May 15, 2007 11:05pm by Steve | 
I’ve spent a lot of time lately attempting to find the best solution for keeping leaves and plant material out of our gutters. We currently have *no* gutters on the house due to the renovation. I don’t simply want to install open gutters and leave it at that, because the house is so tall now that I have no way to reach the gutters for cleaning.
So I’ve been investigating solutions. There are TONS of them. Everyone seems to either love or hate any one particular solution. And most people agree that none of them work perfectly… and some don’t work at all. Here are a few that I have looked at.
Leaf Guard
Gutter Maxx
Leaf Filter
Gutter Filter
Gutter Stuff
Gutter Brush
Alcoa Leaf Relief
DIY options
We had Gutter Maxx come out and give us an estimate. GutterMaxx is like the next generation of LeafGuard. It looks like a quality product, but the price is ridiculous. For the ~100 feet of gutters (with all the pipes, downspouts, etc.) and the GutterMaxx topper, they wanted $4500. We talked them down to $3600, but that is still way more than our original open-gutter-only complete quote of $1200.
Today I had the local representative for Alcoa Leaf Relief come out to give an estimate. I wasn’t please by his unprofessional appearance and the fact that he seemed to work out of a station wagon packed with work stuff. I think that the Alcoa product is exactly what we need, but I’m wary about working with this particular guy.
No estimate back yet, but he indicated that Leaf Relief “isn’t the cheapest solution on the market.” Great. According to many other sources, this product *should* cost about $5-7 per linear foot, bringing us to $700 for installation on top of $1200 for the gutters themselves… for a total of $1900. Let’s see what he comes back with. I predict that it will be in the $3000 range. If so, I will laugh in his face.
Oh, and I did some research regarding the Alcoa 10-year No-Clog guarantee. It’s basically useless because it only kicks in if the INTERIOR of the gutters clog. If you’ve seen the product, it will be obvious that this isn’t its weak point. I have no doubt that the interiors will stay clear. The potential failure point of Leaf Relief is debris piling up on top of the perforation such that water runs off the top of the gutters. Sure they aren’t clogged, but they aren’t working either! There is NO guarantee that this won’t happen.
=== UPDATE ===
1.5 years after posting my thoughts on gutter leaf protection I went to Home Depot and paid $50 for a stack of Do-it-Yourself gutter guards. I installed them in about 1 hour and here it is, a month later, and they are working absolutely fine.
The bottom line is that the gutter protection “industry” is not worth your time and money. Just do it yourself.
=== UPDATE 2 ===
I’ve now had my Home Depot DIY plastic gutter filters installed for about 8 months and they are working flawlessly! Seriously. The leaves and debris just blow off my roof and filters. I’ve lifted the filters off of the gutters and looked inside. Totally clean with the smallest amount of grit that doesn’t even require a thought.
Why oh why didn’t I install these things from day one?
Tags: 
Category: 
Check out this gutter guard system on line at http://www.gutterguardall.com.
I am not sure where you live but they provide installation services in Central Ohio. Pricing is $2.75/lineal foot if you install your self. So, in order to cover your whole house you could get away with a much better product than the home improvement stores offer for $275.00.
I installed this product on my home myself and it was pretty painless. I have a standard 2 story split level home and installed 170 feet of it with a helper in about 3 hours on a Saturday.
I have done quite a bit of research on other gutter guards and actually tested some of them on my home. The ones that completely cover your gutter and depend on the water and gravity to make it work are completely worthless because not only is the water gravitating to the opening but so is all the debris you want to keep out of your gutter. It?s the standard law of movement. Where the water flows so does the “stuff”!! Not only that but you have to worry about birds and bees nests getting in there. The aluminum mesh ones are worthless because they buckle and just end up in your gutter like the leaves you are trying to keep out.
I liked this gutter guard because it was easy to work with, sturdy, and has really kept the yucky spring debris out of my gutters. So, I’m sure it will do great in the fall. I took a bunch of pictures of the debris that has blown off the gutter guard and onto my patio. It’s amazing to see how much stuff WOULD have been in my gutters. If you want I can send you the pictures.
It has these ridges on it that make most of debris push off like a little slide system. I have a TON of trees in my yard of every kind and was flooding due to bad gutters. We installed new gutters and then this gutter guard system. It made a huge difference. We are not flooding anymore!! While I don’t think that any product will ever be “perfect” I am REALLY satisfied with this one. Check it out. It’s appalling what companies are charging for some of these gutter guard systems. I think you will like this one and the price.
I have Leaf Relief guards on the front of my house and Leafguard on the back. The Leaf Relief guards handle leaves well. However, oak tassels and other debris tend to accumulate on the top. Some maintenance is required although the debris is unseen from ground level.
The Leafguard gutter works well also. It was reasonably priced. It handles heavy rains well and has not overflowed. It really has curb appeal
compared to the standard gutter. I may have it added to the front of my house at some point in the future.
The main problem I have found for using ANY cover with your standard open tray gutter is that this type of gutters installation has major flaws.
First of all it is never installed with a drip edge on your fascia board (thats even if you have a fascia board at all, if not, your troubles are compounded, will touch on later) A drip edge is designed to keep water off your roof line wood surfaces (fascia board, rafter tails, roof decking) otherwise they will begin to rot, eventually causing you to spend thousands of dollars on a roof line repair. The reason a drip edge is never used with a standard open tray gutter is that the spike or screw has to penetrate it in order to mount the gutter to the home, thus rendering it useless.
Often we see a gutter mounted directly to the rafter tails with no fascia at all! With this type of scenario the only surface to attach the gutter to is the end of the rafter tails. In summary, the standard open tray gutter installed on 99.9% of all homes is the cheapest system a builder can put up on a home to get it sold.
Drive around any neighborhood and soon you will see this type of gutter pitching, leaning, falling off etc. So explain this to me? If an open tray is eventually going to cause damage to my home and quite possibly fall off, what good is putting a cover on it? Now you get it!
From what I have seen with many no clog gutter systems out there, is that ONLY GutterMaxx stands tall. It is installed with fascia, with a drip edge, the gutter tucks up under the drip edge and the nickel plated screws that mount the system to the home are below the drip edge as not to penetrate it. The hoods have two ways for the water to enter the system causes a flushing effect keeping debris in the stream. And since the internal brackets are elevated, once it enters the stream it is a clear shot out to the downspout.
This system is also the only system designed under the premise stuff will get in! Thats why it works so well, it was designed to handle debris and not try to keep it all out! Listen to Leafguards ads and you will hear something like this, "Keep ALL that debris out that can clog your gutter". Really, ALL! in other words our system can stop nature, think again.
If you look into the history of no clog systems you soon discover that Leafguard was the first attempt at excruding a gutter on site with a hood on it. It was designed and patented by Kguard approx. 16 years ago. They franchised it and low and behold Leafguard was born. Kguard gave the franchise owners a 2 year no clog warranty then the franchises extended that to a lifetime to build a book of business.
Well after putting the system up for about 5 years they discovered that the system had some major flaws. 1) It was to small, it actuall will fit inside a standard 41/2" open tray gutter. So installing it with a thick roofing material became difficult. 2) The design would not allow the use of a drip edge, and we have already seen what that causes. When this was discovered they started to put caulking on the back of the gutter when they installed it. (A short term solution at best) 3) It clogged! what a no clog system that clogs, heaven forbid, remember the nature issue! When they went out to unclog it because of the Lifetime warranty the discovered another problem. 4) It was very difficult to access because of the one piece design. Once installed it was like a soda can! And finally, 5) Damage issues, if the hood was damaged the owner was forced to buy a whole new run of gutter! Yep, a one inch dent could cause the owner to purchase a new 40′, 50′ 60′ etc piece.
Imagine getting a ding on your door, you take it in to get fixed and the repair place gives you a quote that makes you pass out. Then you learn that to fix the door ding you have to purchase a new hood, the other doors, all the quarter panels, the trunk, everything because its all connected. One piece great on paper and in theory but in reality – Not smart.
So after discovering and dealing with all these design set backs they went back to Kguard and ask them to design a system to replace the first attempt. They did! the GutterMaxx system was born. Now it was not called that when it was presented to the Leafguard franchise owners obviously because it was going to be thier new product. Kguard looked at the problems and solved them all because like i stated earlier they figured out that you can not stop nature but you can control it to an extent.
No the system is not perfect, but what it does along with its crown molding type majestic appearance backed up with Lifetime warranties from Kguard, it is without doubt the best system available to date. Oh! why isnt it Leafguard, well when they found out that they would have to re-tool at a cost of 65,000 per truck per franchise owner plus re-do all thier adverting from a one piece system to a 2 piece system they turned it down. Kguard decided to market it themselves through dealers across the country. Smart choice. When it comes to price well guess what, with gutters and so called leaf free hoods etc, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!
Since I live in CT and my home surrounded by trees, guttermax seems to be the best system but the price is $4000 for my cape. I assume each 30 foot section would need to replaced if I had a storm and it was harmed. At $500 per season to have my gutters cleaned, I won’t do it as my roof is too steep and I am too old (67), can I negotiate down the $4000. I am getting another bid for a local gutter guy and do believe the design of guttermax makes the most sense for the bracket height to permit easy flow of water and the two openings along with the oversize of the gutters. Thanks for your clear explanation for a retired not do it yourselfer who envys those guys who go to Home Depot and spend 4 hours doing some version of this themselves.
Terry
It’s obvious you know nothing about gutter installation. I have been installing for 15 years and we have never not installed the gutter under the drip edge. If your going to post something at least know a little about the subject.
Wow Joe! Thank you very much for the detailed commentary. There’s a lot of great information here. I took the liberty of reformatting your post for readability.
Has anyone tried "Leaf Filter"?
Check out a product called GutterShutter. It looks pretty good.
Here’s the skinny kiddo’s…..The reverse curve system DOES NOT WORK! I’ve been a gutter installer for six years now, the last three have been working with leaf protection systems, in particular, K-guard and leaf slugger.
since November of 2006 I have subcontracted all of the warranty/service work for a couple of the big leaf protection devels…er, dealers…yeah, dealers. In less than a year, I have been to over 600 houses to service protected
gutter systems,..mostly K-Guard but also topper systems that install on existing ogee style gutters. they all clog!. Yes Joe, K-Guard does let in debris, but it does not flush them out! Have you ever taken the time to watch a gutter drain?
there is nowhere near enough velocity in the water to flush the gutter. There is not enough room on a facia board to pitch a gutter enough to push debris out, most of it settles on the bottom of the gutter around the downspout outlet, starting the clogging process. Most of the companies that sell these products are a bunch of crooks!!!! They are companies owned and operated by SALESMAN, NOT TRADESMEN! They sell thier systems for upwards of $40+ a foot!! They justify it with a bogus lifetime warranty. All they are doing is selling a lifetime cleanout contract. yeah, they will clean your gutters…when they feel like it! Oh Yeah…..reverse curve systems overshoot in a moderate heavy rain and do not work well on metal roofs or steep roofs. I have tested several systems out there and there is only one style that works…..stainless steel micro-mesh systems. There are only four companies that I know of that produce these systems…they are leaf solution, leaf filter, gutter glove and mastershield. Leaf Solution, in my opinion has the smartest design. The one thing that these companies have in common is that they will all refund your money if your gutters ever clog. If these systems are installed properly, they will not clog. You can pile leaves and debris on top of them and they still take in all of the water. Take it from me, I have seen it all and tested it all, my mind really is in the gutter….week in and week out.
GutterShutter also has a money-back guarantee as the stainless filters do. They are much stronger than those filters, and is lasts after snowfalls. (Important to me living in Minnesota) I had the others, but after I was able to re-coup from my poor investments I looked at EVERYTHING and talked with everybody, and GutterShutter has been the best investment I’ve made.
I say that whatsoever a person likes best, that is what is best to him. I do not like the appearance of the Mastershield type gutter guards. They are what appears to be "micro filters". Eventually they will have to be cleaned.
I HAVE SOLD GUTTER HELMET FOR 11 YEARS IT IS BY FAR THE BEST SYSTEM ON THE MARKET. IT COMES WITH A LIFETIME WARRANY BOTH PERFORMANCE AND MATERIAL IT IS THE ORIGINAL SYSTEM AND IT DOES WORK. NOT CHEAP BUT INSTEAD OF SPENDING A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY EVERY YEAR FOR SYSTEMS THAT DONT WORK DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME AND NEVER DO IT AGAIN
Guttermaxx sucks
K-Guard is not related to LeafGuard, which is owned by Englert, and K-Guard is Knudsen . . . I’ve never read a more inaccurate bunch of entries in my life. The one point that is accurate is that EVERYTHING clogs. EVERYTHING. Either the protection or the gutter eventually clogs, no matter what is claimed. The simple approach is to tell the truth, install something that is easy to install and easy to remove to clear debris from the gutter near the downspout . . . and don’t charge customers an arm and a leg.
Yeah, Tim, it was getting kinda silly for a minute. Check out this website and get a pro’s analysis of the situation. http://www.askthebuilder.com.
Let me just start by saying I own the GutterShutter dealership in Chicago, so obviously my opinion of covered gutter systems leans towards GutterShutter.
However, I can speak to the effectiveness of these systems in general. Over the past 3 years we have installed the GutterShutter System on just over 1000 homes. In that time we have had 2 service calls for clogs. Both where caused by BIRDS! One was in Elmhurst and the other in Streamwood. What we found in both cases when we took off the hood was an abandoned nest. A very small bird had apparently slipped through the opening and had built a nest in what looked like a nice covered home. But after the first rain the birds obviously reconsidered the location of their new home..
Regardless we removed the nest and replaced the hood.
Other than those two situations, we have had no service calls for clogs that were caused by leaves, twigs, or seeds. And if we ever do, we will clean out the system at no charge.
I have been in the home improvement business for 20 yrs.and involved with gutter protection for 15 yrs , both on the contractor/installation side
and the wholesale/manufacturing side as a factory rep. and i can honestly tell you that there is NO perfect system.All system have maintenance
issues meaning they ALL have to be cleaned periodadically some more than others depending on geographical location.And the claims of NEVER
CLEAN AGAIN is a misleading statement as you may not[not as often clean] have to clean the inerior of the gutters you will definetly have to clean yur
your covers,foam inserts,screens,ect.I am NOT saying that all systems are bad [i have personally sold and installed over 1/2 million ft.] I am merely saying buyer beware
and not to look for a magic trick because there isnt one.What most contractor should do is educate the buyer / homeowners on what can be
expected and to teach the buyer how to maintain the system,because ANYTHING we as contractors install on ANY home requires maintenance,
maintenance FREE siding,maintenance FREE windows,MAINTENANCE FREE anything has to be maintained.I think most are afraid to simply tell the truth or some
do not know what the truth is.And if contractors and manufactures alike would simply change thier verbage to minimal maintenance,I truly fell
that most buyers /contractors would be better off.
In conclusion=contrators educate,educate,educate,,,,,,,homeowners=beware,beware,beware of unrealistic promises.
I have Guttermaxx. As a system, it is generally ok if it gets put on right. But the company and service is lousy. I work with contractors for a living and these guys beat them all for bad service. They installed a non-standard downspout that leaks at the seams and drops right onto my door jamb. Waiting to see how long it takes for it to rot out (going on 3 years now, but it won’t be long). My 3 year-old wooden floor is rotting out because of the excess water this dumped at the door.
They also installed a short piece that doesn’t have a cover and of course, it is clogged up. Not sure why they aren’t owning up to it, but they haven’t done anything about it even though it is theirs.
They take forever to return phone calls and have poor follow-up. They’ve come out to my house 3x to look at the problem (because I keep complaining) in 7 months (yeah, that’s how much I have to bug them to get any action). Each time, they claim there is either no problem or it is not theirs. I say stay away from them. You may get a nice looking system for an expensive price, but the so-called warranty is a bunch of hot air. They will only clean the gutter if somehow leaves and debris got inside to clog it. They’ll throw up all kinds of other excuses to clarify what they mean in their ads. Caveat emptor!
I live in CT and I bought Mastershield two years ago because it had a money back no clog warranty. Every system I looked at other than Mastershield only promised to clean my gutters when they clogged. Mastershield gave me a written warranty that if it clogs they will refund 100% of my money. Leaf Solution looked good but it had no warranty. It is my understanding that leaf solution was invented by the same guy that invented Mastershield. I also looked at gutter glove but they used deceptive sales tactics. Anyway, after two years, there is nothing inside of or on top of my gutters and they really work.
Don’t buy Leaf Relief it is horrible. I wasted my monry on it and within 3 months it was totally covered with pine needles and the water just pours over it.
I have seen gutter helmet, gutter maxx, and gutter shutter all called the best here. What a joke. They are the same thing, it is called reverse curve flow and was invented in 1908. If it ever clogs they will clean it for free is a scam. If it will never clog, why would it ever need to be cleaned? Anyone can write the word guarantee at the top of a paper, the Yugo had a guarantee. If you really read the warranties from all of these curves, Leafguard, leafproof, gutter cap, gutter maxx, leaf slugger, hemet, maxx, shutter and on and on and on, what they all guarantee is that their product will fail and then they will clean it. Isn’t that what you have now?
I looked at Leaf proof, Leaf Guard, Mastershield, GutterGuard/Gutter Guardian, and Gutter Helmet, before choosing Gutter Helmet for my home last year. My husband and I chose Gutter Helmet because for one they have been around the longest and they continually improved their product since the 1980′s. Our local branch for Gutter Helmet has been in our city for 19 years and are members of the BBB, National Home Builder’s Association, and National Rain Gutters Association. They were complaint frree at the BBB and their Salesman showed proof of Licensure as well as current Worker’s Comp. and Liability certificates as well as a Bonding Certificate when he was here to give us an estimate. The gentleman was very business-like, cordial and well-versed with the knowledge of his product he was estimating for us. He showed me the design and even plugged up a sample model of their product so that we could view its performance. I was exceptionally relieved that he did not pressure us into signing his proposal. We were able to discuss it privately with no pressure and we called him with our acceptance. Their price was average of all prices we were given of all the products we considered. The office, salesperson and the installers were very professional and courteous. Since having the helmets we have had to use a spray nozzle (that was given to us by the installers) a couple times of year to spray off the tree sap that adheres to the aluminum, but it is very simple its like spraying off your car. We were told to do this annually or maybe more if the water isn’t pulling into the gutters and starts to overflow. We were told this up front that this was a maintenance tip that we would have to administer or that their office would do it for us for $79.95 if we needed them to. I liked the fact that they did not hide any information from us and the product works exactly how ere were told it would. I am mostly happy that I don’t have to worry about my husband on the ladder three and four times a year to clean the gutters. Its dangerous and were too old to deal with broken bones or maybe even a death when we’d rather spend our time playing golf or my husband love fishing and we really love having the grandkids. This way we’re safe from injury with the gutter helmets. If our considering leaf protection, I recommend Gutter Helmet.
Have any of you tried the Leafree system? I had it installed on my
house after being referred by my neighbor who had his done last
year. The product works great! I had estimates from Guttermax,
Gutter Shutter and Leafguard, and Leafree beat them all. Their
installers were great and the company ‘Gutter Proz’ was terrific
to deal with.
Gutters Shutters mucho expensives!! I thinks I hears they are workings on a large accounts at the Holiday Inns. I know they spends lotsa time there working on the big sales. I hoping big sales at hotels buildings makes prices much lower so I can affords to gets.
I have had Leafree gutters installed on my 2 story home last year.
I had the job done by Gutter Proz in McHenry, IL and they did a
terrific job. I shopped other companies and after talking with people
who had the Leafree system I decided to go with them and I am glad
I did. Works great and I can now give my ladder away.
I have tried so many gutter protection systems that I can;t even remember theri names. My worst experience was with GutterHelmet. Ice filled the gutters and caused them to rip offf of myhouse and then chipmonks moved in to the nice house provided by Gutter Helmet. The opposite end of the spectrum was provided by GutterBrush. It was a simple and very effective solution to an ongoing problem. The brushes did need a quick shake out in some of the heavier foliated sections around myhouse but that was after three years in use. Not too shabby for the price I paid. I think the website is either http://www.thegutterbrush.com or http://www.gutterbrush.com. Good luck to you all!
Hope I’m not too late to save you.. MasterShield sucks. The gutter cover with the mesh filter is the worst product in the world. I had it and watched as the mesh disintegrated all over my yard. The sun destroyed it. Warranty was worthless. They send me a roll of the new mesh which did not match with the rest of the product so it was unusable not to mention the fact that I would have to install it. Horrible product.. Run as fast as you can away from anyone seeling this junk…
the mesh is made of stainless steel…
Hello everyone. I am probably too late on this thread, but I had Leaf Filter installed on my gutters. My experience was completely horrible with Leaf Filter and I had to work with my local BBB to get the Leaf Filter manufacturer to compensate
me for having their product uninstalled from my gutters. They would not give me a full reimbursement for their product, but I was able to get about 1/3 of what I paid. Every time I see the Leaf Filter being demoed at the home shows by a
certified installer, I approach them and tell me what a disappointing product it was for me. I have a metal roof and I live in the northwest. We get alot of rain here and it is constantly moist. The mesh filter kept getting clogged with mildew and moss. I tried
to bleach the filter and scrub out the mesh – but I found out from other disappointed Leaf Filter owners that you have to also scrub out the underside of the mesh too. Which means, you have to uninstall the mesh entirely to clean it because it gets clogged
from the outside in and the inside out. In addition, leaves would pile up on the gutter. Because of all of this, water would run right across Leaf Filter and never get into my gutters to being with. Not a good situation for me – especially because my house has
a basement. The Leaf Filter manufacturer told me that their product should NOT be installed on a house with a metal roof because the filter cannot keep up with the velocity of the water (I have a 6/12 roof pitch, which is not extreme). The installer told me that they
never knew about this. The installer also told me that they have had so many complaints about Leaf Filter that they will no longer install it and have chosen not to be the regional Leaf Filter installer. Maybe Leaf Filter is just not for folks that live in wet climates – so
I guess your mileage may vary if you live in a dryer climate, don’t have a metal roof, and have a roof pitch that is less aggressive than mine (6/12 is the standard where I live).
I would much, much rather clean my gutters twice a year rather than spend the extra money on gutter protection systems. I will never buy another gutter protection system….and when I get too old to clean out my gutters, then I will pay someone
.
else to do it for me
I just had Leaf Filter installed on my house in October. I’m so sorry I got it. We have had a couple light snow falls and the micro screen kept the snow on top and when it started to melt it ran over the edge of the filter and onto my driveway and formed ICE. I had to salt that area even though the rest of my driveway was dry. The second snow, only an inch, the snow sat on top and when it started to melt ICICLES started to from from the gutters. They began falling and it was dangerous! I called them and very little response. Joe… is never in! I wish I had checked the internet first!
I’m thinking of having it removed or removing the micro screen. Any suggestions?
I actually installed a gutter guard system myself. It is a stainless steel mesh guard called Gutterglove Gutterguard. I was shocked with how easy it was to install. It lets nothing through it but water, so we never have to clean it. I love having it on my home because now I know there will be no damage to it from clogged overflowing guttters and my husband and i never have to take the time to clean it. I found it at http://www.gutterglove.com. Well worth the investment!
I always laugh at people who compare things by cost only. The one guy above me that said he went to home depot and bought $50 worth of gutter leaf gaurds and after one month they are still working. Check back with us after 3 months pal. Those flimsy plastic snap ons blow of and become clogged easily. Those hole fill up and I’ve seen stuff growing through them. Then comparing other gutters by price such as open faced, toppers and whole systems is like comparing apples and oranges. listen, CHEAP AIN’T GOOD AND GOOD AIN’T CHEAP. I clean gutters for a living and suggest to all of you out there that if you don’t want to climb ladders or have your fascia board on your house rotted, go with a complete system. One with a lifetime no clog warranty. You’ll save yourself and your house alot of grief. The largest gutter system, 6" is Gutter Shutter. I am not trying to sell their product but it is the least problematic for most home owners. I wish nobody bought them, I’d have more work cleaning gutters but the fact is, complete systems are better, PERIOD! 100′ of a system like Gutter Shutter is around $4000 installed, worth every penny.
I’m the guy with the $50 worth of Home Depot gutter leaf guards. I’ve had them installed for about 1.5 years now and they work flawlessly. The gutters are completely clear and the leaves blow off the guards without any maintenance required.
You got suckered, my friend.
Okay, here it is the months later and my Home Depot gutter guards are still working and looking perfect. They haven’t blown off, which is a ridiculous idea. If you pay $4000 for a piece of plastic to keep leaves out of your gutters, you are a complete retard. I suppose you also buy expensive organic food because it’s "better". Maybe you also buy gold leaf garbage bags. Face it, you are a robot consumer who believes whatever the television gods tell you.
Calling people retards is not constructive. If you think that buying plastic "strainers" for your gutters is as good as a fully contained gutter system, then that’s what you believe. First off, putting something over you existing gutters does not correct the problem with the original gutters/ If you think for a second that laying plastic strips over the 3 1/2 standard gutters will not clog up, then just wait. Secondly, those plastic "cheese graters" do not come with a "drip edge" and will not stop water from getting to your fascia board. Thirdly, the gutters I was suggesting are made of .032 gauge aluminum with a baked on enamel finish. Your cheese graters are plastic and will certainly become brittle over time and you’re back to square one. To suggest that cheese graters are on par with fully integrated systems shows a lack of understanding of your perception of what gutters do. I know first hand, by removing cheese graters, week after week, that the holes become blocked by debris and eventually water will run behind your fascia board and ultimately into your foundation. As my friend wrote above. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. GutterGaurd, Gutter Shutter and self contained systems, although much more expensive than cheese graters, offer, over the lifetime of ownership, a better return for your dollar.
This reminds me a couple that laughed at the price of a complete basement system, like Owens Corning, over that of traditional sheetrock. Of course the later is less expensive. But in the long run the insulating factors and mold/spore problems not associated with more expensive basement systems made the resell value of the home much more, not to mention, healthier.
In conclusion, when your cheese graters fail, and they will, will Home Depot come out and replace them? NO. The increase in property value, the peace of mind of a lifetime ( And yes, in Gutter Shutter’s case IT IS LIFETIME) warranty, and the fact that you will never have to get on a ladder again, for some, outweighs the added cost of inferior systems. If you want to put a band aid on a problem instead of a permanent solution then that is your call. But please, don’t ridicule those that have the vision and finances to buy a permanent solution
Expensive doesn’t mean good either, and for $4000 you can have your gutters cleaned for around 30 years.
I installed Elko GuttaGard on my house in 2004 for $160 (for 160 feet) and I haven’t cleaned my gutters since. I liked the product so much, I bought the company. It’s now sold as Gutter Genius DIY retail, and GuttaGard to contractors around the country. Solid metal, simple product.
Our new Elko GuttaPro has a 10 year no-clog guarantee for just a few pennies/foot more.
Sorry if I’ve violated any rules here, but I don’t pretend to be neutral. http://www.guttagard.com
I have worked in the architectural sheet metal industry for 18years. I have manufactured, installed, and sold literally miles of raingutters.
There is no form of leaf protection that works 100%. Anyone who tells you that their product will make your raingutter system 100% maintenance free is lying to you.
The best thing you can do for your house is to install large downspouts and clean your gutters twice a year.
By leaving your gutters open you have access to the inside if you need to tighten a gutter strap or re-seal a end cap or mitre. Also leaving them open allows the maximum capacity of water into your gutters.
I totally agree with the 3×4 downspouts, but GuttaGard really does work, provided the homeowner understands that eventually the downspouts will eventually clog with debris.
The clips are temporary, so you remove 2 clips, lift the panel over teh ddwonspout, remove the debris, and reattach. With a 3×4, you’d clean maybe every 10 years.
Bottom line is that it’s a cost/benefit analysis, and most of these gutter protection systems are NOT worth the money. That’s why I bought GuttaGard (the company) in 2004.
I beg to differ. I am the branch manager for gutter shutter in the Philly Metro area. In over 16 years we have installed over 75,000 units nationwide and have never had a system clog. For an engineer to suggest you should use "open face" gutters is laughable. Last year 6500 people died from falls around the house. That’s 18 every day. As a matter of fact the #1 cause of death around the home is from falls around the house. (National Saftey Council) Our system is rated #1 nationwide You never have to risk injury or possible death againBY CLIMBING A LADDER TO CLEAN GUTTERS AGAIN!!!! As far as Gutter Guard. They went out of business in the Philly area over a year ago. I invite anyone to visit http://www.guttershutter.com to learn more. Yes, we are the most expensive and worth every penny. We are the only system out there that has a FULL 6" trough base. Our brackets are three time bigger and stronger than any other on the market. Our end caps are not crimpped-on like others. I challenge ayone to find one complaint where our gutters became clogged. Yes, everyone has complaints if they are installing at the level we are but we have NEVER had a system clog, PERIOD. You’re invited to call me at 856-206-2648 if you have further questions.
Thanks,
Ed Jude
We live in MN. Our house is around 100 years old and has never had gutters as far as I know.
We have re-roofed it twice.
My husband does not want to install gutters because of the ice damn problem which he claims
gutters cause but I just read that is not true. We have a lot of problems with water in the basement
and gutters would help that somewhat.
After reading this blog many people claim brand A is fantastic while another one claims is stinks.
I’ve come to the conclusion no gutter is very good and does not live up to the claims. We
have a couple gutter companies near by one of them being Gutter Helmet. I guess we will save
our money and continue to battle water in the basement rather than waste money on empty
promises.
Sherry:
Ice damming is caused by more than just the gutters. Make sure you have sufficient soffitt ventilation so there is ample air flow . . . that’s about 90% of the issue in most cases.
Elko GuttaGard is only about $1.00 per foot if your husband installs it, and it will keep the gutters clear. Elko GuttaPro is around $1.50 per foot, and in Minnesota, I’d use GuttaPro . . . it’s a permanent attachment, and with 3×4 downpouts, you’ll likley never have to clean your gutters again.
Tim Staub
Owner – Elko Products
http://www.elkoproducts.com
(800) 331-4273
Plastic ones usually will fail. The resins which help it keep its shape fail under UV exposure and the cover slowly collapses into the gutter. Sorry.
GutterMaxx installed, looks good but leaked between the house and gutter the next day it rained. They have been out, somewhat promptly, but have rescrewed their work and caulked with a sealer that I am concerned about. This will not last, and I, like a fool, paid them all the money without having seen them work.So now the battle begins.
Well, I’ve read every one of these comments. It appears to me that none of the gutter protection systems are "perfect" but some are better than others. Yesterday I received free samples from SuperCleanGutterScreen. Their product sure looks good to me. It has the stainless steel micro mesh over perforated aluminum (or steel if you prefer). What I like most about their product is the price. The DIY price is around $11 for a 4 ft. piece. That’s a whole lot better price than most everything I’ve seen.
don’t waste your time on gutter helmet or money you spend as much time keep the round edge clear from debris as you do clearing the gutters with out it.
Gutter helmet under the shingle installation could void the shingle manufacturers warrenty and causes a flatter spot on your roofing gutter tie in
I see more severe ice dams as a result when these are installed. Byuer be ware this is my opinion
Had Leaf Filter installed on my highest gutter and I’m pretty pissed after I inspected it. To start out with they used indepedent contractors to stall it and when they arrived at the house they didn’t know what they were here to do!
It appears they may have cut the end off the shingles to make putting the filters in easier! There is no back splash guard and now bare wood is basically exposed at the edge of my roof? They also didn’t clean out my gutter which was part of the service! All this for about $20 a foot! Going talk to the company and see what they think?
Please let us know what you find out.
We have lots of trees and would basically need to clean out our gutters monthly as they are constantly clogged. We had our screens taken out last year as they were more of a problem than a help…
Price is not a big issue with us as it costs $175 to clean the gutters every time. Has anyone tried Gutter Cap? That is who we were planning on using…
Thanks for any help!
Hey Stefanie, we live in Great Falls / Virginia and the last 13 years our monthly gutter cleaning expenses: $120.00. Last June we hired Gutters911. Now we pay $80.00 per cleaning each three months. This guys installed screens up there. Just hire someone with affordable rates to do the job for you. Just in case: http://www.gutters911.com
Leaf Filter – DON’T BUY!!! I have had Leaf Filter Gutters for going on my second year and am more dissatisfied now than ever. Here in the Pacific Northwest we have Fir trees which shed their small needles continuously. These small needles lay on top of the gutter screens and NO water gets through. The mesh of the screens is so small, no water gets through anyway. My numerous complaints have resulted in Leaf Filter providing me an extension pole with a brush on the end so I can brush the filters off. It has NEVER worked. I have asked for a full refund or removal of the screens and have yet to hear a reply. DO NOT BUY THESE GUTTERS!!!
Hi Marty,
We now have a sister site called The Gutter Club (thegutterclub.com) which deals exclusively with customer reports and experience with leaf protection products. Feel free to review Leaf Filter more thoroughly in the Leaf Filter Review comments section. We can even turn your review into a featured post on the site.
Thanks for your comments!
The Gutter Club
We had Gutterguardian installed on our gutters in 2004 and have had no good result. The perimeter of the house below the gutters have a groove in the ground from rain merely rolling off the gutter guards and gouging out a trench in the ground. Have called the company many times in a vain effort to repair or corect the problem. Almost want to take the guards out of the gutters and go back to just removing the leaves each fall. This product is very unsatisfactory. Any comments on what I could do here would be appreciated.
I would not suggest any gutter gaurd system that breaks to roofs edge seal it will void your roofing manufacturers warrenty BE WARE
What “roofing manufacturer’s warranty”? You think the people who made your shingles are going to come out and fix a leak? Your installer MAY do so, but only if they are still in business or you have some sort of relationship with them, which is unlikely. And then… only if your roof leaks within a year of two of having it installed. After that, good luck getting anyone to fix your roof for free… no matter what your so-called warranty says.
Gutter screens from Home Depot are a temporary solution for a permanent problem.
Okay, you go ahead and pay $4000 for a “permanent” solution. I’ll buy $50 worth of Home Depot materials every 5 years for 30 years. Let’s see who comes out ahead.
Swood isn’t your time worth anything? Isn’t there anything more productive you could be doing other than replacing your gutter protection every few years. How about your health. We’re not getting any younger. The risk of injury working on a ladder is greatly multiplied as we get older. Also, to assume that someone got suckered because they chose to do it right the first time is downright ignorant. Suppose they are elderly and can’t DIY a household project. Or, did you consider that their gutters may not be easily accessible? Does your Home Depot product keep everything out of a gutter? No. I know it doesn’t keep pine needles out. Shingle grit and sand (depending on where you live)still accumulate causing ponding which becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes. To assume that everyone is a “sucker” because they don’t do what you do is not only wrong it is downright ignorant. Oh, and one more thing, the plural of leaf is leaves, not leafs. Unless of course you’re a Toronto hockey fan and then you’re forgiven.
My apologies for my repetitiveness when stating ignorance of assumptions. I edited my comments a few times as to not maliciously insult Mr. Swood and neglected to proofread them a final time.
If the average price for outfitting a home with “permanent” leaf protection was about $1000… then I would say sure, go for it. Heck, maybe even $2000. But the price-to-value ratio of “permanent” systems is definitely skewed towards ignorance. People think they are buying something that cannot be obtained for less. And quite often they end up with something that simply doesn’t work as advertised.
Ultimately they are paying for something that simply is not equal to its value. Admittedly, “value” in this case can be subjective. So yes, I’d rather change my Home Depot filters once every 8 years and take a few vacations with the family to Disney World with the extra cash. I consider that a better use of my money.
Buying a leaf protection system for $4000 is like buying a Lexicon Blu-Ray Player. See this article: “Lexicon Stuffs $500 Oppo Blu-Ray Player Inside New Case, Adds $3000 To Price” (http://bit.ly/cUlYxJ)
So, what is the Home Depot product that you are currently pleased with? I just got a gutter replacement (old ones already down)estimate and the Leaf Relief would be an additional 75% of the gutter cost. I too believe there’s something wrong with that picture. Also, I am not convinced that the LR product will keep out the pine needles and cypress tree debris all that much better than some cheap inexpensive plastic guards that I got from HD a number of years ago. Unfortunately I only guarded certain areas at that time. However, I do agree with the one poster about breaking the seal on the bottom shingle to install (at least the old plastic style that I had). Starter shingles are required in my state on new roof installs and that was the first thing that the city inspector looked at yesterday when he looked at my new roof installation. Look forward to hearing what your using that works for you. Thanks
Leaf Relief is the best we’ve come across. 6 MPH wind usually blows and dry debris off of it, 23 MPH wet debris. Any system that installs under roof shingles breaks a bond and can either result in possible blow off, or water intrusion. I see inexpensive plastic screens with screening behind them from some local big box stores. The bad is they go under the roof shingles (affects wind resistance). Also they lack rigidity and in ice dam prone climates can be distorted and or dislodged. Nothing is perfect, all systems eventually get dirt in them. Leaf Relief is easy to remove if necessary. After years of installations only went back on a couple to remove debris off the top.