Comparing Gutter Guards

Below are some of the features you should be looking for the best gutter guards for your home. When a product meets all of the requirements listed, we call that Gutter Protection Perfection, and that is the LeafBusters® Installed System.

There are many types of gutter guards from which to choose. The most common are Brush Guards, Foam Inserts, Do-It-Yourself (DIY) screens, Micromesh, and Hood Style Systems.

We will go over these now.

Brush Guards

These are DIY products which sit inside your gutter, in an attempt to keep debris out. Unfortunately, the brush material does the exact opposite, and attracts debris like a magnet to iron, and can actually cause more damage to your gutters than if you had left them open and unprotected… but they’re cheap, which is why some people buy them.

Foam Inserts

Another cheap DIY product which is supposed to keep debris out, and allow water to flow through into the gutter.  In reality, they allow mold, mildew, and moss to grow on it because they hold water and become saturated.  Seeds, pods, etc. will find an ample water source here, and germinate. In a very short time, plants and trees will grow in your gutters causing even more clogs. Furthermore, the foam may catch fire if an ember comes in contact with it. Lastly, the foam degrades over time due to UV radiation, causing the foam to crumble and disintegrate.  Result… More clogs.

DIY screens/mesh

These can be installed by gutter companies, or DIY.  These are very cheap which is why people buy them, however they are ineffective.  They will prevent large leaves from entering your gutter, however the holes are large enough to allow shingle grit, small seeds and pods, and other debris to enter your gutters.  They also sit flat on top of your gutter, which will allow leaves and other debris to collect on top of it, thus inhibiting the water flow from your roof into your gutter.  These still have to be cleaned frequently, which defeats the purpose of gutter protection, and since debris can still enter the gutter, you will still have to clean inside as well.  Once these are installed, it makes cleaning the inside of your gutters difficult at best.

Hood Style Systems

This is a one-piece, built-in gutter guard and gutter, which requires removing your existing gutters, and replacing them with this product. These systems tend to be VERY expensive (often twice the price, or more than other gutter guards). Their concept is based on utilizing surface tension. The hood is situated just above the outer edge of the gutter, forming a horizontal opening or slot, which runs the length of the gutter. As it rains, water will follow the curve of the hood, and go into the gutter, provided the rainfall is light to moderate. Heavy rain will simply run over the hood. Large leaves and other large debris will run off the end of the hood, however smaller debris, seeds, pine needles, shingle grit etc., will follow the curve, and go directly into the gutter, thereby causing your gutters to clog at some point in time.

Micromesh

Of all the gutter guard systems, these are the best. The micro-mesh screen stops ALL debris, leaves, shingle grit, etc. from entering your gutter. Once installed, your entire gutter system is enclosed and sealed. However, when it comes to micro-mesh products, “all are NOT created equal.” The designs and their effectiveness vary greatly from one product to another.

This system is very well known, popular, and works well for a couple of years… maybe. It sits relatively flat on your gutter, thereby allowing leaves and debris to collect on top, until “hopefully,” enough wind comes along to blow it off. The body is made of vinyl, which in a few short years (or sooner) ALWAYS warps. If warping occurs in one direction, the screen pops out completely. In the other direction, the screen bows, and no longer makes contact with the body. This causes water to flow right off in a similar manner as the hooded products. In short, this is relatively expensive, especially for a temporary solution, which fails in a few years, or less.