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How do I Choose the Best Gutter Guard?

Malcolm Tatum
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Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 33,824
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Gutter guards are devices that help to prevent gutters attached along the roofline of homes from becoming clogged with debris. An effective gutter guard makes it possible for the maintenance of the gutter to be easier and also helps to prevent the damage to eaves that can occur when gutters become clogged. If you are about to purchase a gutter guard for your home, here are a few things to consider before making your final choice.

Easy installation is essential when choosing a gutter guard. There are designs that will easily adapt to different sizes of gutters and secure to the frame of the gutter using simple clips along the edges. By going with a gutter guard that can be put in place in a matter or minutes, you also tend to have the option of removing the guard with equal ease. This can be especially important when you want to clean or paint the gutters without having to work around the guards.

It is also important to pay attention to the materials used to construct the gutter guard. Many designs call for the use of mesh for the main body of the device. Mesh serves as an effective barrier to larger debris such as leaves and broken limbs while still allowing rainwater to flow into the gutter with ease. Gutter screens may be constructed with wire mesh or with durable plastic or resin mesh as well. If you have a lot of trees near your home, going with the wire mesh may be a better option.

Keep in mind that resin mesh is more susceptible to degradation from the elements, especially sunlight. If the position of your home is such that the gutters see direct sunlight for most of the day, you may do well to consider a gutter guard with a slit design. Guards of this type don’t employ mesh at all. Instead, the body of the guard has a series of thin slits that allow water to pass into the gutter unobstructed. However, the size and placement of the slits along the body of the guard are sufficient to keep most leaves and larger debris from creating clogged gutters.

For people living in areas where snow and ice is common during the winter months, going with a gutter guard that is equipped with an ice dam is a good idea. Essentially, this type of guard helps to minimize the potential for snow to pack into the gutter and harden into a solid mass that must be melted in order to unclog the section and restore an easy flow of liquid through the system. The dams are commonly integrated into designs that use slits or a series of small diamond-shaped perforations in the body of the guard, and will not interfere with the normal function of the gutter during warm weather.

Price may be a consideration with your choice of gutter guard. However, keep in mind that cheaper is not always better. For example, mesh designs may be less expensive in many cases; but if the climate and general landscape around your home is likely to lead to rapid deterioration of the mesh, you would do well to go with one of the more expensive slit or perforated designs. Choosing a cheaper gutter guard to save money often means replacing the guard more often, which effectively offsets any savings you may have enjoyed at the time of the initial purchase.

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Malcolm Tatum
By Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGeek, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.

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Discussion Comments
By anon278041 — On Jul 03, 2012

Yes. Not having to climb ladders and scale rooftops is a big advantage in having a gutter protection system. Safety comes first! I agree that micromesh is the way to go. I would look into MasterShield Gutter Protection. Their gutter guards incorporate all the latest technology and have come out on top in several independent tests with more stringent testing methodology. They've got a great blog too!

By anon154656 — On Feb 21, 2011

If you haven't used a gutter guard before, I would definitely use Gutterglove gutter protection. I installed it on my home because it keeps out all the leaves,pine needles and even roof sand grit from entering your gutters because it uses a very fine micro mesh for filtering all debris out. I don't have to climb a dangerous ladder to clean out my gutters ever again. Yahoo! You know, they also got the highest rating in a national consumers magazine from testing numerous gutter guards. I just wanted to recommend them and pass on this tip.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing...
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