Leafguards for gutters

As we finish the Fall season, it seems like a good time to discuss gutter, or leaf guards.  These can be either a blessing or a curse, depending on your particular situation. 

The Cadillac of systems if the gutter helmet, permanent gutter type.  These aren’t really a screen at all, but a solid aluminum top piece that allows rain to roll over the top of the gutter and drip into the gutter below.  Leaves won’t make the trip into the gutters, but some pine needles can.  I have these on my house and have never had to clean them.  They are, by far, the most expensive option, costing several times more than traditional gutters.  In some heavy rains, some water may spill right over the top to miss the gutter.  These also require professional installation, as they are part of the gutter itself.

The other types of leaf guards cost much less than the Gutter Helmet system, and if you can get to your gutter, you can even install them yourself.  Most of them come in three foot sections.  These types all basically slip up under the shingles and snap into the gutters top edge (more or less, they don’t always fit perfectly- I recommend buying one piece to see how it fits your gutter before stocking up).  These have a mesh that will keep leaves out.  My father installed this type years ago and we’ve never had to clean the gutters, and we’re talking about 25 years!  He did a bit of special installation work by using some small wires to tie each section together to prevent any sagging between the three foot sections.  

There are also some that have a very fine screen instead of the grid.  These seem to become clogged with simple dirt buildup, so I’m not a fan of them, but some people say they’ve tried the more open grid type and found that they let in fine pine needles.  With either of these, ice may build up more quickly on them than a gutter with no guards.  I have no scientific evidence supporting this, it’s just something I’ve thought. 

The last type is one that is made up of metal mesh.  This comes on a roll, and is difficult to install and difficult to maintain as when they get bent into the gutter, you have to return it to it’s intended shape.  Ice, animals etc can all damage it.

In closing, you’ll have to decide on which type will work best for you , your trees, and your budget.  Remember to try some small sections to see how easy they install.  You may want to even try a particular area of your gutters to see how many leaves they keep out. 

 The “helmet” type.  Expensive and requires professional installation, but works well in most situations.

Plastic type, available at home centers.  There are also metal types similar to this.  Another type is similar to this, but has a very fine screen (you can’t even see thru it). 

 This mesh type can clog easily.  It's made of a ridge vent material.  I've seen these clogged many times during home inspections.