The Best Gutter Guards for Heavy Rain of 2024 (Tested)
Get quotes from local gutter experts
Clicking “Get Your Estimate” submits your data to Home Service Quotes, which will process your data in accordance with the Home Service Quotes Privacy Policy.
Ad Disclaimer
Gutters protect your home from water damage in heavy rainfall. But, if your gutters become clogged, they won’t function at peak performance. Clogged gutters paired with heavy rain is a recipe for frequent overflows, damaged foundations, rotted fascia, and even saturated lawns. A reliable set of the best gutter guards can help keep your gutter system clean and free of debris, saving you money on future repairs and preventing the need for expensive gutter replacements.
Not all gutter guards are suited for heavy rainfall. For example, reverse-curve guards (also called gutter helmets) resemble a large cap that sits on your rain gutter with a small opening in the front. Gutter helmets use the scientific principle of liquid adhesion to self-clean. That said, their small openings can’t handle large amounts of water, leading to overflows. However, there are gutter guards that work well in heavy rain—the type that works best is micro-mesh guards. These products use tightly woven screens to block debris while letting water pass through.
Our team thoroughly researched the most popular professionally installed gutter guards on the market to help you find the best options for your home drainage system. We also bought 11 of the highest-rated DIY gutter guards on Amazon, installed them on a model gutter system, and tested their performance in downpour conditions. We researched each brand and read more than 100 customer reviews per product. We then scored these professionally installed and DIY guards against our rating system based on six objective criteria: material and design, value, ease of installation, customer reviews, services offered, and effectiveness.
Key Takeaways
- Micro-mesh gutter guards are the best guard type for heavy rainfall.
- We recommend LeafFilter’s micro-mesh guard as the best for heavy rainfall.
- Reverse-curve gutter guards overflow more easily than other guards and aren’t recommended for heavy rainfall areas.
Our Top-Rated Gutter Guard Companies for Heavy Rainfall
-
Best Overall:
-
Best Add-On Services:
-
Best Customer Review Scores:
-
Best Deals and Discounts:
Compare Our Top 5 Gutter Guard Companies for Heavy Rain
The following table outlines our top gutter guard companies and compares their performance, price, warranties, and other factors. The cost estimates are based on data gathered from our survey of 1,000 gutter guard customers. We used this data to calculate the average cost of gutter guard installation for a 200-linear-foot system for each brand. Note that 200 linear feet is the average length of gutters required for a 2,000-square-foot home.
While the table below looks at the best professional gutter guards, many reliable DIY gutter guards can handle heavy rainfall well, including Raptor by Gutterglove, Waterlock’s micro-mesh guard, and GutterBrush. If you want to read more about these DIY products, check out our review of the best DIY gutter guards based on our firsthand testing.
|
Our Pick
|
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||||
 |
|||||
 |
|||||
|
|
|||||
| #1 out of 21 companies | #2 out of 21 companies | #3 out of 21 companies | #4 out of 21 companies | #5 out of 21 companies | |
| A+ | B | A+ | A | A+ | |
|
Warranty Length |
Lifetime transferable | Lifetime transferable | Lifetime transferable | Lifetime transferable | Lifetime transferable |
|
Filter Type |
Stainless steel micro-mesh | Stainless steel micro-mesh | Stainless steel micro-mesh | Stainless steel micro-mesh | Aluminum reverse-curve |
|
Sample Price |
$5,528 | $6,338 | $5,270 | $5,868 | $7,900 |
|
Pros |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cons |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Summary |
We recommend LeafFilter. Its ultra-fine mesh guards outperform other products, blocking debris as small as shingle grit, pine needles, and pollen. |
We recommend HomeCraft Gutter Protection for homeowners who want a one-stop shop for their gutter needs. |
We recommend Gutter Guards America for homeowners looking for a reliable gutter guard installer with secure guarantees. |
We recommend All American Gutter Protection for homeowners on the East Coast who want a reliable micro-mesh gutter guard. |
We recommend Leafguard for homeowners installing new gutters and guards who want an all-in-one system. |
|
Promotions |
Now 25% off. Additional 10% off for veterans & seniors | New customers save 30% | 15% off new installations | Save $300 on full-home installations | 20% off your purchase |
|
Product Image |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rating Categories |
LeafFilter | HomeCraft Gutter Protection | Gutter Guards America | All American Gutter Protection | Leafguard |
|
Material & Design |
|||||
|
Value |
|||||
|
Warranty Coverage |
|||||
|
Customer Reviews |
|||||
|
Services Offered |
|||||
|
Effectiveness |
Video of How Gutters and Downspouts Work
If you live in a heavy rainfall area, it’s essential to direct water away from your foundation. This video explains how to keep water away from your home to prevent pricey long-term damage.
How We Selected the Top Gutter Guards for Heavy Rainfall
Our research process includes analyzing product specifications, speaking to professional installers, and surveying real customers. We also tested 12 gutter guards firsthand, 11 of which were DIY products we purchased and installed ourselves. The brands we tested included the following:
- LeafFilter*
- Raptor by Gutterglove
- Two models by Waterlock
- GutterStuff
- GutterBrush
- Three products by Amerimax
- A-M Gutter Guard
- Home Intuition Rolled Guard
- Frost King
*Indicates a professionally installed product
We rely on data from our surveys and customer reviews from third-party, independent sites for products we haven’t tested yet. We don’t dock the company in our review standards if a product is unavailable for testing.
Our rigorous testing process revealed the following takeaways:
- Stainless steel micro-mesh gutter guards are best for heavy rainfall. This type of gutter guard has among the best filtration for heavy rainfall. Micro-mesh blocks small debris like pine needles while still letting large amounts of water pass through the guard. We only recommend using metal micro-mesh guards in heavy rainfall areas because plastic variations have small ridges that impede the flow of water.
- No guard completely removes the need for cleaning. Even high-end products like LeafFilter need to be cleaned every few years. Some dirt, pine needles, and leaves will always accumulate on top of a gutter guard and need to be removed manually.
- Cleaning a gutter guard is easier than cleaning unprotected gutters. You’ll have to dig through gutter gunk if your gutter system lacks a guard. This process is much more difficult, time-consuming, and unpleasant than brushing debris off the top of a guard. Plus, an unprotected gutter system needs to be cleaned at least twice yearly, while a gutter guard only needs cleaning once a year.
- The best DIY brand is Waterlock. Waterlock’s micro-mesh gutter guard features a stainless steel micro-mesh screen set into an all-aluminum frame. During testing, this guard blocked more than 90% of debris buildup while letting more than 85% of water through. This makes us believe it won’t overflow in heavy rainfall conditions.
- Brush and foam gutter guards are easy-to-install systems that handle heavy water flow. While we don’t typically recommend brush or foam guards due to their low material quality and inability to block small debris, they’re good at handling heavy downpours. Both guards offer no resistance to water flow, so they can handle large amounts of water. However, both types of guards are low quality. Brush gutter guards’ bristles are designed to clog, while foam guards don’t self-clean, meaning both require more frequent maintenance.
- Reverse-curve gutter guards don’t work well in heavy rainfall. While this style of gutter guard is great at blocking large debris, it doesn’t handle heavy downpours well because of its small opening. Reverse-curve guards have a small gap in the front, which limits the amount of water that can pass into the system at one time. Every model of surface tension guard we tested overflowed easily.
Informed by our testing and research process, we rate each gutter guard on six key factors: material and design, value, warranty coverage, customer reviews, services offered, and effectiveness.
See how the best gutter guards compare on price versus our overall score in the chart below.
Material & Design
A gutter guard’s material determines both its longevity and ability to handle heavy downpours. Certain materials, such as non-stainless steel, will rust and corrode more quickly, especially in more constant contact with water, than copper or aluminum. Plus, plastics like PVC perform worse overall because they break down more quickly and have small ridges in the filters that can lead to overflow problems.
This category rates each guard based on its material and design quality. We awarded more points to guards with efficient filters, sturdy construction, and higher-end materials. Micro-mesh guards scored the most points thanks to their efficient filtration, ability to handle downpours, and ease of cleaning. Guards made from stainless steel, aluminum, or copper also scored higher than those made from plastic or PVC because they last longer and are a better investment.
LeafFilter scored the best in this category. Its 275-micron micro-mesh screen uses surgical-grade stainless steel, a high-grade metal that lasts up to 20 years or more, even in rainy climates. Its screen is fine enough to keep out shingle grit while letting water pass through. During testing, we applied heavy amounts of debris to the top of the gutter and then several gallons of water over a few seconds to simulate heavy rainfall conditions. LeafFilter’s guard didn’t overflow, and the water flow pushed off most of the debris. We believe these qualities make LeafFilter ideal for protecting gutter systems in rainy regions.
Here’s a breakdown of how each guard in this article scored for this factor:
Value
Even the priciest gutter guard pales in comparison to long-term water damage costs. While a professionally installed gutter guard costs between $4,000 and $7,000, severe foundation repair costs, for example, can range between $15,000 and $25,000. Still, you want to get the most value out of your gutter guard.
This category looks at how much value a homeowner gets from working with a gutter guard company by comparing its price to its product performance, customer service, quality-of-life perks, discounts, and financing.
Most companies scored well in this category. Overall, professionally installed gutter guards performed better than DIY products, with LeafFilter coming out on top. LeafFilter’s material quality, performance, and bonuses are all above average, with a price that meets industry standards. It offers a generous financing program compared to other brands. It only requires a purchase of $1,000 or more to qualify for financing, whereas some brands require $7,000 to qualify.
Here are the value scores for our top gutter guard picks:
Warranty Coverage
A reliable warranty is essential for any home improvement project, including gutter guards. Warranties provide homeowners with financial protection in case of manufacturer or installer errors. For example, if your gutter guards were installed at the wrong pitch, you could notice more overflows in heavy rain, and this installation error could be covered under the warranty. The more long-lasting, clearly defined, and valuable a warranty is, the more points the company earned in this category. Lifetime warranties are standard for professional gutter guards, while DIY products typically have 10–25-year warranties.
We also considered warranty quality for this category. For example, companies that only offer “no-clog guarantees” earned fewer points than those providing actual warranties. No-clog guarantees aren’t proper warranties; they’re promises made by companies to clean a system or repair it in the event of a clog. Since these policies don’t provide real financial protection, they earned fewer points. Companies could earn the most points by offering both a no-clog guarantee and a proper warranty.
LeafGuard and LeafFilter come out on top, offering some of the best warranty coverage in the industry. Unlike most other companies, which only offer no-clog guarantees, they both offer a lifetime transferable warranty. LeafFilter has a warranty that promises to repair your system and refund 100% of the purchase price for all LeafFilter materials installed in your home if you’re not satisfied.
Here’s a breakdown of each company's warranty score:
Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are one of the most reliable ways to get a glimpse into the experience of working with a company. We read more than 100 hundred reviews per brand or as many as were available. We looked for recurring themes and pain points that indicate systemic wins or problems. For example, if a large number of customers mentioned overflows in heavy rain, we noted these issues in our review of each provider.
We read reviews on third-party websites such as Google, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and Trustpilot because those are less likely to be biased. We also gathered information directly from customers by surveying 1,000 gutter guard respondents. We avoided reviews hosted on websites owned by brands we’re assessing.
In the home service industry, most companies score 2.5 out of 5 stars or lower. This field is highly competitive, and customers tend to leave reviews for negative experiences instead of positive ones. Gutter guard companies generally receive favorable customer reviews, with the average score being between 3 and 4 out of 5 stars. LeafFilter, Gutter Guards America, and HomeCraft did best in this category.
Here’s how our top gutter guard companies scored in the customer review category:
Services Offered
Areas with heavy rainfall carry a greater risk of water damage and corrosion. Gutter guard companies that offer additional services like gutter repair or replacement are more valuable to homeowners. That’s why we awarded more points to companies that offer these additional services. Any company that provides roofing services like fascia or soffit repair—two parts of your roof that degrade more quickly in heavy rainfall conditions—earned more points.
LeafFilter, Gutter Guards America, and HomeCraft performed the best in this category. Each company offers its customers a wide selection of roofing and gutter services. Keep in mind that LeafFilter only provides its services to customers when they purchase a gutter guard system. Gutter Guards America and HomeCraft sell their services independently of the gutter guard purchases.
Here’s how each of our recommended companies scored in this category:
Effectiveness
This category evaluates a gutter guard's performance by measuring how much debris it keeps out, how much water it lets pass through, and how easy it is to clean. Any guard that blocked a majority of debris (80%–99%) while not overflowing in heavy rainfall conditions (90% water or more passes through) under standard conditions earned full points.
The companies that scored the best in this category were LeafFilter and Gutter Guards America. We tested LeafFilter and found it stopped around 90% of debris without overflowing, even in heavy downpours. While we haven’t tested Gutter Guards America, its high-quality materials, micro-mesh design, and positive customer reviews led us to believe it’s effective in heavy rainfall.
Leafguard scored highly in this category but was left out of this article. This exclusion is due to the guard’s reverse-curve design. Our firsthand testing of other reverse-curve products led us to conclude that this type of guard is unable to handle heavy downpours, regardless of its ability to effectively keep materials out of a gutter system.
Here’s how each company fared in our effectiveness rating:
Our Top Gutter Guards Picks for Heavy Rainfall
To find the best gutter guards for heavy rainfall, we researched 16 brands, surveyed customers, read online reviews, and tested popular products firsthand. After extensive research, the following four companies performed the best in downpour-prone climates.
Every product on this list is designed to prevent debris buildup while still letting heavy rainfall pass through the guard without overflowing. Each product is made from corrosion-resistant materials that can withstand consistent moisture and last for over a decade.
Best Overall: LeafFilter
What We Liked
- Handles large amounts of water without overflowing
- Has a built-in pitch that lets system self-clean, reducing future maintenance
- Features corrosion-resistant materials that last even in rainy regions
What We Didn't Like
- Offers additional services only with the purchase of a gutter guard system
- Has received complaints for aggressive sales tactics
Our Scores
We awarded LeafFilter a score of 4.7 out of 5 stars. Its highest-ranking categories are “Customer Reviews” and “Warranty Coverage,” while its lowest is “Material & Design.”
Our Review
Out of every professional and DIY guard we’ve reviewed, we found LeafFilter to be the most effective gutter guard for handling heavy rainfall. Its 275-micron, surgical-grade stainless steel mesh screen handles downpour conditions without overflowing while still blocking debris as small as shingle grit and pollen. Its built-in pitch uses water flow to push debris off onto the ground, a process called self-cleaning. This combination of a highly efficient design and corrosion-resistant materials means your LeafFilter system will save you time in future cleanings and last up to 25 years, even in rainy climates.
LeafFilter sent us a floor model of its gutter guard system, which we tested firsthand. We learned the following about its performance:
- LeafFilter’s gutter guard easily handled heavy rainfall. We simulated downpour conditions by dumping gallons of water over the guard in a period of a few seconds.
- Even when piled full of debris, the water didn't overflow, and LeafFilter’s built-in pitch used the heavy rainfall to self-clean. The water removed most of the debris, with only small amounts remaining—around 40% of the debris.
- What debris remained was exceptionally easy to clean. We used a hose, leafblower, or gloved hand to remove 100% of the remaining debris with little effort.
Like most other gutter guard companies, LeafFilter doesn’t host pricing information on its website. To find out how much LeafFilter charges for its system, we surveyed 129 LeafFilter customers. The respondents paid an average of $5,528 for a 200-linear-foot LeafFilter system or $27.64 per linear foot. This price aligns with the industry average of $4,000 to $6,000 for a professionally installed gutter guard.
The biggest downside to LeafFilter is its sales tactics. A consistent theme in negative reviews was sales representatives quoting high prices (ranging from $7,000–$10,000) only to lower them during the sales pitch. While we don’t like this practice, it’s common across the home improvement industry. We recommend setting a firm budget before speaking with a sales rep and shopping for multiple quotes to find the best possible price.
Customer Reviews
- Easy to clean
- Great filtration
- Professional representatives
- Aggressive sales tactics
LeafFilter has the highest overall customer review scores of all the companies we’ve reviewed. On the Better Business Bureau, it has a 3.9 out of 5 stars with more than 6,000 reviews. Its Trustpilot page has a 4.4 out of 5-star rating and more than 123,000 reviews.
The most common theme among happy customers is the impressive performance of LeafFilter’s guard and the skill of its technicians. Most customers praise the system's efficiency and self-cleaning properties, stating that it reduces the time and difficulty of cleaning. One customer praised the guard's ability to withstand heavy downpours common to his area—he mentioned the product holding up without overflowing in one particular spot that was prone to leaks.
However, not all customers are pleased with LeafFilter’s performance. Complaints point out sales reps' pushy tactics and occasional inconsistent installations. Common installation problems include incorrectly installed parts or failure to clean up job sites. For example, one review mentioned the installer forgot to properly caulk a section of the system, which led to leaks during rainfall.
Best Customer Review Scores: Gutter Guards America
15% off new installations
What We Liked
- Made of high-grade stainless steel that resists corrosion in wet climates
- Features a micro-mesh design to handle heavy water without overflowing
- Offers additional services like gutter repair that are valuable in areas with extreme climates
What We Didn’t Like
- Advertises misleading claim that you won’t need to get on a ladder
- Doesn’t host important warranty information on its website
Our Score
We awarded Gutter Guards America 4.5 out of 5 stars. It did best in the “Services Offered,” “Customer Reviews,” and “Effectiveness” categories but less well in “Warranty Coverage.”
Our Review
Gutter Guards America’s product has a unique design, impressive material quality, and an efficient filter. It features a stainless steel micro-mesh screen and an aluminum base, two corrosion-resistant metals that will withstand consistent rainfall and moisture. GGA claims its system’s unique wave pattern aids in heavy water flow and debris filtration, making it a great choice for regions with intense downpours.
However, one of the biggest downsides of GGA’s system is its tendency to snag small debris like pine needles and shingle grit. Specifically, the small gaps created by the pattern of the mesh catch and hold small materials. A fully flat, tightly set screen like LeafFilter will be a more effective gutter guard for preventing pine needles.
We surveyed nearly 300 Gutter Guards America customers, who gave it an average satisfaction score of 89%, 10% higher than any other company. We also asked GGA’s customers what they paid for a 200-linear foot system. According to our respondents, their systems cost an average of $5,270, or $26.35 per linear foot—this price aligns with the industry standard.
Customer Reviews
- Professional technicians
- Polite representatives
- Effective products
- Inconsistent quality
Gutter Guards America has fewer reviews than most other gutter guard companies, but what exists online is mostly positive. Its BBB page only has six reviews with an average score of 1.5 out of 5 stars. We don’t think such a small sample size of reviews accurately reflects the GGA customer experience. However, its Trustpilot page has more than 700 reviews and a score of 4.4 out of 5 stars, giving us a better sense of GGA’s performance.
On Trustpilot, positive reviews note speedy installations, the efficiency and quality of its guards, and speedy technicians. One review mentioned having a particularly intense storm, including severe rainfall and high winds. The customer said the guard weathered it easily and didn’t overflow.
The most common complaint about GGA is poor-quality work. For example, one customer’s technician forgot to install the guards on the back of their home and had to be reminded to clean out the downspouts on their system. Another commenter complained about large gaps between the guard and roofline, leading to consistent leaks. Issues like these are the most common problems we’ve seen in negative reviews for GGA.
Best Add-On Services: HomeCraft Gutter Protection
New customers save 30%
What We Liked
- Uses corrosion-resistant materials that will withstand moisture and consistent rainfall
- Provides more services, such as gutter repair, than other companies
- Is a smaller company with a “family-owned” mentality
What We Didn’t Like
- Has reports of poor communication post-installation
- Has inconsistent installation quality
Our Score
We awarded HomeCraft a score of 4.2 out of 5 stars. Its best scores were in “Services Offered” and “Customer Reviews,” and its lowest scores were in “Warranty Coverage” and “Effectiveness.”
Our Review
The biggest benefit to HomeCraft Gutter Protection is its wide selection of services that make it a one-stop shop for gutter systems. It offers gutter cleaning, repairs, and replacements, whereas most gutter guard companies only install gutter guards. Thanks to this wide service selection, we awarded HomeCraft maximum points in the “Services” category. Since gutter and roof systems break down more quickly in high-rainfall areas, companies that offer repair and replacement services are more valuable to homeowners who live in these regions.
HomeCraft’s system uses 304 marine-grade stainless steel and powder-coated aluminum for its micro-mesh guard. These materials are corrosion-resistant and stand up to intense water flow and constant moisture, making them ideal for heavy rainfall areas. Its built-in pitch and design help promote self-cleaning, which means you can clean this system less often and with less effort.
HomeCraft uses an indented diamond pattern called “raised screen technology” on its filter. HomeCraft claims this pattern helps the system filter materials and improves water flow. We like the aesthetic of this feature, but we see no direct evidence that it enhances the guard's functionality.
To find the average price of a HomeCraft gutter guard, we surveyed more than 100 of its customers. Respondents say a 200-linear-foot system costs an average of $6,338, or $31.69 per linear foot—$2,000 more than the industry standard. However, we still think HomeCraft’s diverse service selection and high material quality make it a worthwhile investment.
Customer Reviews
- Attentive representatives
- Prompt technicians
- Easy-to-clean guard
- Poor communication
HomeCraft has fewer reviews online than larger companies, such as LeafFilter. Its BBB page has less than 100 reviews and a score of 2.43 out of 5 stars. On Trustpilot, it has more than 250 reviews and a 4.3 out of 5-star rating, which aligns with the industry standard.
The main positive themes from customers are HomeCraft’s helpful sales representatives and the personal attention the company pays to its customers. Reviews also mention the guard’s impressive performance. For example, one review said the guards withstood downpours without issue, even in two days of heavy rainfall.
To see if claims of impressive customer service were true, we called HomeCraft's customer service line. We found the associate polite, friendly, and helpful. We asked how their system functions, and they gave us a thorough breakdown. Overall, it was a pleasant and insightful conversation.
However, this A+ customer service appears to stop after the project is completed. Negative reviews cite poor communication after installation. This problem isn't uncommon in the home improvement industry—many companies tend to put their best foot forward to secure deals, only to fumble follow-ups.
Best Deals and Discounts: All American Gutter Protection
What We Liked
- Offers all-aluminum gutter installations, a corrosion-resistant material
- Provides more discounts to its customers than the industry standard
- Has extra reinforcements that offer resistance to falling debris
What We Didn’t Like
- Offers fewer additional services than other companies
- Has a lower-than-average satisfaction rating
Our Score
All American Gutter Protection earned a score of 3.9 out of 5 stars. Its best categories were “Material & Design” and “Value,” and its worst was “Services Offered.”
Our Review
All American Gutter Protection’s system combines long-lasting materials like stainless steel and aluminum with a sturdy design. We believe that All American’s guard should last about 20 years, even in heavy rainfall areas. Its corrosion-resistant metals can handle constant moisture from heavy rainfall, and its micro-mesh screen blocks debris without overflowing easily. This means you won’t need to clean your system as much, and it will last for decades, making it a valuable long-term investment.
Like other top-tier gutter guard companies, All American’s guard utilizes a stainless steel micro-mesh screen. However, unlike other guards, All American includes a secondary layer of protection in its substructure. Its system functionally uses a secondary gutter guard (similar to perforated screen products) underneath the micro-mesh screen. This design makes the All American system extra-durable and able to withstand impacts from falling debris.
We surveyed 200 All American customers to find out the cost of its system. Our respondents indicated the average price of a 200-linear-foot All American gutter guard is $5,868, which is on the higher end of the industry average. While this system is pricey, we think the quality of All American’s gutter guard makes up for it. To help offset this cost, All American offers more discounts than other companies, including senior and military discounts, a $300 off program, and a 20% off deal.
Customer Reviews
- Durable guard
- Skilled technicians
- Polite representatives
- Mixed reviews
All American Gutter Protection’s Trustpilot page only has a single review, and on the BBB, it has 42 reviews and an average score of 3.44 out of 5 stars. This is the smallest pool of reviews out of any company in this review. We don’t think there are enough online reviews to properly represent the All American customer experience. We didn’t find any reviews mentioning overflows or overt product failure, so these guards don’t appear to have issues with heavy rainfall based on our research.
To better understand All American's customer experience, we surveyed 200 customers directly. According to our results, All American had a satisfaction rating of 71%, which is in line with other companies on this list, which averaged a satisfaction rating of 72.6%.
Ultimately, our research indicates that All American provides a reliable, efficient product. The only major downside we noticed in online reviews was the occasional communication error or dropped appointment, a fairly common complaint in the gutter guard industry.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.