Leaf Protection
About Gutter Leaf Protection
With the overwhelming amount of gutter leaf protection products available, it’s almost impossible for a homeowner to know which one they should choose. We have installed many different gutter guards over the years, and that experience has helped us determine which ones work and stand the test of time. We do not install any “helmet” style gutter covers (like Beyer’s Leaf Guard, or Gutter Helmet), because they do not work, look terrible, and cost a too much. Don’t hesitate to call or email us if you would like to chat about what gutter guard style will work best for your home.
There are a couple of things to consider when choosing a leaf protection product for your gutters:
- What kind of debris do you have falling onto your roof (oak leaves, pine needles, redwood needles/pods, etc.)? Different types of gutter guards work better for handling different types of debris.
- What kind of roof do you have (composition shingle, tile, metal, torch down/tar & gravel, etc.)? Some gutter guards will only work with certain types of roofs.
Keep in mind that there is no perfect leaf guard product. We do not guarantee the performance of any gutter guards we install. Additionally, every leaf protection product will eventually require maintenance.
E-Z-Lock Leaf Screen
The E-Z-Lock powder-coated steel leaf screen is generally a useful leaf protection product and is also our least expensive. Similar to our gutter material, the screen is made of galvanized steel with a baked-on enamel. The holes in this leaf guard are small (1/4 inch), so they keep almost everything out of the gutter. Anything small enough to get through should be able to wash down the downspouts without issue.
For the E-Z-Lock leaf screen to perform its best, the debris that accumulates on top must occasionally be cleaned off. Maintenance is needed every 2-3 years depending on the amount of foliage. Just hose off the top of the leaf guards and flush any small debris into the downspouts.
This guard slides under the roofing material and screws into the front top lip of the gutter. E-Z-Lock works best with composition shingle roofs, but will also work with some tile, tar & gravel, TPO, torch down, and metal roofs. Flat and metal roofs will require modification of the leaf guard, which will result in an additional cost.
Raindrop Gutter Guard
The Raindrop Gutter Guard System is our most popular and best all-around performing leaf protection product. This leaf guard is self-cleaning and works excellent for leafy trees. It also looks good on the gutter. With its smooth, raised, grate-like pattern, most of the leaves that blow down the roof slip right off and over the gutter.
Raindrop gutter guards are made from high-tech, UV-stabilized polypropylene and holds up great to sun exposure. The manufacturer offers a 20-year warranty. This guard slides under the roofing material and screws to the front top lip of the gutter.
Raindrop works best with composition shingle roofs, but will also work with some tile, tar & gravel, TPO, torch down, and metal roofs. Flat and metal roofs will require modification of the leaf guard, which will result in an additional cost.
GutterStuff Pro FR
GutterStuff is a hardened, fully coated, and fire-resistant foam insert leaf guard that works well for trees that drop a lot of tiny debris. The manufacturer offers a Lifetime Warranty on this product.
Most conventional leaf guards are designed to slip underneath a composition shingle or tile roof, but GutterStuff is ideal for other types of roofs such as metal, tar and gravel, TPO, and torch down, where you cannot slide the guard under the roofing. Other leaf guards can be modified to work with these types of roofs, but the added labor to do the modifications and installation is a significant additional cost. GutterStuff is the only leaf guards that work with half round gutter under a metal, tar and gravel, TPO, or torch down roof.
Like most leaf guards, for GutterStuff to perform at its best, the debris that accumulates on top of it must occasionally be cleaned off.
Green Gutter Screens
Green Gutter Screens are a fine stainless-steel mesh over a painted, expanded aluminum frame. This leaf guard can keep even the smallest debris out of the rain gutter — even roof granules.
The downside of fine mesh leaf guard products like Green Gutter Screen is that the debris usually settles on top of the guard. Eventually, the guard gets covered, and the water fails to fall through, resulting in water running over the top and down the face of the gutter. This issue is most common in roof valleys and other areas where water concentrates on the roof and spills into the gutter. In some scenarios, roof water can shoot across the top of these leaf guards, in high water volume areas, even if they are clean on top. For this reason, Green Gutter Screens require periodic cleaning of the sediment that accumulates on the top to keep them performing correctly.
This guard slides under the roofing material and screws to the front top lip of the gutter. Green Gutter Screens works best with composition shingle roofs, but will also work with some tile, tar & gravel, TPO, torch down, and metal roofs. Flat and metal roofs will require modification of the leaf guard, which will result in an additional cost.
