Best Way to Select the Most Suitable Gutter Guards for Your Home

Most home owners dread having to clean out their gutters every season. This is why gutter guard systems are such a great and convenient idea. Before choosing gutter guards for your home, there are several factors you must consider, including where you live, cost, effectiveness, maintenance, and appearance.    

Gutter Guard Materials

Copper

• Does not rust 


• More difficult and more expensive to install

Aluminum

• Lasts longer than foam or plastic 


• Less expensive and weighs less than copper


• More expensive than plastic and harder to install

Plastic 

• Durable


• Does not rust


• Can crack in cold weather


• Not as strong as metal gutter guards

Nylon, Mesh and Foam

• More commonly used as a filter system for the gutter


• Can become clogged easier 


• Offer better water flow 


• Least expensive materials

Gutter Guard Types

Screens

• Work like a filter, allowing water to flow through while catching any debris


• Typically made of metal mesh, aluminum or foam


• Less durable than covers because they are thin, but are also less expensive


• They are usually placed inside the gutter or right along the top

Covers

• Larger than screens and harder to install


• Typically made from thick plastic, copper, or aluminum


• Sit on top of the gutter


• Covers keep more debris from entering your gutters, but they also keep more water out


• Are visible, so consider what they will look like

Maintenance and Safety

• Gutter guards only require annual maintenance 


• Only have to cleaned once a year, so no need to be up on a ladder each season 


• If professionally installed, annual inspections may be included in the price of installation