The Best Gutter Guards for Metal Roofs (Tested by Our Team)
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Metal roofs are extremely durable, but they present unique challenges to your gutter system. Metal roofs have more intense water runoff, which can lead to overflows, water damage, and other expensive problems. If your gutters are clogged, this issue becomes much worse. Thankfully, you can install gutter guards to help prevent clogs and overflows.
Our team reviewed 16 of the best gutter guard companies and chose our top five for metal roofs. We recommend LeafFilter as the best overall gutter guard because its stainless steel micro-mesh screen can handle heavy runoff without overflowing and block debris as small as pollen. If you want something cheaper and don’t mind a little gruntwork, Waterlock’s micro-mesh guard is a good do-it-yourself (DIY) option. Its extra-fine filter is able to handle downpours and still protect your gutters from debris like pine needles and shingle grit.
We made our recommendations by testing 12 brands firsthand and evaluating other key factors like price and customer review scores. We also consulted more than a dozen industry experts, surveyed gutter guard users, and spoke to homeowners directly.
Top Professional Gutter Guard Companies
After reviewing most major gutter guard brands in the United States, we found that the following five work best with metal roofs:
Compare the Best Gutter Guards for Metal Roofs
The following table compares each gutter guard company in this article on key factors. To determine average pricing, we surveyed 1,000 gutter guard customers and asked how much they paid for their systems. We then calculated the average cost per linear foot for each brand and used that to estimate the price of a 200-foot gutter guard installation, which fits a standard 2,000-square-foot-home.
Note that Waterlock is significantly cheaper than professional brands at $1,054 for 200 linear feet of material. Like our other top picks, it’s a stainless steel micro-mesh guard with a lifetime transferable warranty. However, the price for professional brands includes a lot more additional benefits, such as professional installation and repair. Though DIY guards can save you money, installing them isn’t the easiest task. It involves working on a ladder for several hours and using some tools, such as a hand grinder. Installing gutter guards incorrectly can also make them ineffective or lead to other problems, so make sure you feel comfortable with the job.
How To Choose the Right Gutter Guard
Not all gutter guards are compatible with metal roofs. Reverse-curve designs have a small opening that can’t handle the heavy water runoff, so they’re more prone to overflowing. However, there are still several gutter guards that work well for metal roofs.
When shopping, we recommend considering each gutter guard’s cost, material, design, and warranty before making your final decision. The table below provides a closer look at each of these factors.
Factor | What To Look For |
---|---|
Average Cost (200 linear feet) | $5,000–$7,000 for professional guards, $200–$1,000 for DIY |
Material | Our testing found that stainless steel is the best material because of its corrosion resistance. Avoid materials like plastic or foam, as they’re not very effective and don’t last long. |
Type | Micro-mesh is the most effective type of gutter guard for metal roofs because it withstands heavy runoff while still filtering out debris. We recommend avoiding other types if you have a metal roof. |
Warranty | Lifetime transferable warranties are our favorite because they cover your gutter guards for the lifetime of your home and can be transferred to new homeowners. However, these warranties are rare. We recommend looking for a warranty of at least 50 years for professional guards and at least 15 years for DIY guards. |
Our Reviews of the Best Professional Gutter Guard Companies
Here’s a detailed look at our top five gutter guards for metal roofs.
Advice From Homeowners
We spoke to John T., a homeowner in Charlotte, North Carolina, to learn more about issues he faces when dealing with his gutter system. John has several trees around his home, and his gutters frequently get clogged with materials like pine needles, seedpods, and deciduous tree leaves, which can be hard to remove.
John said that remembering to clean or repair his gutters regularly is a problem for him. “If I don’t schedule or remind myself, it doesn’t get done until damage or issues are happening.”
John recommends setting reminders and working with professional companies to inspect and handle issues promptly. This is especially good advice if you have a metal roof, because even though they last longer than traditional shingles, they can be damaged by constant moisture, oxidation, and other problems. Having consistent inspections by a roofing or gutter professional can help spot early problems before they become expensive headaches.
What Is the Best Type of Gutter for a Metal Roof?
K-style gutters are the best option for metal roofs. This is because they can withstand heavier water flow than other types of gutters, such as half-round. K-style gutters are also durable and more compatible with gutter guards than other options.
How We Evaluated Gutter Guards
Here is a brief overview of how we evaluated gutter guards when making our recommendations..
Our Rating System
We scored each brand against our rigorous rating system, determining which offers the strongest combination of material and design, value, warranty coverage, customer reviews, services offered, and effectiveness. DIY guards don’t come with additional services, so we instead considered ease of installation when evaluating DIY products.
- Material and design: Gutter guards that use high-quality materials, such as stainless steel, earned more points than products using lower-end materials like plastic. Similarly, we awarded more points to guards with efficient designs, like those that use micro-mesh filters.
- Value: Gutter guard companies with prices that fall in line or under the industry standard earned more points in this category. We also awarded extra points to companies that offer bonuses like free inspection or discounts.
- Warranty coverage: A warranty provides valuable financial protection in the event of an installation error. Gutter guard companies that offer long-lasting, clearly defined warranties earned more points in this category.
- Customer reviews: Customer reviews provide insights into the performance of a company. As such, brands and products with better customer review scores earned more in this category.
- Services offered: Gutter companies that offer a diverse range of additional services provide more value to their customers. We awarded more points to companies that offer essential gutter-related services, such as gutter cleaning or downspout installation.
- Effectiveness: This category assesses the overall performance of a gutter guard. Guards that keep out debris, allow water to flow freely through, and are easy to clean, earn more points.
- Firsthand testing: We tested 12 different gutter guards firsthand to determine how they performed. We tested each product’s durability, water passability, debris filtration, overall construction, and ease of cleaning.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.