Gutter manufacturers market gutter guards as a maintenance-free solution to gutter cleaning and upkeep. There are pros and cons to having gutter guards. They can be expensive to install, and companies fail to tell you that your gutters still need routine maintenance, even with gutter guards.
So, are gutter guards worth it, or are they a big waste of money?
After reviewing the long-term costs, gutter guards may not be worth the investment. Many pros see gutter guards as a waste of money. They do a relatively good job at keeping large debris out of gutters, saving you the chore of gutter cleaning. However, they still need routine maintenance, which defeats the purpose of the investment in gutter guards.
In addition, other problems exist, such as poorly capturing rainwater from the roof and rotting fascia boards caused by spillage behind the gutters that can cost thousands in repairs.
The main problems I find with gutter screens, covers, or guards are:
- they are not installed correctly
- the gutter guard is poorly designed
- it’s not the right guard for the type of gutter
- homeowners think they are maintenance-free and neglect to maintain them
Do Gutter Guards Work?
There is a lot of debate about whether gutter guards work. Some people say that they do a great job at keeping gutters clean. Others claim that the guards clog gutters and ultimately cause more harm than good.
We will examine both arguments and whether or not gutter guards work. Let’s start by looking at the breakdown of the cost of gutter guards.
How Much Do Gutter Guards Cost: Does it Make Sense?
Ultimately, it would be best to consider the upfront cost of gutter guard installation and whether or not they genuinely save you money in the long run.
Are Gutter Guards a Waste of Money?
Gutter guards are a popular option for homeowners looking to prevent debris from clogging up their gutters, but the question remains: are gutter guards a waste of money?
Some argue that gutter guards are an unnecessary expense. Others swear by their effectiveness in reducing gutter maintenance.
Proponents argue that gutter guards can prevent leaves, twigs, and other debris from entering the gutters, thereby reducing the need for regular cleaning and minimizing the risk of clogs.
Skeptics like myself argue that gutter guards cannot keep out all debris and can be costly to install, ultimately costing more money in the long term.
Cost of Gutter Guards
Gutter guard installation cost varies widely. We found gutter guard prices online from $200 to $6,000 for a typical house, depending on the material and professional installation.
Most companies price per linear foot (LF), and we found rates from $1.20 to $10 per LF. National brands like Leaf Filter, LeafGuard, and Gutter Helmet cost $12 to $35 per linear foot installed.
| Source | Low | High | Average | Cost per Linear Foot (LF) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HomeAdvisor | $200 | $6000 | $596 to $2,184 | $1.20 to $10 |
| Fixr | $400 | $3500 | $1,200 to $2,000 | $2 to $10 |
| HomeGuide | $132 | $4800 | $570 to $1,529 | $4 to $12 |
| Thumbtack | – | – | $1000 to $1600 | $1.50 to $10 |
We feel like these averages skew low because of DIY gutter guard installations. You can purchase guards from local retailers like Lowes or Home Depot.
Our research shows that most people will average closer to a median cost of $1,377 to $2,722 for 150 linear feet. The national brands mentioned above will likely range from $1,800 to $5,250 for the same 150 linear feet of gutter guard.
Cost of Gutter Cleaning
Having a professional gutter cleaning service clean your gutters is about $120. The average cost to clean gutters on a one-story house is $70 to $100, while the average price for a two-story home is $95 to $225. (Forbes)
Cost of Gutter Guards vs Cost of Gutter Cleaning
Based on the median cost of gutter guard installation of $2,500, it will take you about ten years to recoup the original cost of the gutter guards against the average price of a $120 gutter cleaning service done twice yearly.
That would be a conservative estimate if you maintain a continuous residence for 20 years without encountering significant difficulties with the gutter guards, don’t move, and don’t change your mind.
Most gutter guards only last 10 to 20 years and still require some maintenance.
Type of Gutter Guards
As stated, there are several types of gutter guards. Each of them has its problems.
Plastic Gutter Guards
Plastic might suit many things, but an outdoor gutter cover is not one. Long-term exposure to the sun weakens plastic. The damage is even worse during winter. Tree limbs can damage the gutter screens.
Also, as leaves and debris build up on the gutter cover, the perforated holes become weighted down and tend to collapse into the gutter. These probably have the greatest ease of installation and are suitable for DIY jobs, but they have little to no warranty and don’t last.
Aluminum Guards
Aluminum guards are often referred to as gutter covers or gutter helmets. Ideally, this sounds perfect for any household exterior. It’s light, lasts longer, and is usually relatively affordable. However, cheap, subpar aluminum degrades fast and rusts easily. They tend to damage easily in hail storms or from overhanging tree branches.
Micro-Mesh Gutter Guards
In principle, screen gutter guards offer some visibility into the gutter. You can get nylon micro-mesh or metal micro-mesh gutter screens.
However, problems with micro mesh gutter guards tend to clog easily and are susceptible to rust, corrosion, and constant replacement. Tree limbs can tear the gutter screens. Nylon micro-mesh screens use surface tension to separate water from debris but often don’t work well in heavy rain.
We Breakdown the Cost of Gutter Guards
When you’re calculating the cost of gutter guards, consider two options. Like gutters, gutter screens, or guards are priced by linear foot. Are you getting professional installation, or are you going the DIY way?
| Material | Cost of material per linear foot | Cost of material for 200 linear feet | Installation fee | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic gutter guard | $0.40-$1.00 | $80-$200 | DIY | $80-$200 |
| Aluminum | $0.50-$1.50 | $100-$300 | $2.50-$3.75 | $600-$1,050 |
| Steel screen | $1.50-$3.50 | $300-$700 | $2.50-$3.75 | $800-$1,450 |
| Micro-mesh | $2.00-$4.00 | $400-$800 | $2.50-$3.75 | $900-$1,550 |
| Vinyl Screen | $0.40-$4 per foot. | $80-$800 | DIY | $80-$800 |
| Foam inserts | $2 | $400 | DIY | $400 |
| Brushes | $3 | $600 | DIY | $600 |
Get free quotes from local gutter contractors for cleanings and repair. All contractors are licensed, screened, and insured.
The Pros and Cons of Gutter Guards
There are many valid gutter guard pros and cons. People that have gutter guards enjoy some benefits of gutter guards. However, that doesn’t mean they lack redeeming qualities.Â
If you decide to invest in gutter guards for your home, here are some pros and cons.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| There’s an array of choices in materials and designs | They’re expensive |
| They last long | You still have gutter maintenance |
| They keep most debris out | Large debris builds up on the roof |
| Cut down your maintenance frequency and time | They might worsen ice dams |
| Small debris may still pass through the guard | |
| Birds and inserts can nest inside the gutter. | |
| Heavy rain can flow past gutter guards |
The Advantages of Gutter Guards
There are various pros and cons of gutter guards on your rain gutters. Here are some of the pros.
Flexibility In Choices
You have so many brands with different flexible design options to choose from. For you, this should be a win. You can check for the best one in your budget bracket and install it. Many satisfied customers like the options available during the pre-purchase phase.
They Last Long
Most gutter guards are built to last since they are made for exterior use. It is common to see a lifespan between 10 and 25 years for well-maintained and high-quality gutter guards. Note that any gutter protection system will require some maintenance.
You’ll Clean Less
Autumn is challenging on gutters if you live in an area rich in trees. Your gutters, if left unguarded, would collect plenty of leaves. You would have to clean out the gutters more often.
The more you climb up the roof to clean the gutter, the more you expose yourself to the likelihood of injury. With a gutter guard, the bigger leaf chunks that would settle in the gutter now blow off the roof or wash away, not in the gutter trough.
The Disadvantages of Gutter Guards
Gutter Guards can Restrict Water Flow into Gutters
Many gutter manufacturers tell customers to use guards to protect their home’s foundation. Guards do little to protect the foundation. The key is to direct downspouts as far from the foundation as possible, which you can accomplish with a rain capture tank or downspout extension pipes.
Investing in a French drain system and a sump pump is the best way to capture and direct water away from your foundation or basement.
Gutter Guards Don’t Stop All Debris
Gutter Guards can Look Ugly or be Poorly Installed
Gutter guards that are poorly installed or don’t fit correctly can affect the gutter’s performance and detract from the house’s curb appeal.
You’ll Need a Professional to Clean Out the Gutter Guards
Once you install a gutter guard, DIY clean-up becomes more challenging. You have to call in a professional gutter cleaning service to ensure all the debris buildup is removed, which could be up to four times a year in a foliage-rich area.
Gutter Guards Can Void Your Roof Warranty
One of the gutter guard designs, the K-style gutter guard, goes under the roof shingle, lifting the front row of roof shingles. Depending on the installation, this could void your shingle warranty if the row of shingles sustains damage or if a roof leak develops, damaging the roof structure that was a direct cause of the guard installation.
Why Gutter Guards Are Bad
We feel gutter guards are bad for most homeowners. While they reduce cleaning maintenance, gutter guards don’t eliminate cleaning, as most companies claim.
In addition, they cause other problems, such as restricting rainwater runoff into the gutter and ice dams in winter, which can cost thousands of dollars to repair, far exceeding the perceived value of gutter guards.
- Keep larger debris from building up on top of the gutter screen. The buildup can cause the guard to tear or collapse.
- Keep overhanging tree limbs trimmed away from the roof.
- Have your guards visually inspected for damage after storms and annually.
- Some gutter guard manufacturers provide a lifetime warranty when marketing their products, but these warranties are limited and do not cover things like age and neglect.
Homeowners mainly invest in gutter guards because they think they will save time on their maintenance routine. However, while they reduce the cleaning you must do, they don’t eliminate it.
In fact, in some cases, they can require more maintenance than not having them at all! Gutter guards need regular cleaning and inspections to catch any buildup before it becomes problematic. If these tasks aren’t done regularly, you might need to replace the entire guard or, even worse, experience damage from clogged gutters!
Here are seven reasons why gutter guards are bad for your home.
Gutter Guards Can be Costly Depending on Your Roof Style
Considering a gutter guard for your home, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise when calculating the cost. Certain roof styles require special gutter guard designs, which inevitably drive up costs.
Understand why this is important and why skimping on a proper installation could be more expensive than you planned. If you have pine needles or larger items frequently clogging your gutters, a gutter guard might help.
Still, if it’s primarily tiny bits of debris like sand or shingle grit, they will get caught in the finer mesh that can block water from draining into the system instead of keeping it out. Consulting with professionals who know your roof type can save you time and money in the long run.
Gutter Guards Don’t Always Keep Out Debris
Despite their best efforts, gutter guards don’t always keep out debris. While they offer more protection than not having any guard, there are still circumstances where debris can get through and clog your gutters—which defeats the purpose of having them in the first place!
Additionally, if your area gets a lot of wind or rainstorms, even the highest quality gutter guard won’t protect your gutters from clogging with leaves and other debris blown around during storms.
Do Gutter Guards Cause Problems?
Most of the problems that gutter guards cause are a result of neglect. Gutter guard marketing sells homeowners peace of mind to prevent clogged or blocked gutters. While no longer having to clean gutters again is appealing, it isn’t true. They also contribute to the formation of ice dams in winter and can be a nesting place for birds and bees.
Commonly, gutter guards cause two significant problems.
People Assume Gutter Guards are Maintenance Free
Gutter guard marketing sells homeowners peace of mind to prevent clogged or blocked gutters. While no longer having to clean gutters again is appealing, remember that this isn’t true.
No gutter guard can protect against leaves, needles, and other debris. Some debris may get past these guards and clog your gutters in time.
You’ll still need to clean your gutters regularly to remove the debris that has slipped through the defenses. A portion (or all) of the gutter guard must be removed to clean the gutters, which costs more than standard gutter cleaning.
While effective at keeping leaves and debris out of the gutters, Gutter guards can cause debris to accumulate on your roof. The debris piles up on the gutter guard and then onto the roof. The debris then begins to hold water, causing premature damage to roofing materials and, eventually, roof leaks.
For gutter guard brands that claim they operate well, consider that the primary purpose for putting them up is to lower maintenance costs.
Because your roof should be checked and cleaned yearly, gutter cleaning at this time adds little or no cost. According to expert advice, the best practice is to avoid those guards and establish a cleaning schedule for your gutters twice a year. Over time, you’ll find it more efficient and less expensive.
Gutter Guards Can Cause Ice Dams in Winter
Rainwater from the roof goes underneath the roof materials if it doesn’t flow into the gutter. This water goes into the house and clings to the roof, creating an ice dam in freezing weather.
When ice freezes on top of gutter guards, the additional weight can cause the gutter piping to pull away from the fascia, affecting the gutter slope and trapping water.
Birds and Bees Nest Underneath the Gutter Guards
They make it easy for bees and birds to nest beneath them. If you’ve got a curved gutter guard system or one with a solid gutter cover, you’ve just given wasps, hornets, and birds a place to call home.
Gutter Guards Don’t Work Well in Heavy Rain
Gutters protect your home from extensive water damage caused by heavy rains. But rain gutters can also be clogged, so gutter guards exist. But do gutter guards stand up to heavy rain?
Gutter guards can restrict the water flow into the gutter channel during heavy rainfall. Some designs work better, but heavy rain often overwhelms the gutter guard, causing stormwater to overflow, especially on a large surface area or a steep roof.
Gutter guards prevent leaves and other debris from entering the gutter and causing clogged gutters while allowing the water to pass through and direct it away from your home.
Gutter screens come in various designs; some work better than others, but the principle is generally the same.
There are some concerns about whether gutter guards are adequate for their intended task and whether they can cause you some problems when the rain gets heavy.
Is it Normal for Gutters to Overflow in Heavy Rain?
It is not normal for gutters to overflow in heavy rain. If your gutter overflows in heavy rain, it usually indicates a problem in the gutter system, like a blockage or a poorly sloped gutter, to direct the roof runoff adequately away from the foundation.
The purpose of gutters is to control water runoff from the roof and direct the water away from the house, where it will not pose a problem for your foundation.
Gutters can handle the water runoff from the roof under normal circumstances. However, they can struggle to handle the increased volume of water during heavy rainfall. Gutter guards can complicate this even further.
If your gutter is overflowing during average rainfall volume, you should investigate the cause. A constantly overflowing gutter can result in water damage to your home’s roof, foundation, and walls. The cost of sorting out the gutter problem is much cheaper than repairing water damage to your home.
Are Gutter Guards Worth It: What’s the Bottom Line?
- The surface area of your roof. A roof with a large surface area will direct a large volume of water to the gutter. Gutter guards would probably not be suitable for a large surface area roof but could function well on a smaller roof.
- Gutter guards are expensive. Gutter guards are not cheap to install, so if they are ineffective and can detract from the home’s look, it may not justify the cost.
- Gutter guards need maintenance. Gutter guards are not an install-and-forget solution to gutter maintenance. Gutter guards still need maintenance, and gutters are cleared of debris that made it past the gutter guard.
- Bees and critters. Gutter guards can provide a shelter in the gutter space that is attractive to animals that could cause a problem, such as bees, wasps, hornets, and in some cases, small birds. These animals can build nests in the cover of gutter guards and cause a blockage.
- Small debris. If the debris on your roof is from smaller leaved trees, such as pine needles, the gutter guard may not effectively keep the gutter free of this kind of debris.
Generally speaking, leaf guards on gutters are not a practical solution to keeping your gutters clear from blockages, and the number of new problems you could introduce makes them not worth the cost.
Gutter Guard FAQs
What is the most effective type of gutter guard?
Micromesh gutter guards are considered the best at keeping out most debris. However, they can be subject to damage from large debris, particularly in severe weather.
Is there a gutter guard that works?
Most gutter guards are effective at keeping out debris. Micromesh gutter covers best keep leaves and other debris out of gutters.
Is it worth installing gutter guards?
While it’s more a personal preference, gutter guards are generally considered a waste of money compared to the cost of hiring someone to clean and inspect your gutters yearly.
Are gutter guards worth the cost?
Gutter guards can be a good investment if properly installed and maintained. However, hiring a handyman to clean your gutters is often cheaper over time than the initial upfront cost of gutter guard installation.
How often do you have to clean gutters with gutter guards?
We recommend you have a gutter cleaning and inspect your gutters annually, even with gutter guards installed. It helps ensure that potential issues are addressed before they become more serious and that your gutters are still working properly.
Are gutter guards necessary?
No, gutter guards are not required. Gutter guards can reduce cleaning and maintenance. However, they are not necessary and often not installed unless you have a lot of overhanging trees nearby.
Conclusion
Gutter guards are a controversial topic, and companies that sell and install gutter guard systems will talk about how gutter guards keep gutters clog-free and maintenance-free.
In most cases, this is marketing jargon intended to sell the product. Most gutter guard systems will have problems coping with heavy rains or heavy volumes of water from a large roof area.
If you are considering a gutter guard system, be conscious of the trees in your house and the annual rainfall you expect from the roof to ensure the system will cope according to your expectations.
Gutter guards may not be worth the trouble in the end. We discourage using gutter guards largely due to the high upfront cost and the low return on investment.
A professional gutter cleaning service is safer, more cost-effective, and more dependable in maintaining your gutter system in good working order.
