Top Gutter Protection Systems: A Comprehensive Guide to Making the Right Choice
Benefits of Installing Gutter Guards
Choosing the right gutter protection system can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! Let’s break down the benefits and different types of gutter guards to help you make the best decision for your home.
A high-quality gutter guard system can offer several benefits:
- Reduced Maintenance: Say goodbye to constantly cleaning out clogged gutters. Gutter guards dramatically reduce the maintenance on your gutter system in general. No more scooping out leaves, pine needles, or other debris!
- No More Ladders: Gutter guards eliminate the need for climbing ladders to clean your gutters. This means improved safety and less risk of falling.
- Cost Savings: Save money on gutter cleaning costs over time.
- Protection from Water Damage: Gutter guards help prevent wood rot, water damage, foundation repair, and flooded basements by ensuring proper water flow.
- Landscaping Preservation: By directing water away from your home, gutter guards help protect your landscaping from erosion and damage.
Gutter Guard Options
While it may seem like there are countless options, gutter guard designs boil down to three main types:
Types of Gutter Guards
- Filters, screens, and micromesh gutter guards
- Retrofit solid surface systems
- One-piece-type systems
Gutter Guard Materials
Gutter guards are typically made from these materials:
Plastic Gutter Guards (anything with “poly” in front of it – Polyvinyl, etc.):
On the plus side, these are lightweight, rustproof, and will typically be your cheapest option. However, despite any claims to the contrary, plastic is always less durable than metal and has a shorter lifespan. Think that’s debatable? Ask yourself why they don’t make planes out of plastic. Or engines. Or bank vault doors.
Aluminum Gutter Guards:
On the plus side, it’s lightweight, rust-resistant, durable, and a great balance of price and performance. Downsides? It can dent easier than steel and can corrode over a long time period, even though it doesn’t rust.
Copper Gutter Guards:
Perks? It is extremely durable, gorgeous, highly resistant to corrosion, and never requires painting. Downsides? The most expensive option. It’s a softer metal, so it can be dented more easily than steel, and it reacts with other metals. So, unless your gutters are also copper, copper gutter guards must be installed by a professional who really knows what they are doing.
Galvalume Gutter Guards:
Combines the strength of steel with the corrosion resistance of aluminum and zinc. Super durable, long-lasting, and although more expensive than aluminum, it doesn’t usually break the bank like copper. The cons are that it still will corrode over time, even though it will usually be much slower. It also has only one look (no color options), so it’s not as aesthetically versatile.
Steel Gutter Guards:
A strong option in terms of durability and can last for many years. The downside is it’s very difficult to cut and install. While some forms of steel are highly resistant (think stainless steel and medical grade), other types of steel can rust. And the higher-quality options carry a hefty price tag.
A mix of the above:
Some gutter guard options use a combination of the above. For example, aluminum with plastic brackets. However, plastic is not as durable as metal, as discussed previously. And the durability of the system will be as good as the weakest part. So consider any plastic in the system as making the durability of the entire system the same as plastic.
AN IMPORTANT WORD OF CAUTION WITH CHOOSING YOUR GUTTER GUARD MATERIAL:
All metals, when they come into contact with dissimilar metals in the presence of an electrolyte (like water, for example), can lead to galvanic corrosion. The key here is to choose a gutter guard that is made of the same metal as your gutters. If they are not made of the same metal, then you need a buffer between the two (sealant, plastic, etc.) to stop them from touching, or they will corrode each other.
Choosing the Right Gutter Guard
Here is a list of the three gutter guard designs, along with their pros and cons.
Filters, screens, micro mesh gutter guards, etc.
Positives:
- Most are easy to install – A great DIY option!
- Many stores and companies offer them, giving you lots of choices!
- When properly maintained, they can handle very heavy rain.
Negatives:
- Require constant maintenance. (This can’t be avoided due to the design of the system. As water goes through the filter, it creates downward pressure, keeping the debris stuck on top. This must be cleaned off to keep the water flowing through.) If not maintained, water will spill over, defeating the purpose.
- Prices vary widely. However, the design is functionally the same for all of them.
Retrofit solid surface systems
Positives:
- Solid on top, usually requiring less maintenance.
- Can be made of aluminum, copper, or galvalume – all long-lasting materials.
- Can be fitted to new or existing gutters in good condition.
Negatives:
- Often not installed well. DIY projects or installers who don’t specialize in gutter guards can create BIG problems with this design.
- Most are not “nose-forward”, meaning they allow debris to get in through the gap. (See picture for example)
- Unreliable guarantees can leave you hanging.
One-piece type systems (Combines gutter and guard all-in-one piece)
Positives:
- Solid on top, usually requiring less maintenance.
- Most are made of aluminum, which is a good, durable material.
Negatives:
- Cover tilts with your gutters. (See picture) The gap this creates exposes your fascia to wood rot and allows water to overflow on long runs.
- They are smaller than standard gutters, reducing the volume capacity for your gutters to hold water. (This cannot be avoided due to the design of the system. The cover is made from the same material as the gutter, reducing the overall aluminum available for the gutter size.)
- Can be VERY expensive. (You must replace the gutters, even if they are in good condition.)
Gutter Cover Kansas City® & Advantage Gutter Guard®
We have been in the gutter protection business in the Midwest for 23 consecutive years at the time of writing (2024). In our experience, a retrofit, solid surface, nose-forward gutter cover system that’s properly installed works the best for the entire Midwest in terms of value, if you compare benefits to cost.
How so? It does what the Midwest needs. It (1) prevents clogs by keeping debris out while (2) controlling the severe rains we get while (3) keeping your maintenance to an absolute minimum.
Of course, we manufacture and install the Advantage Gutter Guard®, which is a retrofit solid surface system. We have designed and install it in a way that removes the negatives usually accompanied by this type of design. (mentioned above).
Our nose forward design is specifically made to block debris from entering the gutter while handling 3x times the rainfall in a typical Midwest storm. You will find our reviews and reputation are unmatched for both professional installation and honoring our warranty.
While this might seem biased to say, we believe that our decades-long reputation, built by thousands of happy homeowners, is above dispute.
Gutter Cover 5 Star Reputation
Leaf Guard Installation and Maintenance
Gutter Guard Installation:
Gutter guard installation entirely depends on the product you install and whether you do it yourself or have a company do it for you. In our experience, we complete installation on most homes within 1-3 days – issue-free.
Gutter Guard Size and Visibility
The size of your gutter guard is not as important as ensuring it properly fits your gutters.
Visibility is a matter of personal taste. However, as a general rule of thumb: Discreet is better. Most of us don’t want people pulling up to our house and the first thing they notice is our gutter guard. This can be done in different ways. For example, many want to ‘match gutter guards’ (meaning it ‘matches’ the gutters in color). The Advantage Gutter Guard® can be matched with the color of the gutter or blended into the color of the roof – Your call! (Our recommendation is usually the roof color because it blends so seamlessly into the beauty of the home!) That way it compliments the features of your home, rather than competing to be the feature.
Gutter Guard Maintenance:
There are many companies who claim to be ‘maintenance-free.’ With 23 years of experience (sorry to keep bringing that up, but let’s be frank, it matters), EVERYTHING requires some degree of maintenance. Would you believe it if a car or a vacuum salesman told you that you would never have to maintain his product in any way? Of course not! Then don’t believe that gutter guard salesman either. He either doesn’t have enough experience to know how his product works in the real world or, sad to say, may be bending the truth to make a sale.
The goal with buying a gutter cover system should be to reduce your maintenance to an absolute minimum. What that means would vary depending on your home.
I always think of it this way: My wife and I purchased one of those Roombas a few years ago (you know, the vacuums that clean your home when you’re gone). We LOVE IT. There is something about going home every day and seeing those clean, vacuumed lines on the floor and the absence of pet hair that pleases the inner-OCD self. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have a little maintenance! The beauty of the product is that it REDUCES my maintenance.
That is what you will get with Advantage Gutter Guard®: No more clogged gutters and cleaning wet, nasty gunk out of them.
Gutter System Considerations
Professional vs. DIY Installation
As with all decisions, there are pros and cons to getting a professional installation versus a DIY installation. Below are some of them.
DIY Installation vs. Professional Installation – Pros and Cons
Cost:
- DIY Installation Pro: Offers the cheapest option upfront.
- Professional installation Con: Requires a higher initial investment.
Options:
- DIY Installation Con: Limits your choices to simpler designs like sponge or screen/mesh gutter guards.
- Professional Installation Pro: Opens up access to a wider range of products, including more advanced surface tension gutter guards.
Installation:
- DIY Installation Con: Increases the risk of installation mistakes, which can impact performance and longevity.
- Professional Installation Pro: Ensures professional-quality installation, minimizing errors and maximizing effectiveness.
Safety:
- DIY Installation Con: Poses a risk of personal injury, especially when working at heights with ladders.
- Professional Installation Pro: Eliminates the risk of personal injury associated with DIY installation.
Warranty:
- DIY Installation Con: Typically does not come with an installation warranty, leaving you responsible for any issues.
- Professional Installation Pro: Often includes both a manufacturer’s warranty and an installation warranty for added peace of mind.
Maintenance:
- DIY Installation Con: This may require increased maintenance due to potential installation issues or limitations of chosen products.
- Professional Installation Pro: This can significantly reduce long-term maintenance needs, especially with properly chosen and installed gutter guards.
The Advantages of Owning a Gutter Guard
Peace of mind. Honestly, isn’t that what it all boils down to? In the first paragraph of this article, I listed the benefits. But what all of those benefits really mean is simple, isn’t it? Peace of mind. No more cleaning, no more ladders, no more worrying when it rains.
Gutter Guard Cost and Warranties
Let’s go back to the three types here:
- Filters, screens, meshes, etc. This varies WIDELY. In our 23 years of experience (as of 2024), we’ve seen the price for the same ”house range up to 1000%. Yes, you read that right. It could be $1000 from one company or $10,000 from another, for the exact same house. Honestly, the design and function are really the same, with minor differences in materials. It really just depends on the pricing structure of the company.
- Retrofit solid surface systems This design is not immune to wide pricing differences between companies and products. But it’s usually priced in the middle, between a screen/mesh and a one-piece type system.
- One-piece type systems (Combines gutter and guard all in one piece) Typically, this is the most expensive of all the options. This is for a few different reasons, and it also involves the pricing structure decisions of the company. But one obvious factor is you have to replace the gutters if you want the guard, which means your entire system has to be replaced even if the gutters are in good condition.
Warranty is basically the same for all of them. Most will come with some type of ‘no-clog’ guarantee. Professionally installed systems usually come with a higher quality warranty. But do your research! A warranty is as good as the company who makes it. When you’re looking into the reviews, dig for information on whether the company truly upholds the warranty.
Common Questions About Gutter Protection
Q: What style of gutter guard works best with heavy leaves?
A: In our experience, a solid surface retrofit nose-forward gutter guard that’s properly installed. In our opinion, the Advantage Gutter Guard® is the best version of this design. See how other products work with leaves in our article Best Gutter Guard for Leaves.
Q: How do I clean gutters with a gutter protection system?
A: If you purchase one of the best gutter guards, you should never need to clean out your gutters.
If you DIY’d the gutter guard installation: There’s usually only one option. Take the system off and clean those gutters out.
If you had a system professionally installed: You should not need to clean out your gutters in this case, assuming the right product was installed correctly by the right company. If you do have a clog, call that company. Most should have some type of no-clog guarantee. If they don’t, reach out to us. We would be more than happy to see what we can do to end your gutter problems permanently.
Q: What is the most effective type of gutter guard?
A: The Advantage Gutter Guard®. We’ve taken the best of retrofit solid surface systems and designed out the drawbacks:
- Nose Forward: Keeps debris out, not in.
- All Aluminum (or Copper/Galvalume): Built to last.
- Fits on Existing Gutters: No need to replace perfectly good gutters.
- Lifetime No-Clog Guarantee: Fully transferable for peace of mind.
- Professional Installation: Our trained technicians get it done right.
- Over 23 Years in KC: We know this market and stand behind our reputation.
- Proven Results: Our customers rave about our service and products. (Check out our reviews!)
Q: Do gutter guards work?
A: Yes, they do! However, their effectiveness depends on the system, the quality of the installation, and what tree debris your particular home deals with. If you do your research and select the company with the BEST LOCAL REPUTATION, and it’s hard to stress that enough, gutter guards can be a fantastic investment. See our article on “Do Gutter Guards Work,” If you want more information.
Q: Can gutter guards be installed on the existing gutter system?
A: Most can. For example, DIY gutter protection systems like brush gutter guards, stainless steel mesh, screen gutter guards, or foam gutter guards all typically can be. But so can two of the three primary designs: 1) Retro-fit solid surface (also called reverse-curve) systems as well as 2) filters, screens, micromesh gutter guards, etc. However, if you install gutter guards that are a one-piece type system, then you have to replace your gutters because they are composed of both gutter and cover in one.
Finding the perfect gutter system: Some other articles you might find informative
Best Gutter Guard For Copper Gutters
Protect your copper gutters with the right gutter guard.
6 inch gutters vs 5 inch – What’s the difference?
All that rainwater is coming down on your roof and needs to go somewhere.
Gutter Cover Installation Cost
Thinking about installing gutter guards? Are you wondering how much gutter guards will cost you?