Do gutter guards really work?

We install gutter guards and we clean gutters that have them, so we see both sides. The short answer: good guards keep most debris out and cut the number of cleanings you need. No guard makes gutters maintenance-free.

What gutter guards do well

• Keep big debris out. Leaves, twigs and most pine needles stay on top instead of packing the trough.
• Protect downspouts. Downspout clogs cause the worst overflows, and guards stop most of them.
• Protect buried pipes. If your downspouts drain underground, every leaf that stays out of the gutter stays out of the pipe.
• Mean fewer ladder trips. Fewer cleanings a year, and fewer reasons for anyone to climb your roof.

Where they fall short

• Debris still collects on top of the guard, especially pine needles on low-slope roofs.
• Fine material like pine pollen, seed pods and shingle grit works through the openings over time.
• Heavy storms can push leaves under edges or wash debris past some designs.
• Guards that simply snap into place can loosen, shift or lift.

The common types

Mesh and micro-mesh screens block very fine debris but need occasional brushing off. Perforated aluminum covers let water drop through small holes while debris dries and blows away. Foam and brush inserts sit inside the gutter and are inexpensive, but they hold debris themselves and need regular removal. Hooded or reverse-curve covers rely on water following a curved edge into the gutter.

What we install

We install perforated, powder-coated aluminum guards from E-Z Gutter Guards, which lists Gutter Goat as a trusted contractor. They're fastened with stainless steel screws so they stay put, they hold up to Georgia heat and storms, and they cost $12 per foot installed. We clean your gutters free during the install. See our gutter guards.

Are they worth it in Atlanta?

It comes down to how often you clean now. Here's an example with our prices: a 2,500 sq ft home costs $150 per cleaning. Under heavy pines, that home might need three cleanings a year, or $450. Guards for 150 feet of gutter cost $1,800. If guards let that home drop to one cleaning a year, they save about $300 a year and pay for themselves in roughly six years. Cover cleanings can cost more than open-gutter cleanings, so treat this as a rough guide. If your downspouts feed buried pipes, the protection there is worth even more.

If you only clean once a year, guards are more about convenience than savings.

Plan on cover cleanings

Covered gutters still need a periodic cleaning and inspection, just less often. We clean gutters with guards, and we'll tell you honestly whether yours are doing their job.

More from the blog

• When to schedule fall gutter cleaning in AtlantaRead the guide
• How much does gutter cleaning cost in Atlanta?Read the guide
• How often should you clean your gutters in metro Atlanta?Read the guide
• Spring gutter cleaning: a Georgia homeowner's guideRead the guide