Compare Gutter Guard Types
Gutter Guard Styles – Which is Best for Your Home?
Not all gutter guard types are created equal. Below, our Waukesha roofers have covered the most common gutter guard styles, including a variety of deciding factors, such as ease of installation, cost, materials and more.
| Type | Materials | Pros | Cons | Cleaning/Maintenance | Brands |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gutter Guard Screens | *Wire Mesh *Nylon *Plastic *Vinyl *Aluminum *Galvanized Steel *PVC | *Ideal for keeping out leaves and larger debris *Holds up well *Easy Installation *Inexpensive | *Smaller debris like seeds, pine needles, maple seed helicopters, twigs & leaf stems can slip through and/or clog areas of the screen *Larger debris can remain on top of the screen – blocking portions of the screen | *Occasional (debris can become entangled resulting in plugged areas of the gutter guard. *Cleaning may be challenging as it can require gutter guard removal in clogged areas. | *Amerimax Home Products *Spectra Metals *Raindrop Gutter Guard Systems *GutterRX |
| Micro Mesh Gutter Guards | *Plastic *Aluminum *Stainless Steel | *Block large and small debris, including shingle particles *Easy Installation | *High volume water run-off may occur during heavy rains *Pollen, dirt and sap can collect in micro mesh gutter guards and reduce the amount of water that can pass through. *Can be damaged by heavy branches, ice and snow *Can develop “sludge” that must be cleaned/removed Expensive | *Occasional *Easy to blow or brush clean | *GutterGlove *LeafBlaster *Leaf Filter |
| Hybrid Gutter Guards | *Plastic *Vinyl | *Keeps large and small debris out of gutters *Prevents moss and gutter tree/plant growth *Easy Installation | *Large and small debris may sit atop the gutter guards, requiring occasional blow-off *Expensive | *Infrequent | *Amerimax Home Products *Gutter Shingle |
| Gutter Guard Covers | *PVC *Aluminum *Galvanized Steel | *Helps keep large and small debris out of gutters *Easy Installation | *Debris & snow can rest on top of the gutter covers *Expensive | *Occasional (may need to brush off tops of gutter covers) | *Amerimax Home Products *E-Z Products/E-Z Gutter Guards/Midwest Enterprises, Inc. *Leaf Off |
| Foam Gutter Guards | Foam (polyether) | *Blocks large debris from entering gutters *Easy Installation *Inexpensive | *Debris remains on top of foam gutter guards, while water passes through *Dirt, pollen, shingle debris can clog the pores, resulting in water overflow *Moisture retained in foam gutter guards can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests. *Can promote moss, gutter tree and plant growth *Usually shrinks, crumbles, decompresses or disintegrates within a couple years | *Regular *Cleaning can be challenging as debris must be removed from atop the foam gutter guards. *Small debris is difficult to clear from pores. | *GUTTERSTUFF *GutterFill *Leaf Defier *Gutter Pro |