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What are gutter guards, and do gutters still need cleaning?
Gutter guards are covers fitted over or inside the gutter trough that let rainwater in and keep leaves out: fine micro-mesh, perforated metal screens, and brush or foam inserts that sit in the gutter. A cleaning empties the trough once; a guard keeps leaves out between cleanings. LeafFilter, which sells stainless micro-mesh, says its own system is not maintenance-free. Ask what the guard does with debris from your trees and how it comes off for cleaning.
Do gutter guards work?
They keep the trough and downspouts clearer, and the downspout is where a clog backs water up over the edge. They don't end the upkeep. Debris sits on top of the guard after heavy leaf drop and storms, and under pines. LeafFilter describes the upkeep on its mesh as periodic checks and clearing the top where tree cover is heavy, in place of scooping out the gutters.
Guards pay off where cleaning is expensive or risky. LeafFilter pitches its system at homes under heavy trees and where ladder work is a safety concern, and the cleaning prices agree: at HomeGuide's rates, 180 feet of gutter costs $90–$270 to clean on one story and $225–$450 at three stories or more. The case is strongest on a tall house that needs cleaning more than once a year.
Which type of gutter guard stops pine needles?
Fine mesh. Stainless micro-mesh blocks needles and shingle grit while water passes through the tiny openings. LeafFilter's comparison says screens with larger holes let small debris into the trough, and brush and foam inserts sit inside the gutter, where they trap material and need frequent cleaning. Needles still collect on top of any mesh; LeafFilter names them among the debris that sits on its surface.
Match the guard to what falls on your roof. Ask the installer how the product handles needles, seed pods and grit, and how the mesh is brushed off when it mats over. Better still, ask to see one the installer fitted nearby under the same kind of trees.
Does gutter cleaning cost more with guards?
It does when the guards have to come off. Cleaning 180 feet of two-story gutter runs $135–$360 at HomeGuide's $0.75–$2.00 per linear foot, and Richmond Gutter Cleaners lists $200–$400 for a two-story home. Ask whether that covers guards. Unclipping and refitting them section by section adds labor; clearing debris off the top is a shorter job. Get each priced so you know which one you are buying.
LeafFilter's mesh is fitted by trained installers and secured to the gutter and fascia. Its warranty covers gutters that clog and overflow because debris got through the mesh. If a brand-name system is clogged inside, call the maker before paying a cleaner to take it apart.
What should a gutter guard quote list?
The feet of gutter covered, run by run; the product and mesh material; how it fastens, to the gutter and fascia or under the first row of shingles; downspouts; repairs to the existing gutters; and the warranty in writing. LeafFilter's warranty either fixes the problem or refunds the cost of the LeafFilter materials. Ask whether a refund on any product covers the installation too.
LeafFilter says its price turns on four things: linear footage, the condition of the fascia and gutters, the number of stories and how hard the install is. Get those written on any quote. Have sagging or leaking gutters fixed first, because a guard on a gutter pitched the wrong way still overflows.
Frequently asked questions
Do gutter guards void a roof warranty?
Check the shingle warranty before any guard goes under the first row of shingles or is fastened through them. Guards that fasten only to the gutter and fascia, as LeafFilter's do, leave the shingles alone.
Can I install gutter guards myself?
Snap-in screens and brush or foam inserts are sold for homeowners to fit. The ladder work is the risky part on a second story. LeafFilter's micro-mesh is not a do-it-yourself product; its installers inspect the existing gutters first.
Do I still need to flush the downspouts?
Less often, but check them. Fine debris that gets past a screen settles at the outlet, where a clog does the most harm. Run a hose into each downspout when you check the guards.
Sources
- LeafFilter: Debris, water and gutter protection · Checked
The maker's description of its stainless micro-mesh, debris on top of the mesh, upkeep, price factors and warranty.
- HomeGuide: gutter cleaning cost · Published · Checked
Gutter cleaning by measured length and story count, including basic labor and supplies.
- Richmond Gutter Cleaners: Richmond, Virginia prices · Checked
Richmond, Virginia, gutter cleaning, downspout flushing and debris removal, with separate prices for single-story, two-story and complex homes.
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