Gutter guards are screens that keep debris out of gutters so rooftop rainwater can be freely collected and ushered to the downspouts and away from the structure. The improved water flow allows relatively clean rainwater to fill any rain barrels you may have quickly. In the wintertime, free-flowing gutters prevent ice dams from forming in them. As a major convenience, guards prevent you from having to frequently clean your gutter system or hiring someone else to clean it.

Guards slow down gutter rust and corrosion by not allowing moist leaves and debris to sit in the gutters they cover. Stagnant water in gutters also attracts birds, vermin and insects, making gutters a breeding ground. Some of these critters go behind the fascia boards and into the home’s attic to make a home within reach of the water. Guards prevent these unwanted guests from accessing the water and physically bar them from accessing the area behind fascia boards.

If water is allowed to sit around the foundation, cracks will form and worsen over time. Guards protect the building’s foundation by keeping the gutter system clean so that it can usher rainwater away from the foundation. Keeping the water away from the foundation also prevents the soils around the foundation from washing away, preventing unlevel foundations and pressure cracks.

Inexpensive do-it-yourself guards include screen, mesh, brush and foam types. Screen guards are super inexpensive and easy to install, but they have large holes and don’t last. The holes in a mesh guard are slightly smaller. Brush gutter guards look like large pipe cleaners. You may have to remove brush guards to shake out pine tree bristles. Foam guards involve sticking foam wedges into the gutters. Once they become clogged, you will still have to remove them and clean the foam.

Guards installed by professionals include micro-mesh and reverse-curve. Micro-mesh guards are well-made guards with small holes. Reverse-curve or surface tension gutter guards don’t allow anything, even water, to enter the gutters from above. Water enters a reverse-curve guard by way of a downward curve.

If you hire a professional to install guards, you can get a free cost estimate and ask about the warranty. The first thing an installer should do is inspect the current gutter system and replace it if it is faulty. The next step is cleaning, repairing, realigning, and sealing the gutter. The last step is to secure the guard to the gutters.