Thinking about installing gutter guards yourself? Gutter guards keep leaves and debris out of your gutters, letting rainwater flow freely away from your house. If you’re on a budget and enjoy tackling projects around the house, DIY gutter guard installation might be just what you’re looking for.

To help you pick the best gutter guard for your home, we purchased, installed, and tested each major type of DIY guard. Below, we’ll share our findings, explain how to install them, and discuss whether it’s worth the effort to DIY.

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Types of Gutter Guards You Can Install Yourself

There are several types of gutter guards you can install on your own, each with its own pros and cons. Let’s take a look at the most common types:

Screen

Screen gutter guards a perforated with large holes that keep out bigger debris, such as mature leaves. You can get them in metal or plastic, but metal ones are usually sturdier.

You install screen gutter guards by lifting the bottom row of roof shingles and sliding the edge of the screen underneath it. Although screen gutter guards are easy to install on your own, you can damage your roof in the process. 

During testing, we found that metal screen guards were among the most durable products on the market. The brand we tested, A-M Gutter Guards, uses thick-gauge aluminum and withstood multiple stress tests. It blocked most debris except for pine needles, seedpods, and shingle grit. 

Micro-Mesh

Micro-mesh gutter guards have an ultra-fine mesh layer supported by a vinyl or metal frame. The tiny mesh holes are much smaller than the holes in gutter screens, and debris as small as pine needles, pollen, or shingle grit can’t pass through. Micro-mesh guards are good for homeowners living under a tree canopy or contending with small debris. They are generally considered one of the most effective gutter guards on the market.

Many micro-mesh gutter guard providers require professional installation by their employees or local contractors. However, there are some micro-mesh DIY options. To install DIY micro-mesh gutter guards, you can insert them under the first layer of shingles, snap them into your gutters, or connect them with your roof’s fascia (the band under your roof’s edge).

Micro-mesh models performed the best overall in our testing. These guards had the best filtration and design and were among the most durable. They can be trickier to install and might need adjustments to fit your gutters or fascia board. 

Reverse Curve

Reverse-curve gutter guards rely on surface tension to wick water around the outer lip and back into the gutter while debris slides off and down to the ground.

We don’t recommend this style for DIY installation—they need to be installed at precise angles that match your roof’s pitch to work properly. Plus, many DIY brands use lower-quality materials that impact the guard’s performance. One model we tested used plastic for the filter, which had a thin lip along the holes meant for water entry. This lip made it impossible for the water to pass through, rendering the guard useless.

Brush

Brush gutter guards have a thick wire with plastic bristles that resemble pipe cleaners. They rest in your gutter trough and are easy to install as long as you feel safe on a ladder. No screws or tools are necessary. Brush gutter guards won’t stop small debris and tend to catch the buildup of large debris in their bristles, so you must remove this type of guard for frequent gutter maintenance. 

During our testing, we found that the central metal cord extended past the bristles, which created a small gap between guard sections. We had to use tin snips to make each section flush. 

Foam

These sponge-like inserts fill your gutters. Water passes through the porous material, while leaves and debris stay on top. To install, you just press each piece into your gutters between the hangers or screws. Major drawbacks include the fact that they can break down over time, might need to be removed for deep cleaning, and can become a spot for seedlings to grow.

During testing, we found that these guards don’t work well with hidden hangers. Hidden hangers rest inside gutter sections, as opposed to external hangers, which sit below. When installing this guard, we found placing it beneath the hangers was difficult, ultimately requiring us to remove each section, slide the foam in, and reattach the gutter. 

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DIY vs. Hiring a Professional to Install Gutter Guards

Before you decide to tackle gutter guard installation on your own, it’s good to weigh the pros and cons.

Pros of DIY Gutter Guards

DIY gutter guards are useful in some situations. Here’s why you might want to pick up your drill and get out your extension ladder.

• Low cost: The main advantage of DIY gutter guards is the lower cost compared to professionally installed guards. The materials are generally cheaper per linear foot, and you don’t have to pay installation fees.
• Easy installation: DIY gutter guards can be easy to install, depending on the installation method. The more challenging methods are still doable for homeowners with general handyman skills. 
• More control: When you install your own gutter guards, you do it on your own time. You don’t have to waste time coordinating with contractors.
• Quick fix: If you need gutter protection fast, like before a big storm, you can get it done right away.

Cons of DIY Gutter Guards

Before installing DIY gutter guards, also weigh the following downsides:

• Product quality: DIY gutter guards might be made of lower-quality materials, so they may not last as long or work as well as professional options.
• Shorter warranties: Professionally installed gutter guards are often more effective, last longer, and include industry-leading warranties, such as transferable or lifetime warranties. While DIY gutter guards are great in a pinch, most homeowners are better off with a professionally installed guard for long-term use.
• Expensive tools: Unless you’re a handyman with a fully stocked shed, you may be missing the necessary equipment for installing gutter guards. A good ladder, tin snips, and a cordless drill are necessities, but you’ll also want to consider specialty equipment for safety. We highly recommend a roof harness, for example, to prevent injury.
• Additional risk: Although professional installation represents a higher up-front cost, you’re not just paying the crew for materials and their time. They show up with the expertise and equipment to complete the job safely—and they carry insurance in case of a mishap.

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Gutter Guard Installation Methods

Every DIY gutter guard system will have an installation procedure outlined in the instructions, posted on the provider’s website, or both. But a few general methods are common, and you may feel more comfortable tackling some than others. Here are three typical installation methods for DIY gutter guards:

Drop-In

Styles such as foam or brush gutter guards squeeze into the trough of your existing gutters. That’s all there is to the installation. While drop-in styles are among the least durable and effective of guards, they are the easiest to install for the average homeowner. Anyone who’s comfortable climbing a ladder can do this job.

Snap-In

Snap-in leaf guards, such as Amerimax Home Products’ offerings, use tension instead of screws to stay in place. These gutter guards often slide under the first course of roof shingles and snap onto the outer lip of your rain gutter. Any time you work with your shingles, you risk damaging or voiding your roof warranty. This adds an element of difficulty to the installation. 

When installing a flimsier plastic product, you may need to reinforce the gutter guard with small zip screws through the gutter to keep the guard from blowing away. 

Screw-On

This method requires hardware to mount the guards to the lip of your existing gutters and the drip edge of your home’s fascia. During these installations, space the screws correctly and keep the guard perfectly level while drilling. You can use self-tapping screws, which eliminate the need for pilot holes.

Like snap-in products, you may need to slide the gutter guard under your shingles. You must determine the slope of your roof and bend the guard accordingly, or you’ll lose performance under heavy rain.

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Common Gutter Guard Installation Mistakes

Installing gutter guards on your own seems easy, but homeowners often make mistakes that lead to additional expenses or repairs in the future. Here are six common errors homeowners make:

1. Lifting the shingles: Be careful near your roof. Don’t lift or damage shingles during installation, as this can cause leaks and might void your roof warranty. Manipulating shingles in the fall while they’re cold and stiff (below 50 degrees Fahrenheit) makes them especially prone to damage.
2. Nailing into the roof: Never attempt to secure a gutter guard by driving nails into your roof material. More holes in your roof increase the likelihood of insects and water getting inside.
3. Getting the wrong size: Most residential homes have 5-inch gutters, but you may have 4- or 6-inch gutters depending on your roof’s slope and the number of valleys in your gutter runs. Don’t make the mistake of ordering a gutter guard size that‘s incompatible with your existing gutters.
4. Damaging the gutters: There are many ways for an inexperienced homeowner to damage gutters while installing gutter guards, such as denting the gutter with the ladder or introducing corrosion with the wrong type of fasteners. Damaged gutters are less effective at water management, and your guards won’t work as intended.
5. Skipping the downspouts: Don’t overlook your downspouts. Some people think gravity will clear debris, but downspouts can clog without proper protection.
6. Not buying enough materials: It’s frustrating to stop a project halfway through to buy more parts, especially when you purchased materials online and have to wait multiple days for delivery. We recommend measuring your gutter system beforehand and buying more material than necessary. Accidents, manufacturer errors, and miscalculations are common in any DIY project, so it never hurts to have spare parts.  

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Our Conclusion

In theory, DIY gutter guard installation is easy and doesn’t require specialized tools or equipment. However, ladder work is dangerous, and gutter guard installations don’t happen in a controlled environment. To reduce fall risks, we recommend leaving anything beyond a single-story job to the pros.

Besides the safety concern, installers see things your untrained eye might miss. They can point out issues with your existing gutters, recommend repairs, and adjust for a tighter fit and better gutter guard performance. Because of these intangibles, many top gutter guard companies require their products to be professionally installed for the warranty to take effect.

Whether you use a full-service gutter guard provider or buy materials yourself and find a contractor to install them, we recommend getting at least three quotes before committing. If you choose to go this route, here are the companies we recommend for professionally installed gutter guards:

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FAQ About Types of Gutter Guards

Are DIY gutter guards worth it?

DIY gutter guards can be worth it if you’re on a tight budget, don’t have time to schedule a professional, and have a one-story home. However, professionally installed gutter guards are more durable and effective, making them a better choice for most homeowners in the long run.

Do gutter guards work in heavy rain?

Some gutter guards do work in heavy rain, but not all are up to the job. More restrictive gutter guards keep out smaller debris but reduce water flow. Most professionally installed micro-mesh gutter guards handle downpours easily. Learn about the best gutter guards for heavy rain.

What happens to gutter guards during winter?

Metal gutter guards can freeze in winter, causing water to spill over the sides and form icicles. If ice buildup is an ongoing issue, installing an electric heated cable in your gutters to prevent freezing can help.

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Our Rating Methodology

We back up our gutter guard recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each gutter guard product and provider. We conduct research by reviewing product specifications and provider website information, speaking with customer representatives, and analyzing customer reviews. We then score each provider against our review standards for gutter guard design, customer support, the quote process, services, and reviews to arrive at a final score on a 5-point rating scale.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.