Gutter guards are a long lasting and effective way to protect your gutters from leaves, pine needles, acorns, twigs, weeds, small sticks and other fall debris.
They can be attached to a gutter in one of two ways:
Positioned between a gutter and its downspouts, which they prevent from clogging.
Positioned along an edge of the gutter, which they prevent from clogging.
Generally speaking, the gutter guards that are positioned between a gutter and its downspouts are more convenient and offer better protection than the gutter guards positioned along an edge of the gutter.
The former are called gutter screen kits. The latter are called guards along edges.
Either style will give you years of trouble free use, but you must ensure that the size you buy is suitable for your guttering.
Gutter screen kits (the gutter guards that are positioned between the gutter and their downspouts) are more troublesome to install, but they will provide you with better gutter protection.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| GutterStuff Guard 5-Inch K Style Foam Gutter Filter Insert | Best Overall |  |
| Filter-Flow. Best Quality 5k Foam Filter Insert. 32' Pack. 15 Year Warranty | Budget Pick |  |
1. GutterStuff Guard 5-Inch K Style Foam Gutter Filter Insert
Pros:
- Sturdy leaf protection
- Easily slips into gutters
- Diverse
- Budget-friendly
The GutterStuff Insert for Foam Gutter Leaf Protection is our top pick because it offers a great design, reasonable price, and many additional components.
While this unique gutter guard isn’t perfect, it’s far more versatile than other gutter guards on the market. The GutterStuff Insert is one of the few designs that features both rigid and flexible pieces, designed for a variety of gutter systems. It also comes in either 6-inch or 8-inch K-style for different gutter sizes.
GutterStuff also offers an additional inner foam insert and an outer rain cap that can be used year round to keep your gutters clean, even when it hasn’t rained in weeks. Overall, we believe that GutterStuff’s contribution to the gutter guard world deserves credit.
2. GutterStuff FR Fire Retardant 6-Inch K Style Gutter Guard
Pros:
- Fire retardant
- Attaches with included stakes
- Lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Not suitable for steep angles
- Installing can be difficult
The Gutter Stuff Fire Retardant Gutter Guards are an excellent choice if you want to keep animals or objects from falling into your gutters. Gutter guards are an important addition to your home because they’ll keep your gutters clean and clear, reduce the chance of your gutters overflowing, and having to clean or repair fascia. These guards are an ideal solution to block raccoon and squirrels from getting into your gutters.
These guards are made of a fire retardant plastic that will make sure your home is safe from any fire hazards. If you're looking for cheap gutter guards, the no-frills design is just what you're after. The pieces inside are similar to a plastic bag material that's tough and can resist water, but is still flexible enough to move along the gutter. These guards are sold in packages containing 5-feet of gutter guard and a plastic sleeve that you'll wrap around the outside to conceal the material.
3. Filter-Flow. Best Quality 5k Foam Filter Insert. 32' Pack. 15 Year Warranty
Pros:
- Great Quality and Easy to Install
- 15 years of no-hassle warranty
- Great Value for the price
- Great protection for your gutters
- Easy to trim to size without leaving mess behind
Cons:
- Takes a while to get the hang of installing the gutter guards.
The Filter-flow 3/4"-15 foot gutter cowls are the top gutter guard product on the market. They have the highest reviews on Amazon and they come with a huge no-hassle 15 year warranty. Let's go over how to install them and what they are all about.
When mounting the guards, you must use a power drill with an adapter. Luckily, they do provide an adapter so you do not need to purchase anything additionally. The adapter has a hole in the middle and you just have to tighten the gutter guard a little to make it stay in place, then you can move on with using your drill to install it the rest of the way. Alternatively, you can mount the gutter guard using a shooting head, it just takes a little longer to do it that way.
4. AllOut Pro Gutter Filter
Pros:
- Provides beautiful leaf-free gutters for up to 1 year depending on usage and severity of storm.
- Easy DIY installation by homeowner for a guaranteed airtight fit and optimum performance.
- Protects your gutters all year round from rain and snow melting, resulting in only debris and no water getting into your gutters.
- Filters must be cleaned at least once a month during winter and every 3 months during summer for optimal performance.
- Includes a money back guarantee.
4' x 9" K-Style Inserts.
Foam filter cannot handle strong winds and leaves a negative aesthetic aspect. *Made of foam that increases dirt collection. *Can be broken by surrounding trees if not installed properly.
Gutter Guards are one of the best ways to stop shoveling and raking debris from your gutters. Many guard systems that are available on the market come in a variety of sizes, colors, and shapes, which make it challenging to find best guard systems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long does gutter foam last?
These gutter guards are designed to last a lifetime. Well, as long as you live at your home. While you will have to remove them for repair or replacement there is no need to worry about the foam itself having a shelf life. Two things can cause damage to your gutter guards: pests and the sun.
First, if your guards are like most on the market, then they will be made out of foam. Animals love to chew on foam, so be aware that you will need to frequently remove and replace these; unfortunately, that is the tradeoff for getting the ultra-low-maintenance type of gutter protection.
Why gutter guards are bad?
Gutter guards are one of the worst things you can buy for your home. No matter what type of gutter guard is talked about, they have 2 things in common:
{1}. They only prevent leaves and other debris from entering your gutters.
{2}. They’re not designed to keep anything from falling or rolling off your roof.
This means they will not block water because your gutters end up building up with dirty, debris-filled water after every rainfall.
And remember, gutters are designed to collect and drain water, not hold onto it.
If you have a debris-filled gutter, then you might end up with your gutters overflowing. When gutters overflow, your roof is left with high levels of moisture that can lead to mold and mildew. They can also lead to structural damage as the standing water from the overflowing gutters can freeze and expand which causes your gutters to burst.
Why is there foam coming out of my gutters?
Foam that is coming out from your gutter is called being a “blow off.” This is a symptom of an over-abundance of sunlight being absorbed by your gutters, probably due to a dark paint color.
The paint absorbs the sun's rays and the heat can warm the plastic material in the gutter causing it to expand and foam out the downspouts. It's not a major issue, but it doesn't look very nice.
You can correct this issue by sealing the rotted wood and cleaning the gutter with a garden hose to remove the buildup of dried leaves and insect feces. Don't forget to seal the joints between the gutter boards and the roof. You can read about how to paint gutters section to see how to paint the gutter boards.
Gutters without foam are a sign of normal water runoff and are nothing to worry about.
Do gutter guards cause ice dams?
Gutter guards can cause ice dams, but it's definitely not a given. Many providers of the product will claim that their products reduce the chance of ice dams, but most don't offer independent research to back up that claim. One thing you can be certain of: frozen water in your gutters is what causes ice dams. So the best way to prevent them is to insulate your gutters with a foam product that will keep ice and snow from building up. Be careful though: if you don't use a gutter guard that has this insulation functionality, you could end up with a whole new set of problems: gutters that are barely functional. This will make your gutters useless for rainwater management and turn them into a cozy place for bugs and animals to live.
Conclusion
We’ve reviewed different brands from all over the internet and compared them based on the following criteria – quality, customer feedback, price, ease of installation, and materials, just to name a few. We believe that the best gutter guard on our list is the best for you. So if you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive yet effective cover that you can put up yourself at home, this is it.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| GutterStuff Guard 5-Inch K Style Foam Gutter Filter Insert | Best Overall | |
| Filter-Flow. Best Quality 5k Foam Filter Insert. 32' Pack. 15 Year Warranty | Budget Pick | |