When it comes to the types of gutter guards, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Whether you’re after something simple, such as a foam guard, or a more advanced system, like micro-mesh, there’s a perfect gutter guard for you.
The most common types of gutter guards are vinyl, foam, mesh screens, and reverse curve. Consider your climate, tree cover, budget, and DIY skills before choosing one of these options for your home. In this guide, we’ll take a detailed look at each type of gutter guard, including their pros, cons, cost, and characteristics to help you make an informed decision.
While a few of these are DIY-friendly, a couple of gutter guards should be installed by professionals. Home Gnome can connect you with a gutter guard expert in your area.
What Are Gutter Guards?
Gutter guards are a shield designed to safeguard your gutters from debris and blockages. Just like a suit of armor protects a knight, gutter guards shield your gutters from leaves, pine needles, acorns, sticks, pests, and other unwanted materials that can accumulate and cause clogs. Clogged gutters can lead to water damage, mold, foundation damage, basement flooding, and soil erosion around your home.
Is your home gutterless? Read why it’s important to have gutters on your home.
Types of Gutter Guards at a Glance
Gutter guards come in different types: vinyl, brush, foam, screen or mesh, and reverse curve (also called surface tension). Below is a quick outline with the main characteristics of each. After this chart, we’ll take a deeper dive into the different types of gutter guards, including their cost, durability, and installation suggestions.
| Type of Gutter Guard | Main characteristics |
| Vinyl | Most affordable option Lightweight Easy to install Resist rust and corrosion Not great for harsh climates Can crack easily |
| Brush | Blocks large debris Easy installation Adapts to various gutter shapes and sizes Need more maintenance than screen or reverse curve options Potential to rust |
| Foam | Easy to install Affordable Good water flow capacity Not good for freezing weather Need regular cleaning Least durable option |
| Screen or Mesh | Block large debris Available in different materials Some materials are more expensive than others and require professional installation Very durable compared to foam and brush |
| Reverse Curve or Surface tension | Repeal large debris Most durable option Susceptible to pests Most expensive option Not great for rainy regions |
Vinyl Gutter Guards
- Durability: 3 to 10 years
- Installation Type: DIY
- Cost Per Linear Foot: $0.39 to $1.13
Vinyl gutter guards are versatile, affordable, and made from lightweight material that resists rust and corrosion. This means they can handle most weather conditions while maintaining optimal performance. However, you may want to consider another option if you live in a harsh climate.
“Vinyl gutters usually don’t last in climates with strong winds, rain, or snow because they are lightweight,” said the experts at All Season Gutters, Lemoyne, Pennsylvania. “They tend to do better in dry, mild areas. Even though they’re resistant to rust, they can sag and crack under the weight of heavy precipitation.”
Thanks to their lightweight design, I like how easy they are to install. All you have to do is snap or screw them onto your existing gutter system.
My Tip: Vinyl gutter guards are a great option if you’re on a tight budget and live in a mild climate. They’ll repel all types of debris while allowing water to flow freely through your gutters.
| PROS | CONS |
| ✓ Cheaper than other options made from steel. | ✗ Can last up to 10 years in mild climates, but their lifespan drops to around 3 years in harsh conditions. |
| ✓ Lightweight material makes them particularly appealing to DIYers. | ✗ May become brittle and crack in extreme temperatures. |
Brush Gutter Guards
- Durability: 1 to 5 years
- Installation Type: DIY
- Cost Per Linear Foot: $3 to $4.30
Brush gutter guards use bristles — aka brushes — that sit inside the gutter, creating a barrier against debris while allowing water to flow through. I like them because they can fit gutters of various shapes and sizes, making them a versatile choice for many homes.
Brush gutter guards effectively trap large debris, meaning they will need regular cleaning to avoid clogs within your gutter system. Because of how they’re designed, brush gutter guards can easily be lifted from your gutters when they need to be cleaned.
My Tip: Brush gutter guards are great for DIYers looking for gutter protection that requires simple installation.
| PROS | CONS |
| ✓ Keep large debris like leaves and twigs out of the gutter system. | ✗ Smaller particles like pine needles, acorns, or seed pods may find their way through the bristles. |
| ✓ Easy to install, making them a viable choice for DIY enthusiasts. | ✗ Need monthly cleaning to maintain optimal performance. |
| ✓ Adapt to various gutter shapes, sizes, and lengths. | ✗ Brush gutter guards made of metal may be prone to rust. |
Foam Gutter Guards
- Durability: 1 to 3 years
- Installation Type: DIY
- Cost Per Linear Foot: $1.95 to $3.25
Foam gutter guards are made of either porous polyester or polyurethane foam. These guards sit snugly inside the gutter, acting as a protective barrier that keeps out leaves, sticks, and other debris. What impressed me is how their porous design lets water flow freely, ensuring your gutters stay efficient and well-drained.
Since foam gutter guards simply sit inside your gutter system, debris can build up on top of them. This means you’ll need to regularly clean them – and your gutters – especially if you live in a forested area.
Expert Advice: “Because foam inserts are just that – foam, they are less expensive and less durable,” said the experts at Gutter Pros in Chicago. “So while they’re cheap, they can’t withstand severe weather like solid covers or mesh screens.”
| PROS | CONS |
| ✓ The porous nature of foam allows water to flow freely through the gutter system. | ✗ Fine debris, such as silt or roof granules, may accumulate in the foam, reducing its effectiveness. |
| ✓ Can be quickly inserted into your gutters. | ✗ Not the best option for regions with extreme winters. You must remove the foam guards when temperatures drop to prevent them from freezing. |
| ✓ Cheaper than steel screens or micro-mesh gutter guards. | ✗ While cleaning is necessary to maintain their effectiveness, removing and reinserting the guards can cause them to break. |
Screen and Mesh Gutter Guards
- Durability: 3 to 15 years
- Installation Type: DIY and Professional
- Cost Per Linear Foot: $2 to $4.44
Screen and mesh gutter guards are available in various types, and it’s important to understand how they differ and what level of effectiveness each offers. Here’s a look at the most popular options:
- Plastic screens are the cheapest option in this group but are the least durable. Plastic screens are lightweight and easy to handle, which makes them a top option for DIYers.
- Metal mesh and perforated screens have larger holes than micro-mesh but can block most debris while allowing water to flow into the gutters. They last long and are easy to maintain. If you’re an experienced DIYer, these are a good option. However, they can also be professionally installed.
- Micro-mesh gutter guards 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. 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.
My Tip: If your budget allows for professional installation, micro-mesh gutter guards are one of the best choices for homes with dense tree cover and heavy rainfall. 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.
| PROS | CONS |
| ✓ Block leaves, twigs, and other large debris from entering the gutter system. | ✗ The cleaning process can be time-consuming as each panel needs to be removed before cleaning. |
| ✓ Materials like aluminum and steel provide up to 15 years of protection. | ✗ Micro-mesh guards are more expensive than foam, brush, or screen gutter guards and require professional installation. |
| Available in many materials, including plastic, aluminum, steel, and stainless steel. | ✗ Perforated aluminum screens may still allow silt and dirt to enter, promoting plant growth in the gutter trough. |
| ✓ Plastic and metal screens can be installed by a seasoned DIYer. | ✗ Plastic options are less durable and will become brittle in extreme temperatures. |
| ✓ They can be customized to fit different gutter sizes. |
Reverse Curve or Surface Tension Gutter Guards
- Durability: 20 years or more
- Installation Type: Professional
- Cost Per Linear Foot: $3.75 to $10.90
Reverse curve gutter guards are solid pieces of plastic or metal that fit over the gutter opening and have a curved lip at the edge.
They work on the principle of surface tension: Rainwater flows over the top of the guard, follows the contour of the curved edge, and reverses direction as it spills back into the gutter. Meanwhile, larger debris like leaves and pine needles continues on over the roof’s edge and away from your gutters.
My Tip: Reverse curve gutter guards come in a wide variety of colors. This means they can seamlessly match your gutters and maintain your home’s curb appeal.
| PROS | CONS |
| ✓ Keep larger debris, like pine needles, leaves, sticks, and acorns, out of your gutters. | ✗ Can allow smaller debris to enter the gutter system. |
| ✓ Lasts longer than other types of gutter guards. | ✗ Cleaning should be left to a pro. Homeowners attempting to remove these guards may inadvertently cause damage to their roofs. |
| ✓ Decrease the likelihood of mold and mildew development, prevent fascia rot, and minimize the risk of basement flooding. | ✗ Not great in regions with heavy rainfall. Water can flow too quickly off the roof, causing it to overshoot the cover and fall directly to the ground. This can result in foundation damage or basement flooding. |
| ✓ Prevent debris accumulation, minimizing the risk of costly ice dams. | ✗ Attractive for pests to build their homes under their covers. |
| ✓ Works well with various roof pitches. | ✗ Most expensive gutter guard option. |
FAQ About Gutter Guards
What is an alternative to gutter guards?
Consider the practicality of downspout filters. These cost-effective options offer a viable alternative to full-scale gutter protection systems, especially if you have a French drain or an underground system where your downspouts deposit water.
Do gutter guards cause problems during the winter?
Gutter guards can freeze during very cold winters, especially when your gutters contain debris. Gutter guards are often blamed for causing ice dams, but uneven roof insulation, clogged gutters, and lack of snow removal typically cause these. If your gutters are clog-free and allow melting snow to drain smoothly, gutter guards can prevent ice dams.
Read More: Check out our guide on How to Remove Ice Dams From Your Home’s Gutters.
What are the best gutter guards for DIY installation?
Vinyl, foam, and brush gutter guards are generally the most DIY-friendly. Foam and brush gutter guards simply lie inside your gutter system, while vinyl guards require a bit more DIY skills since they attach to your gutter system.
Read More: Check our article on Most Common DIY Gutter Installation Mistakes.
Find a Gutter Guard Expert Near You
With so many types of gutter guards available for homeowners, I suggest choosing the type that fits your budget and provides the best protection for your gutter system. Consider how much rain you get, tree cover near your home, and how often you want to replace your gutter guards.
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