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Sam Wasson is a content writer specializing in gutters, roofing and pest control. He has more than five years of experience in content production, writing and critical research. Sam creates accurate and informative content through thorough analysis, firsthand testing and industry experience. Sam’s content and data have been featured and referenced in various online publications.
Finding reliable information about gutter protection systems can be difficult. Gutter manufacturers and installers rarely disclose detailed product cost and warranty information online or over the phone. Furthermore, it can be extremely challenging for product reviewers to obtain product samples in the gutter guard industry, meaning few online articles have firsthand information.
To remedy this problem, we decided to test major brands of gutter guards. Live testing helped us assess gutter guard performance fairly and accurately across top industry brands. We also were able to experience the pain points and benefits of each guard during the installation process.
When selecting products for testing, we wanted to cover the main types of gutter guards on the market and choose the most popular models. Specifically, we targeted mesh, micro-mesh, screen, reverse-curve (also called gutter helmets or surface tension guards), brush and foam guards.
We also looked for a mixture of do-it-yourself (DIY) and professionally installed products since the price point, purchasing experience and installation process differ greatly between the two categories.
To determine a product’s popularity, we considered the following data points:
We purchased DIY gutter guards from reputable online retailers, including Amazon, and home improvement stores, such as Home Depot and Lowe’s. For professionally installed products, we researched the most popular gutter guard companies and chose the most widely used brands. Then, we contacted these companies to request product samples.
Before physically testing the gutter guards, we needed fair and objective metrics to evaluate them. We created a scorecard to rate each product on key performance factors, including filtration ability, design and durability, overflow frequency, ease of cleaning, and look and profile.
Once we had the scorecard lined out, we looked at how best to install each product. To control testing conditions and improve overall process efficiency, we created a scale model of a roof and gutter system instead of installing each guard directly onto a home. Our model measured 4 feet long, 2 feet wide and 3 feet tall. It included a 4-linear-foot K-style 5-inch gutter, a downspout, siding, fascia board and asphalt shingles with a 6/12 roof pitch.
With the model roof ready to go, we purchased each gutter guard brand we wanted to test, installed them and then subjected them to a series of tests based on the scorecard factors. We recorded our results, took notes and photographed the process during testing.
We couldn’t install products from some professional brands, such as those with proprietary one-piece systems. In these instances, we contacted the companies and requested floor models typically used as displays at trade shows and events. Upon receiving a satisfactory floor model for fair and accurate testing, we put these models through the same testing process.
The following tests assessed each gutter guard’s overall performance and quality. We conducted each test individually on all guards and assessed them against our rating scorecard.
We read the provided installation instructions and any additional guides or information on the company’s website for each gutter guard. Then, we installed the guard, following the instructions as closely as possible to assess their accuracy and reliability. During this assessment, a guard lost points if:
Products that were easy to install, had clear and concise instructions, included all the necessary materials and had an installation aligned with the instructions received full points for this assessment.
If the product required professional installation, we replaced this category with one that rated its design and profile. Under assessment, we looked at the guard’s size, profile and visibility from the ground. Guards with low-profile designs (anything that is virtually level with the gutter lip) scored better than those that were bulky and easy to see from the ground.
For example, we installed plastic screen guards from Amerimax. The instructions specified that the guard’s lip fits under the gutter’s edge. Unfortunately, during the installation, we discovered that the gutter guard’s lip was too small for the gutter lip and incompatible with hidden hangers. Because of these problems, this guard lost points in this category.
The next test evaluated material quality, design and durability. The specifics of this test varied slightly from guard to guard, as we wanted to assess the guard’s durability without compromising it.
We began with an overall inspection of the product, examining each part and looking for areas of structural weakness, such as cracks, gaps and loose fittings. Then, we applied various stress tests, including direct application of pressure, bending, jostling and subjecting it to impacts from multiple objects and intensities. This procedure simulated different environmental factors that can affect the guard, such as wind, hail, snow, ice and falling tree limbs.
Guards lost points if they:
For example, we tested a metal screen guard from A-M Gutter Guards. This product features perforated aluminum sheets with simple, secure connectors. These sheets maintained their hold even under direct pressure, so much so that the gutters below them bent before they did. Impacts from stones, plant matter and other debris didn’t impact the guard or even dent it. Additionally, it had no obvious weaknesses that affected its performance during testing. As such, it received full marks in this category.
We tested each guard’s filtration by applying a large amount of debris directly to the guard and onto the shingles above it. This debris included the following materials common to North Carolina:
Once we placed debris on the model, we poured water over the shingles and directly onto the guard using a three-gallon bucket. We subjected the guard to varying flow rates until the bucket emptied. This application simulated how well the guard blocks different kinds of buildup when faced with differing levels of rainfall. After pouring the water, we checked the gutters and downspout to see if any debris made it past the guard.
If any material made it through, the guard lost points in this category. The severity of the reduction depended on the amount and size of unfiltered debris.
The A-M metal screen guard did a great job filtering large debris like leaves and twigs. However, smaller particles, such as shingle grit, dirt and seedpods, got through. Therefore, it lost some points in this category.
This assessment also involved pouring three gallons of water over the roof shingles and gutter guards at varying speeds and intervals. We did this multiple times for each guard, with and without debris.
The guards lost points if water overflowed past them. The more water that overflowed, the more points the guard lost. Scores decreased further when overflow presented at slower water speeds. In other words, guards that overflowed during simulated heavy downpours received more points than guards that overflowed during simulated weak rainfall.
For example, we reviewed a reverse-curve guard from Amerimax. The holes along the front of the guard allowed very little water to enter the system — since the guard overflowed at virtually every flow rate we tested, it received no points for this metric.
As we confirmed during our testing, no gutter guard is completely maintenance-free. As such, we also tested how easy each guard was to clean. This test included two parts: how well the guard self-cleaned and how easy it was to clean manually.
We monitored how much debris was removed during the filtration test to determine each guard’s ability to self-clean — guards that naturally shed more debris self-cleaned better. We then used a brush, gloved hand and direct water application to dislodge any debris that still clung to the guard’s surface. Gutter covers that held onto debris, failed to self-clean or required large amounts of work to clean manually lost points in this category.
A good example of a gutter brand that excelled in this category was LeafFilter. LeafFilter provided us with a floor model, which we tested. LeafFilter’s guard had a built-in pitch with a tightly set screen. These design elements ensured the guard pushed off most debris when exposed to low and heavy rainfall. During testing, we easily removed nearly all wet debris from the LeafFilter guard with a light pass-over using a bristle brush.
We found installing and testing the most popular gutter guards with our hands extremely enlightening. Not only did we assess the overall quality of each guard, but we also identified some potential problems that you could run into during an installation.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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