How to install leaf guards

Homeowners can safely install their own gutter guards when they use precautions and choose covers that fit. Cleaning gutters and installing gutter guards can be dangerous because the work is usually done standing on a ladder or after climbing onto the roof.

For a typical home with 200 feet of gutters, the average cost to have leaf guards professionally installed is approximately $1,000. However, installation costs can range from $300 to more than $2,000, depending on the type of gutter guard used and the difficulty of the install.

For the most part, gutter guard installation is not a difficult DIY. If you have general handyman skills, you should be just fine.

Lifting the Shingles

Other gutter guard systems require installation under your first row of shingles. This can break your roof’s water barrier, leading to costly water damage down the road. If a gutter guard requires you to lift your roof shingles — avoid it at all costs.

By installing a gutter guard, screen or helmet, you’re adding additional weight to your gutter that your fascia can’t carry. They may not seem hefty, but over a long period, the tension will strain your fascia, and it will show. Your fascia might bend and coil, and in due time rip off from your roof.

The bottom line is that you should avoid them at all costs. In fact, if you buy a home that has gutter guards installed on it then it’s a good idea to pay a company to remove them. Not only are gutter guards ineffective, they are also a terrible investment because they are going to cost you money.

The problem with gutter guards

Small twigs and other debris can create a dam by building up against the raised portion of the guard. Even if the gutter guards work as intended, there is still the issue of moss and algae growth.

Gutter guards can do a very good job of keeping gutters flowing freely. If you have big trees in your yard, gutter guards really will save you time and nasty work by helping to prevent your gutters from getting clogged. These systems won’t prevent ice dams, because ice dams begin to form above the gutter.

Water slips around the guard, but large debris can’t make it in. However, these guards fail during heavy rain. They aren’t designed to handle the volume of water during a major downpour. Sponge Guards: Instead of a cover, sponge guards sit inside your gutter.

While you might think that you won’t need to clean your gutters again when you have these installed, keep in mind that this isn’t accurate. Professional roofers know that no gutter guard offers 100 percent protection from leaves, pine needles, and other debris.

The short answer is yes, gutter guards do work and are effective at keeping debris from the gutters. Some better than others. Some gutter guards allow larger debris in, like twigs and acorns.

Can I install LeafFilter myself? No, LeafFilter products must be professionally installed by LeafFilter professionals.

The biggest difference is that LeafGuard replaces your existing gutters, regardless of their condition, and installs its own “seamless one-piece” gutter. Meanwhile, Gutter Helmet is a hood-like cover that installs over your existing gutters, usually under the second row of shingles.

The typical Leaf Filter Gutter Protection Installer salary is $61,113. Installer salaries at Leaf Filter Gutter Protection can range from $34,442 – $89,091. This estimate is based upon 10 Leaf Filter Gutter Protection Installer salary report(s) provided by employees or estimated based upon statistical methods.

Average LeafFilter Gutter Protection Subcontractor yearly pay in the United States is approximately $80,576, which meets the national average.

Pros of the LeafFilter System

The estimate is good for one full year. Estimates are free. LeafFilter installs directly onto existing gutters. Installations can be done in less than a day.

LeafFilter Cost Per Square Foot & Warranty

LeafFilter offers complex gutter guards, so the price per square foot is typically upwards of $12 per square foot, depending on your particular gutter needs, the area you live in, and whether you source your guard directly from the LeafFilter manufacturer.

Water Gets Behind the Gutter

If water is dripping behind your gutter, it’s probably because it was installed without any flashing over the back of the gutter. The gutter apron will prevent the dripping. A gutter apron is a bent piece of flashing that tucks up under the shingles and over the gutter.