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Sam Wasson is a content writer specializing in gutters, roofing and pest control. He has more than five years of experience in content production, writing and critical research. Sam creates accurate and informative content through thorough analysis, firsthand testing and industry experience. Sam’s content and data have been featured and referenced in various online publications. 200 Mesh Screen
Mike Miller is an editor for USA TODAY Homefront, covering topics that range from moving to gutters and gutter guards. He lives in North Carolina, but as a Minnesota transplant he has firsthand knowledge of long-distance movers’ pain points. Mike has written about home and life insurance providers for Marketwatch, This Old House and Architectural Digest. He also edited three national consumer magazines about natural health and wellness — Alternative Medicine, Eating Naturally and Natural Solutions. He has a BS in creative advertising with a certificate for technology, arts and media. In his spare time, Mike rides his motorcycle, plays with his two cats and spends time with his wife and twins.
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LeafFilter is our top pick for professional gutter guard installations. We like Raptor for do-it-yourself (DIY) projects. But before you choose the best gutter guards for your home, you must decide whether to hire a professional or install them yourself.
The decision often comes down to price. It’s not always that simple, though. Costs for a DIY project can escalate quickly if you don’t account for equipment needs, safety measures and potential time lost.
Mike Miller is an editor and gutter guard tester for USA TODAY Homefront. He has spent more than 20 hours in hands-on gutter guard testing, in addition to surveying homeowners, speaking with gutter guard installers and interviewing gutter experts.
On the other hand, hiring a professional installer can cost thousands of dollars upfront but includes benefits such as higher product quality, trained installation and a better warranty.
We conducted thorough research and hands-on testing to help you determine the company and gutter guard products that suit you. Based on our reviews and test results, we recommend choosing a stainless steel micro-mesh system for your home due to its performance and durability.
Here are our top picks for professionally installed and DIY gutter guards to protect your gutters from debris and leaves and help prevent clogging:
Not sure whether DIY or professional installation is right for you? Here are a few key points to consider.
Hiring a professional can cost more, and you’re stuck with scheduling the project on their timetable. But with professional installation, you can expect the following benefits:
On the other hand, doing it yourself might bring a sense of personal accomplishment and pride. It also can cost significantly less than professional installation. But going the DIY route also carries risks, such as the following:
Gutter guards are typically worth it if your yard sees rain and debris from your roof and nearby foliage — and if you have realistic expectations of the benefits. I found in testing that no gutter guard can eliminate the need for gutter cleaning, but a good one can make it easier.
Whether you choose professional installation or DIY, you will want to select the right type of gutter guard for your home. The chart below shows that more than two-thirds of people we surveyed in October 2023 preferred screen, mesh or micro-mesh gutter guards.
We tested six gutter guard styles under various conditions and found that micro-mesh options perform the best overall. Your local debris types, weather phenomena and pests influence the integrity of your gutters and the performance of your gutter guards, so it’s important to find the right style for your home.
Here are some takeaways from our testing that may help you decide which style is right for you.
Screen guards are thin metal sheets with perforated holes. They’re durable and easy to clean. However, the holes are too large to prevent small debris, such as pine needles or seedpods, from entering your gutters. These guards may be a good fit for your home if you have oak or other deciduous trees around your property but not pine trees.
Mesh-style gutter guards use interwoven metal or plastic wires to create a mesh filter. These guards can handle heavy downpours and block large- to medium-size debris. However, pine needles, seedpods and shingle grit can get through. We recommend these guards if you live in a climate with heavy rainfall.
Screen guards are thin metal sheets with perforated holes. They’re durable and easy to clean. However, the holes are too large to prevent small debris, such as pine needles or seedpods, from entering your gutters. These guards may be a good fit for your home if you have oak or other deciduous trees around your property but not pine trees.
Reverse-curve gutter guards, also called gutter helmets, are large plastic or aluminum caps that attach to the top of your gutters. They use the scientific principle of liquid adhesion and surface tension to block debris, promote water flow and self-clean. These guards are the most durable because they act as a shield on your gutters. We recommend reverse-curve guards if you have trees directly over your home or live in a high-wind area.
These guards resemble large pipe cleaners with thick plastic bristles. Brush guards are inexpensive and easy to install, but because their design intentionally clogs with debris, they must be cleaned more often than other guards. Brush guards may work as a short-term solution but only last up to five years with proper maintenance. For many homeowners, they don’t provide enough value for the effort.
These guards resemble large, triangular foam blocks. Foam guards allow water to pass through and block almost all debris. They’re inexpensive and relatively effective but degrade in sunlight, which means they need to be replaced every few years. Foam guards are well-suited for short-term installations but become expensive as time passes and you continuously replace them.
China Tube Filter Mesh When assessing a gutter guard for your home, one major factor is how effectively it filters out debris and handles heavy rain. That will help you determine whether it’s worth the price.