are out of view, oxidation of the aluminum shouldn’t be a concern. Homeowners can expect their aluminum gutter guards to last upwards of 10 to 20 years and rely on them staying intact in almost every

environment.

2. Steel

Steel, usually stainless steel, is another commonly used metal in gutter guards. It is heavier and more durable than aluminum, and it is used in many of the same situations: as a screen or structural element for mesh guards, as the body of screen guards, or as the body of surface tension gutter guards. Steel is a great option for gutter guards for its durability, but its weight and cost can be a limiting factor in where it can be used. While steel is similar to aluminum in terms of its usage, it is generally stronger, heavier, and more expensive. Stainless steel is also both corrosion and rust resistant, so it maintains its structural integrity and visual appeal for the lifetime of the gutter guard.

Steel can be used in any environment—even in extreme heat or cold—because it is resistant to warping and cracking, and it does not experience any damage from intense sunlight. When steel is a key structural component of the gutter guard and is securely attached to the gutters, it can actually strengthen the entire gutter guard system and prevent the gutters themselves from warping or sagging when they are full of snow or ice. On the other hand, since steel is so much heavier than other materials used in gutter guards, homeowners or professional installers must make sure that the entire system is secured to the roof or fascia, so there is no risk of them bringing down the gutter guard system when weighed down by snow or ice. Gutter guards that use steel over aluminum or other materials tend to be more expensive but last longer. Steel is a great option for homeowners in locations with extreme weather conditions, and buyers can expect steel gutter guards to last 10 to 20 years, if not much longer.

3. Plastic or Vinyl

Low cost gutter guards are often constructed from vinyl or other plastics. In fact, vinyl is a type of plastic usually made from polyvinyl chloride or other polymer composed from vinyl monomers. Plastic is very cheap and easy to manufacture, which makes it one of the best low cost options for gutter guards.

Plastic is almost exclusively used in screen gutter guards designed to snap in place into the gutter system. Because plastic and vinyl are not as strong as aluminum or steel, they do not make great substitutes as structural elements of gutter guards. But they are generally easier to install and among the cheapest guards available.

The low cost of plastic or vinyl gutter guards comes with some downsides. Plastic is not very strong, relative to the metal options. Since plastic is fairly weak, gutter guards made from it cannot withstand significant weight, particularly from snow, and even bigger sticks piling atop the guard can cause damage. Even animals—like cats, raccoons, or opossums—crawling across the top of the gutters on the guards can knock them loose or cause them to crack or warp.

Further, plastic guards do not perform well in extreme weather conditions. Very hot weather can cause the plastic to warp, which can even create gaps between the individual pieces used to cover the gutter system. Additionally, extremely cold weather can make the plastic pieces brittle and more susceptible to cracking.

Similarly, intense sunlight can also make plastic guards more brittle over time. The color of plastic gutter guards is also more likely to fade from months or years of sunlight. That said, plastic gutter guards can last for 5 to 10 years if the homeowner takes proper care and the home is not in an extreme climate. Homeowners who want to save money and want a gutter cover—rather than an insertable foam or brush guard—can look to plastic screens as a solution. However, homeowners should recognize that these are cheap options that are susceptible to more issues, and they will likely need to be replaced sooner than other products.

4. Copper

Copper is occasionally used in gutter guard screens with the explicit purpose of visually matching the existing copper gutter system. While the vast majority of copper gutter guards are screen-style guards,

copper mesh guards are available through a limited number of manufacturers.

When a home has copper gutters, gutter guards that aren’t copper can stand out and detract from the visual appeal that the copper gutters provide. Copper is a durable material with greater strength than

aluminum. The chemical properties of copper prevent mold and mildew from forming on the gutters and gutter guards. Copper gutter guards have the potential to last longer than guards made from any other material, often over 25 years. It is also a more expensive material and fewer manufacturers actually make copper gutter guards.

Copper guards perform very well in hot, cold, and sunny environments and tend to experience less damage over time from weather. Copper gutter guards are best for historic and luxury buildings that already have copper gutters in place.

5. Foam

Foam and polypropylene brush materials are used specifically for foam-style and brush-style guards, respectively. To learn more about how these materials perform in various conditions, reference the above section that discusses the different types of gutter guards.