I am interested in knowing more about the new gutter guard you have tested for our apartment building and home. Is it installed with sheet metal screws? Please let me know where I can purchase the product. Look forward from hearing from you.
Mike Warfield

Mike,
See the ad at the top of this page?

Dear Tim, I'm having new gutters installed and considering guards. Th kind this company uses is called LeafGuard (http://www.gutterguard.com/). Have you tested this kind? Is it any good? Thanks! V.W. Pasadena, CA

Yes, I tested one nearly identical. It failed miserably as it was nearly impossible to get access to the inside of the gutter. Install it at your own peril.

ATB,
we have just purchased a home in an area that has a fair amount of ice in the winter. There are few gutters on the house and the "reason" is that ice sliding off the roof tears up the gutters.
1. Are these covers "universal"?
2. Would these new covers permit me to install more gutters for drainage control and not have to worry about them being destroyed?
cheers,

Retiring,
No gutter guard I am aware of is going to prevent a gutter from being ripped off a house by hundreds of pounds of moving snow and ice.

I have just started installing gutter guard and could only get it under the shingles by sliding it all the way under, between the shingles and the roof (I could not get it under the first row - is this going to cause a problem?

Jenny,
You should be okay.

I had Gutter Armor installed on my parents home. It was a gift for them. They have trees that overhung their home and the gutters were always clogged. Gutter Armor did a great job I am going to have them come back and install a roof for them in the spring. If you are in the PA/ NJ area I would recommend them. They were the least expensive out of any type of helmet product. I don't remember their phone # but their web site is www.GutterArmor.net the # is probably on the site.

Tim,

I know you have tested many gutter guard products. I'm researching this subject now and wanted to know if you tested the "Gutter Helmet"? It appears to have a good design and come with a life time guarantee that they will clean it if it gets clogged. In my case I'm looking for something to prevent leaves, sticks and pine cones from getting in my gutters and this seems like it will do the trick. Have you or anyone had any experience with this product?

Earl,
I am familiar with it. It allows the small debris to enter the gutter. I personally think the best guards are ones that do not. Please read the above column one more time before you sign a contract.

My leafguards have been working great for 3 years. No problems and they look like trim. www.leafguard.com

Dear Tim,

That Gutterglove looks awful with all that debris on top of it. I would not want that on my house under any circumstances. Since debris is continuing to accumulate on it, chances are the guard would be worthless after a short while if it is not cleared away.

Otis,
That is precisely my point in all of my columns about gutter guards! You have to maintain them. You do *not* want debris in the gutter. Read ALL of my gutter guard columns. There are many.

Tim,
I've been reading about your on-going experiments with gutter guards & I was disappointed to see that LeafFilter in Seattle is not advised for metal roofs. We live near Seattle, have a metal roof & are desperate to find some kind of gutter guard. Our house is less than 1 yr old & the gutters are worthless -- we simply can't clean them monthly & even if we did, I don't think it would help! What do you think about RainFlow or GutterFill systems with a metal roof? Our main problem seems to be pine needles & pollen. Thanks so much!

Denise,
Read all of my columns about gutter guards and you will intuitively know which ones will work.

Thanks for all the info. I will look into gutterglove.

Thank you for your extensive testing and sharing the results. While the Gutterglove still requires maintenance to remove debris that falls on top of it, have you checked under the guards at this point to see if it allows the tiny debris in through the mesh that would require removal of the guard in order to clean the gutter? And, if so, how easy would that be with the Gutterglove? Lastly, what's the approximate cost? I couldn't find that info on their website.

Debbie,
Great question. There is no debris or any trace of muck in the gutter. That microscreen only allows water into the gutter. You have to call an installer for a turnkey quote. If you want DIY pricing, contact me privately.

Dear Tim, I live in CT, and have a product called Mastershield. I had looked into all the "curve" products, and as an engineer, it was quite obvious that they just can't work. I did a lot of research at the patent website, and it at least appeared to me that the patents for this technology belong to the Inventor of Mastershield. What impressed me the most was that they had a manufacturers money-back no clog warranty. I had the product you are advertising here out to my home as well, but became extremely skeptical when the salesmen, who did not seem nearly as knowledgable as I would have liked, told me that because of my roof and gutters, the back fin of the product would need to be cut off, and they were going to lay it flat on my gutter. The Masterhield salesman, who seemed quite knowledgable, said that in order for micro-filtration to work properly, it neeeds to sit at the same pitch as the roof. I was told by gutter glove that their product was much stronger, but is there really an advantage to that when it is going on a thin gutter anyway? My research led me to conclude that because their product is so strong, it could not be installed at the pitch of the roof because it had no flex to let the shingles lay down. Can you please comment on the difference between these products. After going through a fall season with Mastershield, there is nothing in or on top of my gutters, and I have oak and pine trees.

Tim, your newest gutter guard sounds promising. I can't help but wonder why you didn't include more specifics on the product manufacturer, website, contact info etc.

Is it widely available? Any idea of the retail cost?

BTW, I tried most of the ads on your page but didn't stumble on to it...

Grouchy Old Man,
I do not do that in my columns for a host of reasons. The banner ad at the top of the actual column page - as of January 2008 - is the product. Gutterglove is its name.

I have read all of your comments, but do not find anything about the Mastershield. I know that you like the gutterglove, but I was wondering how you think it compares with the Mastershield. The both are similar with a mesh screen and are competitively priced. Have you looked at/tested the Mastershield and how it compares with the gutterglove? If so, I want to know what you think.

Tim,
I have that product installed on my house and there are numerous spots where the holes are plugged up and I get run off. I am very disappointed in this product.

I installed a type of Gutter Helmet on my gutters about 12 years ago. Although it did a very good job of keeping the leaves and pine straw needles out of the gutters, it also kept out the majority of the rain! Because the pitch of the roof was so steep and the quantity of water flowing off the roof was so concentrated, the water would flow off my house like a waterfall, instead of going into the gutters. I've read about a new innovative solution call "The Gutter Filler" from a company in Raleigh, NC and it looks like this product would be good for homes with steep roofs like mine. Before I invest in a new system to keep debris out of my gutters, it would be great if you could test this product and let us know if it works as well as the Web site says it does.

https://www.gutterfiller.com/

Sondra,
Thanks for your comment. It will really help others. You should look at the micro-mesh guards. I would not give too much consideration to the vinyl one as I have seen photos of catastrophic failure. The ones that have an aluminum structure deserve serious consideration. I did test the one you mentioned. It failed my test as it allowed small debris into the gutter.

Dear Tim,

I am renovating a ranch house with a 43 square roof and plan to install 6" gutters. It is on a wooded lot in NJ with a wide variety of trees. The trees immediately adjacent and overhanging the house will be cut back or removed but the area is quite wooded and I will still get a wide variety of tree liter blown onto my roof from the rest of the neighborhood. What gutter filter/guard should I use? Every contractor I ask recommends a different system...I am literally 4 for 4 and these are local guys who should know the market and local conditions.
Thanks you,
Robert

Robert,
Go back and read the column again......... And especially the Author's Notes at the top. Do not do anything until I complete the next test.

I am in need of a gutter shield for an aluminium pan type roof, Part of the roof is insulated with an aluminiun cover the rest is pan style. Each pan is 12" wide with approx 2" interlocking lips on each side. These collect and hold leaves,branches,etc. that collect at the gutters, I do clean this as needed. With the lips on the pans and the raised ridges on the insulated section, is there anything out there that might/would help on the gutters? I am considering something like gutter filler.. Thanks for your input.

To all. i have been looking at gutter protection for the longest time and i think that no gutter cover like the the helmet or leaf free will do the job becuse they still have an opening for leaves to get in. i just had an estimate from a local dealer here in nj for the leaffilter protection and i think it's the best one i have seen yet. does anyone have any feedback on it.

Great Stuff Tim!

Any thoughts on ice damming with this product?

Looking forward to your results this summer.

Sorry for double post
It appears LeafFilter and Mastershield use same design principle. Have you looked at these?

MikeC,
Every gutter guard I have tested so far does not play well with snow and ice.

MikeC,
Correct. I have seen photos of the one made from plastic that have had catastrophic failure. My guess is that the thermal expansion of the vinyl is too great and causes the mesh to pull away from the vinyl.

The Mastershield test begins April of 2008.

I have been searching for the best and most economical gutter protection available to prevent mostly oak tree debris, and lots of it, in northern California. Have you been able to test a self-installing product called GutterStuff? It is a foam product that I saw at Ace Hardware Stores. It seems rather pricey, but I'd like to make some comparisons. Thanks, Jim

Jim,
I think you should read all of my past columns about this topic. You will discover many things.

i have lots of experience in the gutter business and in my experience this product is the absolute best. It is well worth it to have a pro install it so its right. The others work well depending on the type of tree's in the area, Not all homes require this level of protection but having something that works like this is by far worth the price.

I have found a gutter guard called "ALL SEASON" Gutter protection system What do you think it fit's in the gutter and is made of heavy duty mesh check it out at www.allseasongps.com and do you think you might test this in the future? thanks keith

Travis,
You need to add one other thing to your comment. Do you *sell* these products? The people who read these comments need to know if your comment is an arms-length one, not one that could be self-serving.

Keith,
I have tested the foam products. They all fail as they get clogged with small debris.

The Gutter Glove you are recommending seems like a great product but it looks as though it won't fit on gutters with hidden hangers with screws such as White Oak Mfg. makes. Any udea?

Grady,
The answer lies with the manufacturer of each product. What did they tell you after you sent them a photo of your situation??????

Tim, how badly do the gutter guards you recommend hinder Christmas lights from being attached?

Eric.
It makes it a significant challenge.

I have read your comments and like what you say about the mesh products. However, I just want to know if you tested Gutter Monster...looks good, sounds good, but it is roughly the same design and more costly. Any thoughts? Thanks. Gary

Gary,
I have not tested the Monster yet.

I have used the plastic guard with the diamond shaped holes with fair results. My problem is that if I leave them on over the winter they tend to come apart and also the plastic deforms.

Any comments on the Gutter worm? I saw it a our Menards store. I know it would not keep out all the small debris but looks easy to pull and clean?

I am a home inspector. I have performed thousands of home inspections and have seen just about every gutter guard product under the sun. When a gutter guard product is slid under the first row of shingles or screws to shingles it can void the warranty on your roof. Be careful of which product you choose. The very best product I have found is GutterFilter. I have installed it on my house and it is the only product I recommend to my clients. I have had it for four years on my house and have not had to clean one leaf off of my roof or gutters. I can lift it up and simply inspect the inside of the gutters too. Why get a product that voids your roof warranty or screws into your gutter?

Lee

Do gutter guards help keep critters out of the attic?? and if yes, is there a particular kind that would be suited for both leaf and debri while also sealing my roof line off from critters? critter control people are coming out to remove squirrels in attic and they recommend the "leaf gaurd" system as being the best for keeping the critters out??? Is that a sales pitch since they are an authorized dealer???

I have 2 questions, one being I have a metal roof and ice and snow have built up and pushed my mesh gutter guards out for a second year. I want to put in new guards as I live in a forest and so wonder what kind, and will electric cable help melt the ice more slowly? When I had ashphalt shingles, the cable work well.

Kay,
There is no doubt that certain gutter guards will block a squirrel. But my guess is that the critter will just chew another way into the attic.

Diane,
Read all of my past columns about Ice Dam Membranes. You will discover that the melt water is going to freeze someplace....... That someplace is inches away from where the heat stops.

I am not a salesman I work for a raingutter company that installs gutterglove and I am speaking on a installers point of view only.

what a great service you provide. thank you.I email last week wondering if, with a metal roof, I should reinstall my heat cables tostay clear of ice pushing my gutters off. i also wondered about leaf guards. What is the product you have on the web site that you are now testing and like? I need to replace my south facing gutters soon.

I am seriously considering the Gutterglove product and have solicited information regarding the product. You mention that you have identified (at least) two other candidates for testing with plans to provide a (preliminary) report by late summer 2008. My wife is pressing to "move now," but I'd be disappointed if you identify superior solutions. Do you have any "early impressions" ... and would you be kind enough to identify the new "options" so I could do some homework on my own. Thanks much ... RGW

What is your opinion on the use of downspout filters instead of leaf guards?

If they were checked weekly during the needle fall season (I mainly have evergreens around the house) won't they be easier to deal with than having to occassionally blow off a device that covers the gutters?

Tim, I've seen and heard enough to realize that I want to go with the Micro Mesh guards. Are the sections available online (or stores) for purchase, so I can install them myself?

Thank You
Matt

Matt: Absent a response from Jim (see my memo above), I did some of my own research and looked in detail at two other micromesh-based products (via Mastershield and Leafsolution). I spoke to GutterGlove HQ and solicited samples and DVDs and compared them with Leafsolution samples and a sales call / demo from Mastershield. Both Gutterglove and Leafsolution offered direct-purchase product. I didn’t inquire from Mastershield, but ruled them out based on price and, more important, lack of ruggedness compared to Gutterglove. I ruled out Leafsolution based on inferior ruggedness and quality of construction.

A Gutterglove installer provided me with what I considered a remarkably fair price. I could purchase GutterGlove direct for $8.97 per foot (plus about $1 per foot freight). My installer quoted me $11 per foot for GutterGlove delivered and installed, and I decided that he perform a full-fledged gutter replacement also based on good pricing ($2.65 per foot installed). Materials are on order and I will follow with a post-install experience report.

Hi Tim,

Can you please tell me what two micro-mesh gutter guards you are currently testing?

There is a new product out there that is better than gutters and you'll never have to clean them... Check it out at http://www.gutterless.com

<a href="http://gutterless.com">Gutterless.com</a>

Dear Tim:

Have you ever tested http://www.clearwatergutter.com/
What did you find out?

I saw a robotic gutter cleaner at Hammacher Schlemmer for $129.00. Have you ever seen anything like that? I can't believe it could work as their video depicts.