Raptor Gutter Guards Review (Tested by Our Team)
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Raptor gutter guards give homeowners an effective, less-expensive DIY alternative to professionally installed gutter guards. Through extensive testing and analysis, our team found that Raptor’s stainless steel micro-mesh gutter guards offer professional-grade protection at a fraction of the cost of professionally installed systems.
We read hundreds of customer reviews on Raptor’s Amazon page and bought, installed, and tested a set of Raptor gutter guards to assess how it performed against heavy rainfall and large and small debris. Our review examines Raptor’s materials, performance, cost, and more to help you decide if it’s the best DIY gutter guard for your home.
Pros and Cons
Here are the upsides and downsides of Raptor Gutter Guards:
Pros
- Highly effective stainless steel micro-mesh screen with V-bend technology
- Comprehensive installation guides for various roof styles
- More affordable than professional installations
Cons
- Limited warranty coverage, especially near coastal areas
- Delicate mesh screen that requires careful handling
- No professional installation service available
Fast Facts
Our rating: 4.3
Average cost: $2.29–$2.60 per linear foot
Warranty: 25 years limited (5 years for coastal residents)
Type: Micro-mesh with aluminum frame
State availability: All 50 states
Our Take on Raptor Gutter Guards
We rate Raptor as one of the best DIY gutter guards on the market. It’s made of high-end materials, and its micro-mesh screen is similar in design to top professionally installed products such as LeafFilter.
It provides customers with an in-depth and easy-to-read instruction manual. Its website also features a series of guides for installing its guard on non-standard roof or gutter systems.
Our tests showed that Raptor’s gutter guard effectively blocks large and small debris and keeps water flowing smoothly. Its only potentially major drawback is that the screen is susceptible to bending, denting, or other damage during installation—especially if you aren’t experienced with DIY projects.
We Recommend Raptor Gutter Guards If You:
- Want professional-grade gutter protection at a DIY price
- Are comfortable performing detailed installation work
- Need a solution for both large and small debris
We Don’t Recommend Raptor Gutter Guards If You:
- Live within 5 miles of the coast (due to its limited warranty)
- Prefer simple, quick installations or want professional installation service
- Need lifetime warranty coverage
Raptor Gutter Guards Overview
Raptor combines the effective filtration of micro-mesh screens with the relative affordability of a DIY project. Our testing showed that stainless steel micro-mesh reliably blocks debris of all sizes and types, and the cost of installation is thousands of dollars less than a professional gutter guard installation.
Cost
Raptor Gutter Guard is available for purchase on Amazon. We researched pricing when writing this article, and you can currently purchase 48 feet of Raptor’s stainless steel micro-mesh guard for roughly $125, or $2.60 per linear foot. This “super 6” guard fits 6- and 7-inch gutter systems. Its standard size fits 5-inch and smaller gutters and costs $110 for 48 feet, or $2.29 per linear foot.
Most homes require between 100 and 200 linear feet of gutter guards. Your final price will likely be around $300–$600. This range is slightly higher than other DIY brands but is less than the cost of professionally installed gutter guards by thousands of dollars.
Warranty
Raptor gutter guards don’t have a lifetime warranty like most professional installers offer. Instead, Raptor has a limited part and manufacturer’s warranty. Raptor offers a 25-year warranty for most customers but reduces it to five years for any homeowners who live within five miles of a coastline.
This warranty is more comprehensive and longer lasting than other manufacturer warranties. Warranties from other DIY brands last an average of 10 years.
Fine Print
This warranty is more comprehensive and longer lasting than other manufacturer warranties. Warranties from other DIY brands last an average of 10 years. In addition, the Raptor warranty fine print lists these exclusions:
- Excludes damage due to improper installation, deterioration of building structure, and many catastrophic events
- Covers the gutter guard only and not the existing gutter structure
Materials
Raptor features a micro-mesh screen, the most effective kind of gutter guard filter for both professional and DIY guards. Its screen has a series of ridges, a design that Raptor calls “V-bend technology.”
This screen blocks even small debris, such as pine needles and seedpods, from entering your gutters while using water flow to push debris to the ground. Raptor’s filter is made from corrosion-resistant stainless steel and is set into an aluminum frame.
Our Testing Insights
We tested more than a dozen gutter guard brands and found Raptor to be the best-performing DIY product. It blocked the majority of debris we applied while still allowing water passage.
It blocked pine needles, deciduous tree leaves, seed pods, and twigs. Most debris was self-cleaned with water flow, while the rest came off with a light brushing.
Foam and other micro-mesh DIY guards can block the same amount of debris as Raptor. Foam guards can block even small particles such as shingle grit but melt when exposed to UV rays and don’t last more than a few years. Brush, screen, and mesh guards can’t stop small debris such as pine needles, seed pods, and shingle grit from entering your gutters.
Plastic micro-mesh guards don’t last as long and have poor water passability. Other steel guards, such as those manufactured by Waterlock Pro, perform similarly to Raptor.
How Does Raptor Gutter Guard Work?
Raptor’s micro-mesh gutter covers fit over your existing gutters. They draw in liquid through small holes. Debris, such as roof grit and other clog-causing materials, accumulates on top of the gutter guard instead of falling into your gutter system.
Water flows down your roofline, through the gutter guard, and into your gutters. As it passes through the screen, the water pushes debris onto the ground. This system makes cleaning easier and faster while preventing clogs and debris buildup.
How Easy Is Raptor To Clean?
Some gutter guard brands claim you’ll never need to clean your gutters again, but this isn’t true. No gutter guard system completely eliminates the need for regular maintenance and cleaning. We recommend cleaning unguarded gutters at least twice a year. Gutter guards like Raptor make gutter cleaning easier and less frequent.
Micro-mesh screens keep most debris from entering your gutter system, including pine needles, leaves, seedpods, and branches. Raptor’s design allows most of this debris to roll off to the ground. Customer reviews mention that Raptor guards still need the occasional brushing to remove the debris that settles on top of the mesh. The process is still much easier than scooping out piles of gunk from unguarded gutters. During testing, we noted that any remaining debris came off with a light brushing.
Quote and Installation Process
Raptor’s gutter guard products are available to order on Amazon. This makes it simple to know exactly how much you’ll pay for installation, but you should go into the project with a firm grasp of the mechanical skills needed to install a complex system of gutter guards.
As with any DIY gutter guard installation, you need the appropriate tools and to be comfortable working on ladders. We noted a common theme in customer reviews: You may need to cut Raptor guards to fit onto your gutter system, which requires a pair of tin snips.
According to Raptor’s website and additional instructional materials, some installations may require sliding the gutter guard beneath the shingles. Others might require bending the product, using fasteners, or screwing the guards to the fascia board.
Raptor Gutter Guard has a convenient online app that helps you approximate your gutter measurements, providing the information you need to buy the correct length of mesh.
Raptor Customer Reviews: Amazon and Reddit
Amazon customers have left more than 5,300 reviews about their experiences with Raptor Gutter Guard. These reviews are mostly positive, with an average score of 4.5 out of 5 stars—73% of all reviews are 5 out of 5 stars. Favorable responses praise the product’s reasonable cost and effective filtration.
Critical reviews mention that installation was more difficult than advertised. One common complaint is that customers had to alter the guard to get it to fit. Some purchasers said ice dams formed in extreme cold and caused water to spill over upon melting.
Here are recent samples of favorable and unfavorable reviews on Amazon:
Positive Reviews
Speaking of which, our new roof was installed 2 years after I installed these, and the roofers easily removed the old shingles, added the new around these and the shingle warranty not impacted at all. These are low maintenance, no issues, and easy to install, and have no negative impact on old or new shingles.
Great product, saved us THOUSANDS of dollars instead of having some professional outfit install their own gutter guards. Probably the best home upgrade I have done myself, and best purchase from Amazon. Also- when these are on sale, load up for your gutter project!
These have lasted through all weather conditions in Wisconsin, rain, ice, snow, melting snow/ice. Sure some dripping over the gutters, but that is expected with the amount of snow/ice in late winters here. The gutter guards typical melted first and stayed clear for melted snow and ice to drain off roof into gutters.”
I researched and this was consistently the most recommend.
Out of the box, the mesh is longer than the frame so each panel can over lap. Which is what you want… but between there and here the unsupported mesh gets bent.
I used parallel pliers to straighten them back up. It was no biggie. I also center punched where I was going to drill and trimmed where I wanted to trim. For my application., each panel also needed 1/4” bend just inboard of the back frame. I placed each panel between two boards and clamped them to get straight bends.
Having done all this, ladder time was minimal and it went like clockwork.
I also used a ladder stabilizer to keep the ladder from resting in the gutter. Great investment, also makes it much safer imho. I got one from Yahisum on Amazon. $50 well spent.
Wished I’d done this years ago… geeze”
Negative Reviews
What Does Reddit Think About Raptor?
Reddit has a generally positive view of Raptor Gutter Guards. Users note that Raptor’s micro-mesh product is great for areas with a lot of trees or pine needles and that it heavily reduces the need to clean gutters. One Reddit user said this about their experience with Raptor gutter guards: “I’ve had some installed for nine years now and haven’t needed to clean the gutters once.” Other users note their longevity as a pro and expect their gutter guards to last them around 20 years.
The only major downside Redditors note about Raptor is that it can be expensive compared to more standard gutter maintenance. Additionally, users stated that while gutter cleanings are less necessary with Raptor, it’s still occasionally necessary to use a ladder to brush debris off the top. Users also claim this is easier and less time-consuming than traditional gutter cleaning.
How Raptor Compares to Other Top Gutter Guard Companies
While Raptor is more expensive than other DIY gutter guard brands, it’s much cheaper than every professionally installed product. However, professional installations carry other benefits, such as gutter replacement services, long-lasting warranties, and superior product quality. The following table compares professionally installed gutter guard brands, such as LeafFilter and Leafguard.
| Company | Logo | Our Rating | Average Cost | Guard Type | Warranty | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $15 to $45 per linear foot | Stainless steel micro-mesh | Lifetime transferable | Get Quote | ||
 | $11-$37 per linear foot | Aluminum reverse-curve | Lifetime transferable | Get Quote | ||
 | $7.50–$10/foot | Stainless steel micro-mesh | Lifetime transferable | Read Our Review | ||
 | $15-$20 per linear foot | Stainless steel micro-mesh | Lifetime transferable | Read Our Review | ||
 | $4.50-$7.75 per linear foot | Stainless steel micro-mesh | Lifetime transferable | Read Our Review |
FAQ About Raptor Gutter Guards
Which gutter guards are best?
Stainless steel micro-mesh gutter guards are best for most climates and debris types. This gutter guard type is effective at blocking small and large debris, including pine needles, seedpods, and leaves, while allowing water to flow through your gutters.
Is there a downside to gutter guards?
The biggest downside to gutter guards is their high cost. They also still require maintenance and cleaning once or twice per year, and micro-mesh guards tend to freeze over in cold winters.
Is Raptor Gutter Guard the same as Gutterglove?
No, Gutterglove is the company that produces Raptor gutter guards. Gutterglove has a professional installation service, which is separate from Raptor and doesn’t use the same gutter guards. Raptor is Gutterglove’s DIY alternative.
Is Raptor sold in home improvement stores?
No, Raptor isn’t sold in home improvement stores such as Lowe’s or Home Depot. Raptor is sold on Amazon.
Do you need any special tools to install Raptor gutter guards?
To install Raptor gutter guards, you need the standard tools required for a DIY installation. You’ll need a screw gun, self-tapping screws, a ladder, a pair of tin snips, thick gloves, and a spotter.
How We Evaluated Gutter Guard Brands
To provide fair and accurate comparisons of the top gutter guard installers, we developed a comprehensive review methodology to measure and score brands. Our review standards were developed based on interviews with industry experts, consumer reviews and surveys, and the factors that guide homeowners as they make buying decisions, including material and design, warranty coverage, value, services offered, and effectiveness.
Our Rating System
- Our rating system was derived from thorough research and hands-on experience. We analyzed gutter guard installers’ websites, tracked third-party ratings, and gauged consumer sentiment to complete our understanding of each gutter guard company. We reinforced this research with firsthand data by purchasing, installing, and testing gutter guard systems.
- Here are a few details about our research methodology:
- First-party research: We comprehensively research each provider’s website to learn about its products, services, warranty, payment options, and more. We also collect proprietary data by surveying homeowners who have had gutter guards installed.
- Third-party ratings: We read and analyze consumer reviews and ratings on reputable third-party sites such as the BBB, Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and Yelp. This reveals potential patterns of customer complaints and favorable outcomes.
- Hands-on testing: For DIY products, we order and test for filtration effectiveness, durability, and more. For installation companies, we request a showroom floor and perform a series of tests to determine performance and quality.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
