A lot of people who detest cleaning gutters are turning to micro-mesh gutter guards. They prevent debris buildup, pest infestations, and mold growth. Great, but wait! Before you make this investment &#; and they are a little pricey &#; you should understand the pros and cons of micro-mesh gutter guards.
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Micro-mesh gutter guards fit snugly atop gutter openings and feature thousands of tiny holes that filter out debris but allow rainwater to flow into gutters. The holes can be as small as 50 microns in diameter, making them barely visible to the naked eye. They are available in various colors, sizes, and materials, including aluminum, stainless steel, and plastic. Stainless steel is the most popular because it&#;s the most durable.
You can install micro-mesh gutter guards on all types of rain gutters and roofs. To install them, slide the long side of the frame under the roof shingles and attach the other side to the outer edge of the gutter with screws. If you have a metal roof, attach the long side of the frame to the fascia board.
And, spoiler alert, though expensive, micro-mesh is generally considered the most effective type of gutter guard as it can filter debris of almost all sizes, making it easier to clean your gutters.
Note: All micro-mesh gutter guards aren&#;t the same, as the performance will vary depending on the size of the mesh holes. Some meshes have extremely small holes that filter out even tiny pollens and pine needles. But, if your region receives frequent heavy rain, they won&#;t be a good option as they can&#;t catch water effectively.
Micro-mesh gutter guards, especially those made of stainless steel, are highly durable. They can withstand strong winds and even impacts with small tree branches. They also don&#;t rust and can easily last for over 20 years.
If you install micro-mesh guards, gutter cleaning will become a lot easier. You won&#;t have to deal with increased debris buildup and pests, as the guards will keep them in check.
It&#;s important to know that micro-mesh guards don&#;t eliminate all gutter maintenance (more on that below). No gutter guards do. Even with them, we recommend you clean your gutters at least once a year, although the job will be much easier if you have micro-mesh guards.
Because micro-mesh gutter guards prevent debris buildup, your gutters won&#;t experience the same corrosion due to stagnant water as gutters without guards. They also prevent mold growth and keep pests out of your gutters.
If you live in a cold region, micro-mesh guards can also prevent ice dams from forming in your gutters.
Micro-mesh guards look great on any gutter system and can enhance your home&#;s curb appeal. The guards blend well with your roof and aren&#;t noticeable from the ground. Micro-mesh guards are available in many colors, so you don&#;t have to worry about matching the color of your home or roof.
Micro-mesh gutter guards with 30-micron mesh holes handle heavy downpours exceptionally well. They draw rainwater into the gutters without letting them fall off to the ground.
As mentioned earlier, if your region receives heavy rainfall, don&#;t opt for micro-mesh with 50-micron mesh holes. It&#;s simple physics &#; smaller holes don&#;t allow water to filter through as quickly as larger holes.
Most micro-mesh gutter guards come with warranties of at least 20 years, and some offer lifetime warranties. The warranty usually covers manufacturing defects but won&#;t cover external damage caused by heavy winds or fallen tree limbs.
Micro-mesh gutter guards are pricey. If you want an affordable option, consider plastic micro-mesh, but it&#;s not as effective or durable as stainless steel.
Plastic micro-mesh guards typically last 5 years, while stainless steel lasts more than 20 years. When you factor in the lifespan of the guards, stainless steel is actually cheaper, but the initial investment is significantly higher.
DIY installation of micro-mesh gutter guards isn&#;t easy unless you have experience working with gutters. You have to slide them under your roof shingles and then attach the other side on the outer edge of the gutter with screws. If you don&#;t have a shingle roof, the process becomes more complex as you have to attach the guards to the fascia board.
Micro-mesh gutter guards can significantly reduce the amount of gutter cleaning, but they aren&#;t maintenance-free. Also, since micro-mesh gutter guards form a flat surface, you&#;ll occasionally need to sweep or blow the debris that collects on top of the guards.
Micro-mesh may be the best gutter guards. But there&#;s no denying the fact that they are expensive. Even if you opt for plastic micro-mesh guards, expect to pay around $2.50 per linear foot. Aluminum costs about $5.50, and stainless steel can cost you $7.50.
DIY micro-mesh gutter guard installation is very difficult unless you have experience working with gutters. If you hire a contractor, they will charge about $3.50 per linear foot for installation, but the price can vary depending on the height of your home.
If you have 150 linear feet of gutters, expect to pay about $1,125 to purchase stainless steel micro-mesh guards. If you hire a contractor for installation, you need to spend an additional $525.
Where to purchase mico-mesh gutter guards
You can buy micro-mesh guards from Amazon or The Home Depot. You can also purchase them from your local home improvement store.
Here are some of the best micro-mesh gutter guard brands.
&#; Stainless steel micro-mesh guards &#; 20 years
&#; Aluminum micro-mesh guards &#; 15 years
&#; Plastic micro-mesh guards &#; 5 years
Clean your gutters at least twice a year, during early spring and late fall. If you have micro-mesh gutter guards, cleaning them once a year during late fall is sufficient.
How often should I clean micro-mesh gutter guards?You can clean micro-mesh gutter guards once a year when cleaning your gutters. Use a leaf blower or broom to remove the debris collected over the guards.
Micro-mesh gutter guards drastically reduce debris buildup on your gutters. They make gutter maintenance easier and protect your home from water damage. Though micro-mesh guards are expensive, they can increase the lifespan of your gutters, helping you save money in the long term.
If you need help choosing and installing the right gutter guard for your home, don&#;t hesitate to contact local gutter pros.
Main Photo Credit: inga / Canva Pro / License
Abdul Wadood understands that gutters aren't something to be compromised with. He informs homeowners about the importance of installing a gutter system and helps them maintain it in good shape. When free, you can find him exploring the world.
CBS Essentials is created independently of the CBS News editorial staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.
Fall is here, and while you may be excited to festoon your home with the best Halloween decorations, you don't want warped or damaged gutters and unsightly water damage turn your home into a haunted-looking house. And that's where gutter guards come in.
Gutter guards, like those sold by LeafFilter, which is available in 47 states across the United States and comes with professional installation services, may be what you're missing. Routine gutter maintenance -- everything from clearing out debris to realigning your gutters -- can be a pain year-round, but especially when it comes time to winterizing your home.
Before you spend your hard-earned money on gutter guards, you may be wondering if they actually work. They aren't required additions to your existing gutter system, after all, and you'll still have to climb up there to clean your gutters once or twice a year, so are gutter guards worth it?
"Yes, they actually work really well to keep your rain gutters debris and pest free while keeping the water flowing through your system to drain as it should," says gutter expert Matthew Dowd matter-of-factly when we asked him the same question. Dowd is the owner and operator of The Brothers That Just Do Gutters location serving the Jupiter-Palm Beach area in Florida.
We here at CBS Essentials spoke with a number of experts to get an understanding of how useful gutter guards really are, as well as the distinctions between types. Some may work better than others when it comes to keeping your gutters debris-free and your home safe from water damage, but at the end of the day gutter guards are a good long-term investment that can ease some of the responsibilities that come with homeownership.
"Properly installed gutters that flow freely with the help of gutter guards successfully redirect water away from the home and prevent future damage to the roof, interior walls, and foundation," says roofing expert, professional gutter installer, and owner of Quality Build Exteriors Mike Reedy.
Water damage is one of the less obvious problems that could arise from clogged gutters or gutters that haven't been properly maintained. Installing gutter guards can help to prevent this kind of insidious buildup and keep your home's foundation -- as well as any basement or below ground storage area -- nice and dry.
"I personally have gutter guards on my home and they do an excellent job [of] preventing leaves and debris from clogging the gutter," says real estate agent and owner of the Kentucky-based Garretts Real Estate Group Nathan Garrett on the effectiveness of gutter guards. "We have quite a bit of large, mature trees around the house too!"
One thing gutter guards are good at is keeping larger tidbits like twigs, pinecones, leaves, and small branches out of your gutters. If you live in a heavily wooded area -- or share yard space with a towering tree that loves to share its earthly offerings with your home -- you can cut down on a lot of gutter cleaning with gutter guards.
If you haven't guessed by the name, gutter guards have a singular purpose: to protect your gutter system from its natural enemies, such as leaves, tiny twigs, pine needles, animal nests, and other bits of assorted debris.
"Gutter guards work as a protection system over your gutters to keep out debris and animals and maintain the flow of water away from your home's foundation," says home maintenance expert and president of Window Genie David Flax. "Without gutter guards, you just need to make sure you or a professional cleans your property's gutters twice a year to maintain them. Gutters are the number one cause of water damage to a home, so proper maintenance is key!"
Depending on the type of gutter guard, this protection is achieved by filtering unwanted debris from rainwater and snowmelt, which is left to flow unobstructed through your gutters and away from your home This can also help to cut down on a chore that surely makes every homeowner's "top 10 least favorite chores" list: year-round gutter maintenance.
We decided to shine a spotlight on several of the absolute best gutter guards that money can buy. Browse both professionally installed and DIY gutter guards below.
Fortify your home against the tiny forces of nature that threaten to stop up your gutters with the help of some of the most dependable gutter guards on the market today.
Our top pick
: LeafFilter Gutter ProtectionLeafFilter offers homeowners gutter protection via a patented 275-micron micro-mesh design that filters out the smallest debris. While these gutter guards won't completely eliminate the need for gutter maintenance, they can greatly reduce the level of debris buildup you'll have to deal with.
For more information, please visit aluminium gutter mesh.
LeafFilter's lifetime warranty also covers repairs (or provides a refund) in the event that clogged gutters lead to water overflow or home damage. The company stands behind the claim that its stainless steel guards are resistant to rust and corrosion as well, making this a solid long-term choice for gutter protection.
There are no price estimates to be found online, so we reached out to get an idea of what the average homeowner can expect. After a free home inspection and consultation, these gutter guards typically start at $10 per foot. As a result, average prices for a small one-story home can range between $2,000 and $4,000.
These costs can seem a bit steep, but keep in mind that professional installation comes with a few extra services: LeafFilter professionals will also remove ineffective guards and clean, align, or replace your gutters as needed. Depending on the state of your home's gutter system, these services can more than make up for high costs. The best part? Any quote you receive is good for one whole year, so you're safe if you want to compare other gutter guard options before making a commitment.
Pros
Cons
Best lifetime transferable warranty
: HomeCraft Gutter ProtectionThis gutter guard has all the features you'd expect from a reputable installer: stainless-steel micro-mesh screens, services that can also cover the repair of your old gutter system, and best of all: a lifetime, transferable warranty.
HomeCraft services homes in certain cities across 10 US states: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Prices are not listed online and vary from one home to the next, but homeowners can expect total installation costs to start at around $800.
Pros
Cons
Best reverse-curve design
: Gutter HelmetMost gutter guards guard your gutters (say that ten times fast) with the same design: a kind of perforated cover. Others work like Gutter Helmet, with a reverse-curve design that harnesses the magic of surface tension to whisk away debris.
There are a few reasons to consider a reverse curve design instead of something like a leaf filter setup. This guard type prevents debris from building up in your gutter thanks to a simple nose-forward design that extends past the outer edge of your gutter. It's a single-piece design that's easily installed, but at the same time more likely to be visible from the street than other guard types.
Here, you can expect an aluminum single-piece guard system that's super easy to clean. The company services homes in more than 40 states across the US and has been in business for more than 30 years, making it a reliable choice for anyone looking for gutter guards that work.
According to our chat with a Gutter Helmet representative, an average one-story home is likely to be matched with installation costs starting at $20 per foot, or $4,000 in total. That number could also go up depending on factors like the size and location of your home.
Pros
Cons
Best DIY option
: Raptor Gutter GuardWhen all you want is an easy fix you can handle yourself -- no eye-popping installation fees involved -- Raptor Gutter Guard is the way to go.
With an aluminum, micro-mesh design, the Raptor Gutter Guard is capable of offering better filtration than other guard types. With its patented V-Bend Technology, this mesh guard is marketed as being more durable than the competition.
The big allure here is how much you might be saving on installation costs. Shop this top tier bit of gutter protection at Amazon. While some professionally installed guards can cost anywhere between $10 and $30 per linear foot (accounting for any and all installation services), DIY guards are much cheaper.
The Raptor Gutter Guard system is available for $125, which breaks down to just $2.60 per linear foot. Your purchase comes with 48 feet of gutter guard, plus the tools you'll need for installation.
Pros
Cons
Gutter guards come in several shapes and sizes. There are more expensive options that are super durable and ideal for filtering medium- to small-sized debris. There are also budget-friendly alternatives that come with less maintenance and may offer a sufficient level of protection for your gutters depending on certain factors, such as whether you live in an area that deals with higher-than- average rainfall levels.
If you have the skill and patience to go the DIY route -- as well as a power drill and extension ladder -- you can save a good amount of money by avoiding professional installation. Many DIY products have costs that break down to less than $10 per linear foot.
Total costs for some DIY gutter guards typically start at around $200, while professionally installed systems could cost between $1,000 and $4,000. This jump in costs can come into play for a variety of reasons: the size and location of your home, number of floors, and status of your existing gutter system can all affect installation costs.
Here's a quick look at the types of gutter guards available, plus how much you can expect to pay for each. Prices are given per foot and based on average cost breakdown (for DIY guards) and estimates for a one-story, 2,000-square foot house.
"Debris and water sitting in a gutter can get really heavy, oftentimes pulling away at your roofing," says Dowd. "Usually, we see some pretty bad fascia damage, which can lead to a roof repair if the gutters are not draining correctly. So they're worth the initial investment of protecting your home from future damage and your wallet from unnecessary repairs."
Fascia -- not to be confused with the plant or the pretty color fuchsia -- is the board that runs along the lower edge of your roof below your existing gutter system. You may not notice water damage right away, but this part of your roof is first in line to be affected should your gutters get clogged up.
To prevent this type of deterioration, the best defense is a good offense, which in this case, means taking action before problems start to crop up (and after a period or two of heavy rain or snow, they will). As Dowd pointed out, gutter guards are an investment -- it's all about fortifying your home against down-the-line problems such as extensive or pervasive water damage.
Don't wait until you have to calculate the costs of gutter guards and costly repairs to your roof. Keep things running smoothly atop and around your home by purchasing the best gutter guards for your home today.
When comparing gutter guards, we took into consideration a number of things. In order to help you find the best gutter guards for your home, we stuck to the following criteria:
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