What Are Screen Gutter Guards?

Keeping your gutters clean with screen gutter guards can save you time and aggravation. Read our guide to see if they have the right features to protect your home’s gutters.

Written by Mike Miller Updated 09/12/2024

Screen gutter guards are a popular choice for gutter protection systems because they keep leaves, twigs, and debris out of your gutters with a thin protective screen. This means you won’t have to clean clogs and blockages out of your rain gutters every month. Learn more about screen gutter guards as well as the benefits they offer and whether screen guards or micro-mesh guards are the better choice for your home in our guide.

How Do Screen Gutter Guards Work?

Screen gutter guards are thin metal or hard plastic screens that run the length and width of each of your home’s gutters. They sit on the gutter surface, and the screen stops everything that can’t fit through the holes, such as leaves, sticks, clumps of dirt, and bugs. The finer the screen, or the smaller the holes, the less that can get through. Screen guards easily allow water to pass through into the gutters and down through the downspout channels.

Screen Gutter Guard Materials

The longevity and durability of screen gutter guards depend on the material. Some of the most common material options include the following:

Aluminum: Aluminum is lightweight and corrosion-resistant, making it ideal for homes that don’t experience heavy debris.
Copper: Copper is a beautiful color and resists rust and corrosion. It can develop a rich patina.
Galvanized steel: Galvanized steel is a tough, heavy metal. It requires more fasteners and supports to stay in place than other gutter guard types, and your gutters may need reinforcement to support it. However, it can last a long time and won’t break under heavy loads.
Plastic/vinyl: Plastic options such as vinyl are cost-effective and very lightweight. However, UV radiation and pest swarms can break them down.

Screen Mesh Sizes

The size of a screen mesh determines the size of the holes it features and what it can successfully block. The four sizes below are the most common options:

30 mesh: The 30-mesh screen has 30 holes per square inch. Its hole size is one of the finest for standard screen gutters. This is best for stopping thin debris such as pine needles or dirt.
20 mesh: This is a medium level of fineness and features 20 holes per square inch. It’s a good fit for most homes, but dirt will get through.
18 mesh: This is slightly larger than the 20-mesh screen material and is less expensive than finer mesh options. It can block leaves, most roofing shingle granules, and dirt or microplants.
1/4 inch: This size features relatively large holes and can block leaves but won’t reliably block needles or dirt.

Screen Gutter Guard Installation

Screen gutter guards come in many different styles. Some are easy to install as part of a do-it-yourself home improvement project, while others require professional installation.

Professional Installation

If you have tall gutters or aren’t comfortable installing your own gutter guards, consider hiring professionals. Gutter installation teams typically also offer gutter guard installation. Gutter guard installation prices vary based on the complexity of your project and the total linear footage involved.

DIY Installation

Some styles of screen gutter guards, such as screw-in or snap-on models, are specifically designed for DIY installation. Handy homeowners can fasten the guards in place along the tops of their gutters.

Maintenance Requirements

Screen gutter guards can eliminate or minimize the frequency of your gutter cleaning tasks, but you must still inspect and clean your gutter system about twice a year. This extends the life of the gutter guards, the gutters, and the roof itself.

Visually inspect the gutters and look for stuck debris, gaps in screens or mesh holes, and sagging or deformed sections. Rinse or wipe clean the surface of the guard, too. If your gutter guards encounter large bits of debris or have a very fine mesh, grit and muck may build up and inhibit water flow. This will lead to water damage around your fascia and eaves or even inside your roof.

Pros of Screen Gutter Guards

Screen gutter guards are one of the most popular gutter guard options. They are low-maintenance and effective and feature clean lines. Read more about their benefits below.

Are easy to install: Screen guards sit on top of gutters and fasten into place with snap-in clips, screws, hangers, or other fasteners.
Fit most roof and gutter types: There are multiple companies that manufacture different types of universal or specialty screen gutter guards.
Improves water flow: Screen guards offer a more reliable water flow than other types of gutter guards. They don’t sit inside gutters, so they rarely obstruct the flow of water or allow clogs to develop inside your gutter system.
Keep out most debris: Screen gutter guards are a reliable barrier against dirt, twigs, leaves, and other large debris, and metal guards are long-lasting. However, it’s important to choose the right mesh fineness based on the region in which you live, the trees on your property, and your property’s soil type.

Cons of Screen Gutter Guards

Screen guards aren’t right for every homeowner. Below, read more about the potential drawbacks of screen gutter guards.

Can clog: The smaller the holes in your screen mesh, the more likely they are to clog and develop buildup. The key is to select a mesh fineness that can block dirt and small debris without gripping larger debris too tightly.
Can corrode: Leaves and other debris scrape the screens’ surface, which can corrode or degrade the metal over time, especially if the metal has a thin, protective coating.
Can’t handle heavy debris: Screen guards are thin and may sag under heavy piles of snow, mud, or leaves. Choose galvanized steel guards if your gutters need to handle heavy debris.
Require cleaning: Screen guards don’t completely eliminate cleaning tasks. You must still inspect and rinse your gutters occasionally.

Choosing the Best Screen Gutter Guards

There are five main factors you should consider while choosing the best gutter guards for your home. Read more about these criteria below:

Debris and rainfall volume: If your region regularly gets heavy rain or downpours and your gutters clog frequently, invest in heavy-duty and corrosion-resistant metals.
Gutter and roof type: Measure your gutters and get guards that fit. Review your roof’s warranty, too, to make sure installing gutter guards won’t invalidate its protections.
Mesh material and hole size: Decide how fine your mesh should be and whether your gutters are likeliest to clog with sandy soil, pine needles, or other debris.
Budget for cost versus value: Screen leaf guards are available at different price points. Plastic screens cost between $0.51 and $0.86 per linear foot but degrade within just a few years. Metal meshes cost up to $4 per linear foot but last much longer.
Maintenance commitment: All screen gutter covers require some maintenance, but fragile materials require more frequent inspections because they’re more likely to develop damage or buildup.

Price data in this article was sourced from Fixr.

Our Conclusion

Screen gutter guards are a valuable investment if you want to reduce clogs in your gutters and downspouts. We recommend carefully evaluating your budget, how your region’s weather will affect different materials, and what mesh hole size is right for your property based on the landscaping around your roofline. With these considerations in mind, you can select a long-lasting screen guard.

FAQ About Screen Gutter Guards

What is the difference between micro-mesh and screen gutter guards?

The difference between micro-mesh and screen gutter guards is the size of the holes in the screen or mesh. Micro mesh gutter guards have much finer holes.

What is the best size screen for gutter guards?

The best size screen for gutter guards varies. If your property features trees with wide leaves, you should select a low-mesh product. If the trees feature smaller leaves and finer debris, a high-mesh product is better.

How long do screen gutter guards last?

Screen gutter guards can last up to 10 years. Durable metals such as stainless steel last longer than plastic screens.

Are screen gutter guards better than foam?

Screen gutter guards are typically better than foam. Foam degrades relatively quickly, can clog your gutters, and may not effectively block different types of debris.

Can you put screen gutter guards over old gutters?

You can put screen gutter guards over old gutters. However, it’s important to inspect, repair, and clean the existing gutters before you start installation.

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