As a homeowner, both during, and after, a storm, violent rain can be a problem for many of us. Seeing rain gutters thrown in disarray, with water overflowing from your rain gutter, can be depressing. Plus, water flowing down your gutters can cause significant water build-up in your basement and foundation.
So, what is the solution? Well, you must install rain gutters for a few reasons:
- Prevent leakage
- to keep debris from cluttering your gutters
To stop water damage to your home.
Before installing rain gutters you should consider whether or not gutter guards are needed. Are rain gutter guards mandatory? It all depends on your situation; some homeowners decide to install gutters with no guards, but others find this is a bad idea.
The first thing to consider is the severity of your rain problem; if you have a particularly bad issue you might want to invest heavily in gutter guards or go the more expensive route of a leaf reduction diverter.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| LeafTek 5" x 100' Gutter Guard Leaf Protection in Black | Best Overall |  |
| Gutter Valley Splash Guard | Budget Pick |  |
| A-M Aluminum Gutter Guard 5" | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. LeafTek 5" x 100' Gutter Guard Leaf Protection in Black
Pros:
- Keeps gutters clean
- Edge protection
- Stops rot and reducing pressure on support structures
- Increases life of gutters
- Suitable for new gutters or existing, replace, or repair damaged guards
- Snap-ready installation
- 5-year manufacturer's warranty
- Quality design and appearance
- Excellent performance
- Impact-resistant material
2. A-M Aluminum Gutter Guard 5"
Pros:
- Keep debris out of rain gutters
- Easy to install
- Improves curb appeal
- Great customer service
- U.S.-made
Cons:
- Can be challenging in the winter
- You may need additional materials (not included)
Our top choice is the A-M Aluminum Gutter Guard at 200– long. Its size and design are ideal: the 5– guard is large enough that water and debris can’t get through. It’s also long enough that it won’t break or get damaged when snow piles up on the brackets and abuts the roof. This gutter guard has a mill finish, which means that it’s been lightly textured to prevent snow from sticking and is scratch-resistant.
The A-M Aluminum Gutter Guard is easy to install. However, you might need to purchase an extra set of brackets if you’re going to use this in a multi-story home, or if you have gutters that are unusually angled. Unfortunately, some customers have complained that they either didn’t receive these extras, or that they had to contact the company for replacements. Fortunately, the customer service team is quick and responsive to requests and complaints.
3. Gutter Valley Splash Guard
Pros:
- Easy installation
- Material is tough enough to last
- Priced well for the value
- Works well
- Love that it comes in Low Gloss White
- Definitely a must-have in the summertime around my place
- Looks great
- Prompt shipping and very fast delivery
- Would recommend to anyone who wants a product that looks great and goes on easily
- If your gutters are 15 feet or more you might consider getting 3"
Cons:
- Not really a very big deal but for some reason, it took 3 extra days for my order to get here.
- Make sure you know what your actual measurement. I measured mine (because the package stated 3' but when I measured, I found that mine were about 4.5',) so I purchased the 3' version and the fit perfect. This may be important for you to know, depending on if you are replacing or adding to.
The Gutter Valley Splash Guard is one of the best products out there that you can get for what it's worth. It really does make a difference.
Has a low outlay and easy to install. Very Happy with the outcome, and would recommend it to anyone with gutters.
4. Amerimax Home Products 638010 Hoover Dam Gutter Guard
Pros:
- Good price for this high-quality gutter guard
- Super easy to install with the included mounting brackets
- Has a great appearance when installed
- Looks natural as it matches the color of the rain gutter
- Materials used are high-quality and durable
- No problems with rain leakage into basement
The Amerimax Home Products gutter guard is one of the most popular and best rain gutter guards around, and it’s easy to see why. This reinforced gutter guard comes with four different pieces that snap together for a quick and easy installation. The installation doesn’t require any tools, the pieces just snap together, and it installs without any problem.
Amerimax uses high-quality waterproof plastic that will keep your home dry, which has become a very important factor in today’s market. Many of these guards are composed of materials that don’t have great longevity and can easily fade with time, but that’s not the case with the Amerimax Home Products brand. The plastic is high quality and very thick. It’s designed to last for years, which is a great benefit for the gutter guard.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do any gutter guards really work?
Although most gutter-guards companies would like you to believe differently, we have found that the DooVent gutter guard actually works. It catches the leaves and debris from entering your gutter. However, in order to keep the guard clean of debris, it is necessary to clean it in the spring when the debris has been allowed to dry out. Other gutter guards simply have too many gaps in them to actually stop the leaves from entering the gutter.
Do gutter guards work in heavy rain?
Yes, gutters can still overflow in a heavy rain even with gutter guards installed. These guards are intended to keep the leaves and debris out from the gutters and prevent rodents and other mammals from entering the roof area.
They are not intended to submerge underwater or hold back large amounts of water. If you are worried about these things happening, you can always purchase a heavy-duty gutter guard made for this purpose. We only recommend this for people in areas that experience frequent heavy downpours.
Why gutter guards are bad?
If you live in the following areas of the country, you deal with snow build-up that can clog up your gutters and downspouts. Only certain types of snow will build up and clog the gutters. In cold climates, snow can occasionally build up in the gutters if it is packed down by snowplows.
Snow that falls after rain and melts before it gets a chance to freeze, will also build up. In areas where there is a lot of rainfall throughout the year and/or temperatures are below freezing, then rain gutters can be a real problem.
In most places, rain gutters are also used to channel the water from your roof away from your foundation. That was the intent at least; however, most gutters are already clogged with decaying leaves. This creates a situation where water can back up and enter your house.
Are foam gutter guards any good?
The ventilated foam gutter guards are the ultimate in gutter protection. They are a popular choice for our readers who want the best protection for their gutters. It really is the Rolls Royce of gutter guards and other products just don't come close.
Unfortunately, ventilated gutter covers can be much more expensive than the basic foam covers. We have found that some people actually prefer to use both products to cover the entire gutter, just to help protect them from all sorts of debris. The point here is that you really need to consider what type of debris you expect to collect in your gutters. If your roof typically collects leaves, twigs, and pine straw, then foam covered guards will be a fine solution. However, if you have a more modern roof made of metal and you live on the coast, then you will likely need a roof with some kind of venting built-in.
Conclusion
It is essential to protect your rain gutter system from the caustic effects of debris and tree growth by keeping it well maintained. After all, it is not designed to absorb water continuously. By the right gardening tools, rain gutter cleaning will be easy and hassle-free and will give you healthier, green and beautiful landscape. Gutter guards are one of the best tool to install and have proven to be effective for preventing debris, leaves and other items from entering and obstructing or damaging your gutter system.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| LeafTek 5" x 100' Gutter Guard Leaf Protection in Black | Best Overall | |
| Gutter Valley Splash Guard | Budget Pick | |
| A-M Aluminum Gutter Guard 5" | Upgrade Pick | |