We recent installed new gutters and protection with lifetime warranty with Leaf Filter. This company did a fabulous job with great crew that went the extra mile for a specific request. We will know more after a Upstate New York winter 2024-2025. We are pleased so far, we've had rainstorms and snow twice, the gutters are holding up great.🇺🇲
In colder climates (when its raining but ~ 40 degrees), the water droplets have more cohesion and can roll off the front of the gutter rather than go in. That is a problem of the mesh types. Each type has it's own challenges. Plastic cracks in short time. The aluminum screen type gets pushed down and becomes ineffectual after acorns/small branches fall on it. IMO the aluminum covers with holes that screw in front and back are the most resistant to damage/disturbance and continue to function well for a very long time. Lastly on the 'tape' one......there no way that doesn't become a disaster in less than 2 years.
Micro mesh gets quickly clogged up with mold, moss, mildew here in the PNW. It is better for pine needles then my favorite guard, the 3ft powder coated steel mesh from Everbilt (Home depot), but because the micro mesh ends up restricting water after only less than 2 years, it just is a big waste of money here with all our moist air and rain. The steel everbilt guards only let some needles in, not all, and most go down spout, every couple years just spray down from top through guards to flush all down if you want/need to, easy, open to the elements, never rusts, DIY and cheap and long warranty, best choice I have seen. FYI, I own gutter cleaning business and install guards among other services. Good video, thank you
I went to the hardware store, and bought window screening. I cut it into strips, and using a staple gun, attached the screening to the gutters. Works like a charm.
Your other video stated leaf filter starts their pricing at $32 a linear foot, you're right on target with that comment, I had them come out to my house Friday 9-22-23 and that's exactly on point. After I told the rep I was just starting my due diligence on the peoject, and he realized he wasn't going to close the sale the same day, he proceeded to slice the price in half and said it was only good for that day. In my book he lost all credibility, I invited him to leave my property telling him he was done. I have Nest cameras all around my home and have the presentation on video, I sent leaf filter a spirited email with a link to some of the clips from his presentation asking them if this is how they train their people to sell their product. Not sure if they're going to respond at all, seems very shady to me.....
I'm having a rep from Leaf Filter come out tomorrow 10/02/2023 ( Monday). Having seen the video you're talking about, and now reading your experience, I plan on saving the rep both our time, and tell him straight out," I have no intention of paying $30 per linear ft. I will pay no more than $12 a foot. If you agree, you can close the deal today. If not, with all due respect, I'll shop around, thanks for your time". What are your thoughts?
@@johnmiskanic8056 Right on! Offer to pay what you can afford. If they want your business, they will accept. If not, they can move on to the next sucker.
@@WAL_DC-6B he declined my offer, respectfully. I bout $200 worth of very comparable material from Home Depot and had a friend assist me in installing it. So far, works like a charm. No issues. Saved over 10K
Yes, Leafguard gutters are expensive, but I paid about $2K for mine about 30 years ago, and they have a rock-solid guarantee, "You'll never have to clean your gutters for as long as you own your house." They work great for leaves, but I live in a forest, and pine needles and fine stuff still gets inside. But I have Leafguard clean them once a year at no charge, for life. Hands down, the best guarantee.
Great video, we offer #1 and #4. Our #4 product is manufactured by the same company that makes our gutter hangers. The leaf guards sit perfectly on the hanger giving it good structure. A good, and better option, has worked great for us.
A number of people recommending Raindrop have recently created UA-cam accounts. I'm suspicious of the company creating accounts to come here and leave positive comments.
As a gutter company owner, I recommend Raindrop over everything except one situation. Pine needles. It's the only one on this list that has consideration for expansion and contraction for temperature. It's also the only cover on this list that I would actually classify as self cleaning due to the rounded tops of the grate. Every other cover should be sold to a customer with the explination that it will require some degree of maintenance. As much as I am not a fan of micro mesh, its the only product for pine needles. Also please consider in many cases Raindrop (as well as any cover that goes under a shingle) may void shingle warranty.
I have a customer with micro mesh and although the product is excellent, the installation is everything. It does also still catch pine needles but the customer notices the ones that are pointing straight up in the air. Worst part though, is her installer did a terrible job. Differing angles, reverse angle to the roof edges, and really dangerous, horrible corner cuts. So he took an absolutely great product and basically created a need for seasonal blow off and sweeping. The mesh is so good it caught mud from the shingles and now it is so tight water runs over those areas until the time of year I get there.
Raindrop is the best option in the Ohio Valley. Micro mesh products easily clog here due to dirt, algae, mildew, pollution, etc. Raindrop is truly maintenance free when properly installed.
100% agree - micro mesh seems to build a muddy mat after time which defeats water entering the gutter troughs and then the water goes over the top. I have two customers with them, same problems.
thank you for commenting, we are in SE Wis and considering raindrop. The installer here is an awesome company and has only been helpful to us on many items so we are close to going with it.
I'm in Canada and I got 182' of gutters with DoublePro from Alu-Rex gutter guards installed on my house and garage last month for $24.64/ft installed and taxes included. 5 gutters and 9 downspouts. The contractor told me that when it comes to pine needles it doesn't matter what you install you'll have some maintenance.
I'm in Maine and am currently interested in replacing my gutters and was just now looking at Alu-Rex. Would you mind sharing your thoughts on their performance and/or anything else you'd care to mention about them? Much appreciation!
Sorry for the delay! I like the DoublePro, nothing gets thru. We have big white and red pines on the property close to the garage and they’ll sit on top of the screens to the point of blocking the gutters. I’ve had to get on the roof a couple times since spring with the leaf blower. Maybe if the prevailing wind was in the right direction it would be ok. I have the same gutters on the house but the trees are much farther and I have no issues. I don’t remember having any issues during the winter months. In all honesty, I’m not sure if I had to start over which one I would go with, DoublePro or the regular open gutters. Hope this helps.
Well I agree. I just removed my gutters for a new roof system had micromesh my company sells as premium leaf protection. As a gutter contractor, I neglected mine taking care of customers 15 years and minor spiderwebs and dirt all that was under it. You decide for yourself.
I have LEAF FILTER installed on my 2 story house. Product is certainly good. Well designed.. Very durable PVC backer and non rusting high grade Stainless steel mesh. SS holding barckets. Never clean gutters again is UNTRUE. Even the fine mesh can trap pollen, less cleaning is TRUE. Pricing, unfortunately has wild swings. It is based on what the Sales person perceives as affordable by the home owner, based on size, location and property value. A good rule of thumb is S12- $15/linear foot as a fair price for material and labor. A bit higher $ 20-$25 /lft for a complicated roof and gutters and down spouts dirty and in bad condition. ANything above that is extra topping for the sales guy.
this stuff works great, installed in 2018: FlowGuard Premium 50-Year Gutter Cover System - Thermal Thaw Black - 5 Inch Aluminum Gutter Guards, 102 Feet - by FlexxPoint
Leaf Solution is all I install. Cost is a little higher, but we don't get shingle oil tobacco juicing the face of the gutters. Northern California foothills with a lot of pine trees, so micro mesh products are all that work in our area for keeping debris out of the gutters.
As a professional gutter and leaf guard installer, I think this is a great video. It's very informative and accurate. Some other things to consider: 1. In some situations almost any gutter guard will work, and can be virtually maintenance free. (As long as it's not plastic) 2. In some situations, there's no gutter guard that will be maintenance free, and only a few that will even lower the maintenance on your gutters. 3. Most situations are somewhere between those two extremes. 4. It's important to keep out big debris. (anything that can clog a gutter or downspout; sticks, leaves, pine needles, etc... )smaller debris usually will wash down the downspout without issue, if there's no big debris in the gutter. 5. It doesn't usually reduce maintenance to use a smaller mesh than necessary. For pine needles, you have to use a micro mesh to keep them out. But in most other situations, a slightly larger mesh will actually be lower maintenance.
@mikelanham2901 We try to avoid anything that disturbs the shingles. All of the products we use are designed to be supported along the back edge by the brackets or with screws into the fascia.
Science. You need to maximize the area that the water can go into for the gutter to work. Gutter with no guards, lets call that 100% OPEN. Even then, if you have a heavy enough rain, it can overwhelm the gutter and water will pour over the sides. The helmet system cuts down from 100% open with nothing to I reckon lest than 10% open. I would say that a micro mesh gets as close to 50% as possible while also filtering out the smallest amounts of debris as possible. I waitng for a gutter and screen system to desing a gutter that is twice as wide as standard with the finest possible mesh so that you have 100% of the flow of a standard gutter that is 100% open and 100% free of debris.
Very valuable video. Good insight. I got one vinyl gutter cover im planning on changing sometime in future because of large holes after your educational videos about gutter covers. That large toilet brush gutter cover you tried to clean the toilet with still got me laughing. Lol
I have used all of them... Raindrop gets my vote for # 1, the reason being it is actually a gutter protection system against falling debris, hail, and ice.
I own a gutter company in sw Missouri, mostly oak trees here, ez lock is my favorite to install. Cheap and easy to install while offering good performance. If they want more premium I like the hydro flow its micro mesh with a second support layer beneath the mesh. Both types dont go under the shingles which is much better imo
Micro mesh will clog up from pollen, dust, dirt, and forms a crust when it dries. If your roof is in a shade area the pollen, dust, dirt, form into an algae/moss. Only get micro mesh if it will be installed in a sunny location that gets a breeze, wind, or if you have pine trees. The one being said is best I bought at Menards and they failed on my back garage in 3 years. Water would flow off them as if I had no gutters at all. Any of the perforated aluminum gutter guards/ covers are the best. I have Ash and Maples, with pines at a distance. I’m in Minnesota.
100% agree - the aluminum ones that are black, powder coated, seem to work best. They are easy to install, have large enough holes to allow water to enter, and small enough to keep out particulate which would not otherwise be washed away. There are so many factors but the biggest one is installation, next do they really need them if there are no trees around, what type of trees, the age of the gutters and any pitch issues in the run (meaning there has to be good flow or otherwise water and debris that does enter will sit and eventually build up to create a clog). Installation very important.
I have installed leaf filter and have un-installed all the other options. Leaf filter definitely works the best. Your #1 option you say is micro mesh.... The top complaint regarding micro mesh is the moss and mildew that grows on it, which requires cleaning. Leaf filter, however, has a patented micro mesh system that's made out of surgical grade stainless steel, which means nothing grows or sticks to it. No mold, moss, mildew can grow on it. This means you never have to clean your gutters again. Yes, it costs a little more, but it also works better...and forever. Makes no sense to dismiss leaf filter, then claim #1 is micro mesh. It's actually quite affordable, especially considering you do it once and never have to worry about it again. It's a no brainer.
Sorry. Too many negative UA-cam videos about sales pitch and the fact that folks still need to get on the ladder to clean the filters. Seems like the company likes to target retirees and veterans. Shame on them
The ratings speak for themselves by all accounts. And, no, you do not have to get on a ladder to clean the leaf filters. They are maintenance free. As far as targeting elderly and veterans, well, Leaf Filter "targets" everyone. It just so happens that many customers are elderly, you know, because they aren't able to climb a ladder to clean gutters and keep their home protected from water damage. Additionally, the disabled veteran, who had both his legs blown off and is wheel chair bound, who bought leaf filter from me was extremely happy he was "targeted" for this much needed service, and very grateful for the only gutter protection system hell never have to clean or worry about. Perspective is everything
Funny story Was in England and saw gutter brush, so I brought it back to the US in my luggage. When the customs x rayed the luggage, they saw something odd, so they opened the luggage, and it sprang out.
I am an eavestrough company owner and have been installing gutters for over 30 years. There are no gutter covers that are maintenance free. Save your money and clean your gutters a few times a year.
MIKE, YOU HAVE THE ONLY HONEST ANSWER TO GUTTER MAINTENANCE ON THE ENTIRE INTERNET...THANK YOU....THE REST OF YOU TAKE YOU HEADS OUT OF YOU BUTT AND LISTEN TO A TRUE STATEMENT FROM A PROFESSIONAL.
I put in a foam and it works great I've had them for 3 years now keeping all of the stuff out of my gutters before my gutters would plug up at least 3 times a year now only water is in my gutters and the gunk fly's off and they also work great in the winter with snow and ice no issues even below 0 just one thing do not put them under the support brace in the gutter just make a cut at each one works much better that way and the nice part is when they need to be replaced it's cheap and easy and all you need is a scissors and a ladder.
The problem is not the gutters, rather it is the downspout construction. They have tight turns and use crimp and screws to attach them. The crimp can reduce the size by nearly an inch. What is needed is something that retains the downspout size and reduces the tight turns. Something like a flexible, continual downspout, no joints.
I have Raindrop on my house it performs great, does not clog, well engineered product. Also, it easily works on multiple roof systems and gutter types. Should be #1.
Raindrop should be #1, they don’t clog up and are great if you have Pine Trees. I had leaf guard in the past, but they clog up due to the algae and pine needles. Luckily the Insurance paid to replace our gutter after the hail storm and we went with RainDrop. Highly recommend.
Stainless steel micro mesh is all I install! Only complaint I've gotten is leaves building up at inside corners when splash guards are present but that's inevitable with any gutter guard. Now its just something I inform customers about beforehand and let them know they still have to get their roof blown off once a year.
@@d.c2123 It's much easier to blow off a couple inside corners than to clean out all of the gutters. They also help keep out pests (if installed properly). And they don't have to worry about gutter clogs.
The gutter guard you use should be determined by what is falling into it. If you have pine needles you need a small mesh and you will still need to sweep them off once or twice a year. If you only have leaves falling down, use a large mesh. The leaves that fall on them will dry out and blow away and they let plenty of water through.
I lived in the far east for a few years, on our house there were no gutters, when it rained straight off the roof into the ground. The overhang on the roof was larger than here in N America,
#1 My question is it hard to install with hangers on your eavestroughs ? #2 what about the grains that come off my shingles? They have installed my eavestrough so level that water sits in it and also the grains from the shingles.
as a home owner I have several pines around the property and that tends to be my biggest problem I had gutters installed that have the mesh but I already see pone needles sticking up....do any gutters keep the pine needles away??? Please help!!!
I don't believe that there is any gutter guard that will help with pine needles. I'm in Canada and I got DoublePro from Alu-rex installed last month. It's the top of the line with great reviews. Before getting a quote and placing the order, I read a lot of reviews about gutter guards and when it comes to pine needles it's a problem with whatever you install but some gutter guards are better than others. I asked the contractor about it and he was honest and told me that I might have to get the ladder out some times to give a wipe on top of the guard or use an extension on a leaf blower to blow them off from the ground. Hope this answers your question.
All of those will void a roof warranty. Also, leaffilter is another one that has a plastic base, which is a terrible idea in the sun. If you put anything under your shingles, you are inviting wind to blow water under the shingles and ice to build up in the winter, creating ice dams that force water under your shingles. A roof warranty doesn't cover the underdecking, so water under your shingles is a bad, bad thing. The other problem is most states have building codes that probably prohibit penetration through the drip edge, and most of these covers, probably all of them, have to fasteners the back edge into the drip edge in some way otherwise they would fly up in the wind. LeafGuard, not "leaf guard" which is a different thing, but actual LeafGuard (one word) is the only product that keeps the debris out, while preventing damage to your roof, and not allowing water to follow the fasteners back into the roof edge at all. He said he was going to review LeafGuard, but he didn't. The only thing negative about LeafGuard is the price. It's the only one backed by Good Housekeeping because it's the only one that can meet or exceed the claims of the manufacturer.
Which gutter cover has the best chance of not causing freeze-ups which will cause thawing snow to run over the gutter, which then causes icicles to form and have to worry about?
Well, so much for expecting the author of video to actually keep in touch with the questions posted here. Or any review posted by anyone, for that matter, months later. I'm pretty sure I have Not seen any review about gutter guards, mention anything about the results of what to expect during the winter months, which makes me think none of these gutter guards, no matter who makes them, are worth spending my money on. I REALLY want someone to prove me wrong. I really do!
We love Raindrop. It does a great job of keeping leaves out but more importantly in our area, it protects the gutters from sliding ice and snow. and no, I don’t work for them😉
we sell micro mesh systems in the NW to combat pine needles & finer debris. You didn't review LeafGuard or Gutter Helmet reverse curve system??? Any reason why?
leafguard was the first product he brought up at #7. Overpriced for the performance it delivers. Had it on our house in Seattle for 20 years. Pine needles began to stick to the opening slot rendering the fancy system useless. Result, gulleys formed around the house as water rolled over the edge of the leafguard. Needed constant attention to scrubbing the needles out of the slot. So much for never having to clean out the gutters.
He's right stay away from Leaf filter their product will fail, and the warranty is absolutely useless, and a waste of money. My wife and I purchased Leaf filter and call them for warranty work product was warping and twisting and breaking from the cheap vinyl plastic they were using. They wanted to charge us to come out and look at it in the first place. When we did get them out here, they wanted to charges for any fix and replacement of their product. The product had been on the house for only 2 1/2 years.
My son put micro mesh on his house two years ago with a very steep roof and they get 5" of rain a month (at times very heavy), and I was surprised, but the rain actually goes through he mesh, even in heavy rain.
Some micro mesh guards have very small or fine holes. Those are the ones that will clog up the fastest especially in a shady area. I think they’re so many manufacturers with different filtering or mesh spacing. Never go with the fine mesh what ever anyone does. Get the more courser mesh if you do buy it.
If you have any trees near your home you will have debris clogging every product we have on this vid. Gutter helmet has it's own problems. The heavy rains can overwhelm the system depending on roof pitch and fiberglass roofing particles and sand/dirt does make its way into the gutter over time and the only way to clean is to disassemble some sections. I will clean my open gutters once a year and they work best.
What works best for live oaks that drop pollen in the spring that turns to mush/muck that might clog micro mesh or get past others and then sludge up the gutters themselves?
Don’t go with Leaf Filter, and I’m here to say why. I had them installed only on my back patio gutter, and it was $3,000. That was just a year ago this past March, and the gutter is already clogged. So I called them to have someone sent here to fix that. They said it would cost me $97, because my one year warranty was up. So much for their so called “Lifetime No Clogs Guarantee” 😑
Hi. We have problem with the roof shingles and the black material getting thru gutter guards and clogging Which one of these works for that or are there any? Thanks
It's called roof or shingle sediment. Nothing works against it. You have to go on the roof periodically and clean it out with a leaf blower. I do it every year.
We had a Four Seasons Sunroom installed at our house some years ago. The owner of the franchise recommended the foam stuff. It's terrible! Avoid it like the plague just as said in this video.
I was going to say the same. I am in contact with hundreds of professional gutter installers and very few use raindrop as opposed to everyone commenting here...
And they have recently created UA-cam accounts with no other activity from Feb 2023. They saw the video, saw an opportunity, and likely did something unethical.
Micro mesh is awful. The mesh cloggs with roof grit and then leaks over. I had Gutter Helmet installed on my house and I love it! Does amazing with the pine needles.
I disagree I think Raindrop should be number one - Very sturdy, super easy to install, and since it doesn't sit down in the gutter itself nothing gets stuck in it. Also Cost Effective!
There is no gutter guard system of any kind that actually works. We’ve tried them all from $400 to $12,000. Not a single one works. Put a screener in your downspout and clean your gutters three times yearly.
Raindrop is better than micromesh because of the pitch it adds to shed debris. Anything that lays flat will collect more than something smooth and angled. We stopped installing anything flat for this reason.
I spend most of my time throwing them out. So much dirt still gets underneath the guards causing more damage and resulting in a much more expensive clean. Add it to the list of scams right alongside the Microsoft Technical Support con and the classic Nigerian Prince scam.
He lumped it in with leafguard and leaf filter at number 7. I have Gutter Helmet on my house and love it! Installed and maintained by a local company in my town.
I think a good old fashioned gutter with no cover that you clean every other year is best option. You can see what is in there and it collects ALL the water. My new leaf guard system is dripping here and there. Should not be. It is hardly raining.
So honestly just a metal screen type over the downspout drain area and just pay attention to leaves and debris from your area. Clean gutter when it needs. Otherwise get hustled by gutter guard contractors
Don’t need to buy expensive premanufactured brand gutter guards. Make your own. I installed the equivalent of #2 raindrop on my 2500 square foot home: 1. Bought 5 rolls of 36” x 5’ hardware cloth (galvanized steel mesh) with 1/4” mesh spacing for a total of $110 and 2 boxes of self tapping screws (100 in each box) total screw cost $50. Mesh and screws both in stock at Ace Hardware. 2. Cut the steel mesh into 3’ x 6” strips. 3. Tuck one side of the steel mesh strip under the roof shingles and secure the other side to the edge of the gutter with self tapping screws. Total cost for materials $160. My own labor took me about 8 hours. Same as #2 Raindrop. I actually like my method better than raindrop because you can easily see through the steel mesh to see and monitor what’s going on with drainage/debris inside your gutters. With raindrop and the other gutter guards you can’t.
Micro mesh is a lot like a sifter - anyone who has ever used a sifter knows what I mean. I don't think it's sustainable to remove all guards and shake the dirt stuck in the mesh preventing water from going in and the re-install them.
These are all options for a flawed design. They come in pieces and always require maintenance. I could be wrong but I didn't hear anything about a seamless, all one piece gutter design from LeafGuard. let me know if you'd like to know more.
I have leaf filter, and they did not cost the amount you state, I do not believe it is overpriced You get what you pay for. I paid less than you stated they charge, well under 40$ per foot. Performance ids excellent with a transferrable lifetime warranty and the installation does not go under the shingles which can void the roofing warranty
Dude what are you f****** talking about leaf filter did my house for a 4th of the cost of my roof? Plus ive had them for 7 years and they still look brand new. The house came with leafguard but it kept on clogging all the damn time.
We recent installed new gutters and protection with lifetime warranty with Leaf Filter. This company did a fabulous job with great crew that went the extra mile for a specific request. We will know more after a Upstate New York winter 2024-2025. We are pleased so far, we've had rainstorms and snow twice, the gutters are holding up great.🇺🇲
I am a home owner and am so sorry I found your review here, thanks for your honesty, you have helped me make a decision.
In colder climates (when its raining but ~ 40 degrees), the water droplets have more cohesion and can roll off the front of the gutter rather than go in. That is a problem of the mesh types. Each type has it's own challenges. Plastic cracks in short time. The aluminum screen type gets pushed down and becomes ineffectual after acorns/small branches fall on it. IMO the aluminum covers with holes that screw in front and back are the most resistant to damage/disturbance and continue to function well for a very long time. Lastly on the 'tape' one......there no way that doesn't become a disaster in less than 2 years.
You are 100% speaking my experience as well as a gutter cleaner. Thank you for your post.
Micro mesh gets quickly clogged up with mold, moss, mildew here in the PNW. It is better for pine needles then my favorite guard, the 3ft powder coated steel mesh from Everbilt (Home depot), but because the micro mesh ends up restricting water after only less than 2 years, it just is a big waste of money here with all our moist air and rain. The steel everbilt guards only let some needles in, not all, and most go down spout, every couple years just spray down from top through guards to flush all down if you want/need to, easy, open to the elements, never rusts, DIY and cheap and long warranty, best choice I have seen. FYI, I own gutter cleaning business and install guards among other services. Good video, thank you
I went to the hardware store, and bought window screening. I cut it into strips, and using a staple gun, attached the screening to the gutters. Works like a charm.
@@KeepitcleanOC The holes in the screening is so small, that bugs can't get through the holes. The gutters are on a tilt, so nothing sticks.
Your other video stated leaf filter starts their pricing at $32 a linear foot, you're right on target with that comment, I had them come out to my house Friday 9-22-23 and that's exactly on point. After I told the rep I was just starting my due diligence on the peoject, and he realized he wasn't going to close the sale the same day, he proceeded to slice the price in half and said it was only good for that day. In my book he lost all credibility, I invited him to leave my property telling him he was done. I have Nest cameras all around my home and have the presentation on video, I sent leaf filter a spirited email with a link to some of the clips from his presentation asking them if this is how they train their people to sell their product. Not sure if they're going to respond at all, seems very shady to me.....
I'm having a rep from Leaf Filter come out tomorrow 10/02/2023 ( Monday). Having seen the video you're talking about, and now reading your experience, I plan on saving the rep both our time, and tell him straight out," I have no intention of paying $30 per linear ft. I will pay no more than $12 a foot. If you agree, you can close the deal today. If not, with all due respect, I'll shop around, thanks for your time". What are your thoughts?
@@johnmiskanic8056 Right on! Offer to pay what you can afford. If they want your business, they will accept. If not, they can move on to the next sucker.
@@johnmiskanic8056that’s how you should buy a car too. Give them one fair price. Take it or leave it.
@@johnmiskanic8056 How did that go?
@@WAL_DC-6B he declined my offer, respectfully. I bout $200 worth of very comparable material from Home Depot and had a friend assist me in installing it. So far, works like a charm. No issues. Saved over 10K
Yes, Leafguard gutters are expensive, but I paid about $2K for mine about 30 years ago, and they have a rock-solid guarantee, "You'll never have to clean your gutters for as long as you own your house." They work great for leaves, but I live in a forest, and pine needles and fine stuff still gets inside. But I have Leafguard clean them once a year at no charge, for life. Hands down, the best guarantee.
Great video, we offer #1 and #4. Our #4 product is manufactured by the same company that makes our gutter hangers. The leaf guards sit perfectly on the hanger giving it good structure. A good, and better option, has worked great for us.
A number of people recommending Raindrop have recently created UA-cam accounts. I'm suspicious of the company creating accounts to come here and leave positive comments.
As a gutter company owner, I recommend Raindrop over everything except one situation. Pine needles. It's the only one on this list that has consideration for expansion and contraction for temperature. It's also the only cover on this list that I would actually classify as self cleaning due to the rounded tops of the grate. Every other cover should be sold to a customer with the explination that it will require some degree of maintenance.
As much as I am not a fan of micro mesh, its the only product for pine needles.
Also please consider in many cases Raindrop (as well as any cover that goes under a shingle) may void shingle warranty.
I have a customer with micro mesh and although the product is excellent, the installation is everything. It does also still catch pine needles but the customer notices the ones that are pointing straight up in the air. Worst part though, is her installer did a terrible job. Differing angles, reverse angle to the roof edges, and really dangerous, horrible corner cuts. So he took an absolutely great product and basically created a need for seasonal blow off and sweeping. The mesh is so good it caught mud from the shingles and now it is so tight water runs over those areas until the time of year I get there.
Your comment was very helpful. I have micro mesh in my gutters now….how do I get the pine needles out ? Does this giras still require maintenance?
How about a product link for the top gutter guards so I can see the exact product. There are a lot of products when searching for the name Micro Mesh.
Thanks. I watched your previous videos as well and was able to make a better choice.
Raindrop is the best option in the Ohio Valley. Micro mesh products easily clog here due to dirt, algae, mildew, pollution, etc. Raindrop is truly maintenance free when properly installed.
100% agree - micro mesh seems to build a muddy mat after time which defeats water entering the gutter troughs and then the water goes over the top. I have two customers with them, same problems.
thank you for commenting, we are in SE Wis and considering raindrop. The installer here is an awesome company and has only been helpful to us on many items so we are close to going with it.
I'm in Canada and I got 182' of gutters with DoublePro from Alu-Rex gutter guards installed on my house and garage last month for $24.64/ft installed and taxes included. 5 gutters and 9 downspouts. The contractor told me that when it comes to pine needles it doesn't matter what you install you'll have some maintenance.
@dtm8073 $24.64/ft for both gutters and leaf guards installed? Where in Canada? I'm in Toronto and that sounds like a great deal.
I'm in Maine and am currently interested in replacing my gutters and was just now looking at Alu-Rex. Would you mind sharing your thoughts on their performance and/or anything else you'd care to mention about them? Much appreciation!
Sorry for the delay! I like the DoublePro, nothing gets thru. We have big white and red pines on the property close to the garage and they’ll sit on top of the screens to the point of blocking the gutters. I’ve had to get on the roof a couple times since spring with the leaf blower. Maybe if the prevailing wind was in the right direction it would be ok. I have the same gutters on the house but the trees are much farther and I have no issues. I don’t remember having any issues during the winter months. In all honesty, I’m not sure if I had to start over which one I would go with, DoublePro or the regular open gutters. Hope this helps.
Well I agree. I just removed my gutters for a new roof system had micromesh my company sells as premium leaf protection. As a gutter contractor, I neglected mine taking care of customers 15 years and minor spiderwebs and dirt all that was under it. You decide for yourself.
I have LEAF FILTER installed on my 2 story house.
Product is certainly good. Well designed.. Very durable PVC backer and non rusting high grade Stainless steel mesh. SS holding barckets.
Never clean gutters again is UNTRUE. Even the fine mesh can trap pollen, less cleaning is TRUE.
Pricing, unfortunately has wild swings. It is based on what the Sales person perceives as affordable by the home owner, based on size, location and property value. A good rule of thumb is S12- $15/linear foot as a fair price for material and labor. A bit higher $ 20-$25 /lft for a complicated roof and gutters and down spouts dirty and in bad condition. ANything above that is extra topping for the sales guy.
this stuff works great, installed in 2018: FlowGuard Premium 50-Year Gutter Cover System - Thermal Thaw Black - 5 Inch Aluminum Gutter Guards, 102 Feet - by FlexxPoint
Raindrop is a great product! It is very durable and keep leaves and debris out! Should be #1!
Leaf Solution is all I install. Cost is a little higher, but we don't get shingle oil tobacco juicing the face of the gutters. Northern California foothills with a lot of pine trees, so micro mesh products are all that work in our area for keeping debris out of the gutters.
As a professional gutter and leaf guard installer, I think this is a great video. It's very informative and accurate.
Some other things to consider:
1. In some situations almost any gutter guard will work, and can be virtually maintenance free. (As long as it's not plastic)
2. In some situations, there's no gutter guard that will be maintenance free, and only a few that will even lower the maintenance on your gutters.
3. Most situations are somewhere between those two extremes.
4. It's important to keep out big debris. (anything that can clog a gutter or downspout; sticks, leaves, pine needles, etc... )smaller debris usually will wash down the downspout without issue, if there's no big debris in the gutter.
5. It doesn't usually reduce maintenance to use a smaller mesh than necessary. For pine needles, you have to use a micro mesh to keep them out. But in most other situations, a slightly larger mesh will actually be lower maintenance.
Do you slip one side of the guard under the shingles?
@mikelanham2901 We try to avoid anything that disturbs the shingles. All of the products we use are designed to be supported along the back edge by the brackets or with screws into the fascia.
Why wasn't any of the helmet type guards shown? Opinion?
Science. You need to maximize the area that the water can go into for the gutter to work. Gutter with no guards, lets call that 100% OPEN. Even then, if you have a heavy enough rain, it can overwhelm the gutter and water will pour over the sides. The helmet system cuts down from 100% open with nothing to I reckon lest than 10% open. I would say that a micro mesh gets as close to 50% as possible while also filtering out the smallest amounts of debris as possible. I waitng for a gutter and screen system to desing a gutter that is twice as wide as standard with the finest possible mesh so that you have 100% of the flow of a standard gutter that is 100% open and 100% free of debris.
Very valuable video. Good insight. I got one vinyl gutter cover im planning on changing sometime in future because of large holes after your educational videos about gutter covers. That large toilet brush gutter cover you tried to clean the toilet with still got me laughing. Lol
How do small-hole guards do in winter in areas that get lots of snow/ice for half the year?
I have used all of them... Raindrop gets my vote for # 1, the reason being it is actually a gutter protection system against falling debris, hail, and ice.
Thanks for feedback!!!
Thanks for a great video. Lots of good info. My gutter installer uses Arrow Gutter guards. Ever heard of them ?
I own a gutter company in sw Missouri, mostly oak trees here, ez lock is my favorite to install. Cheap and easy to install while offering good performance. If they want more premium I like the hydro flow its micro mesh with a second support layer beneath the mesh. Both types dont go under the shingles which is much better imo
Micro mesh will clog up from pollen, dust, dirt, and forms a crust when it dries. If your roof is in a shade area the pollen, dust, dirt, form into an algae/moss. Only get micro mesh if it will be installed in a sunny location that gets a breeze, wind, or if you have pine trees.
The one being said is best I bought at Menards and they failed on my back garage in 3 years. Water would flow off them as if I had no gutters at all.
Any of the perforated aluminum gutter guards/ covers are the best.
I have Ash and Maples, with pines at a distance. I’m in Minnesota.
100% agree - the aluminum ones that are black, powder coated, seem to work best. They are easy to install, have large enough holes to allow water to enter, and small enough to keep out particulate which would not otherwise be washed away. There are so many factors but the biggest one is installation, next do they really need them if there are no trees around, what type of trees, the age of the gutters and any pitch issues in the run (meaning there has to be good flow or otherwise water and debris that does enter will sit and eventually build up to create a clog). Installation very important.
I have installed leaf filter and have un-installed all the other options. Leaf filter definitely works the best. Your #1 option you say is micro mesh.... The top complaint regarding micro mesh is the moss and mildew that grows on it, which requires cleaning. Leaf filter, however, has a patented micro mesh system that's made out of surgical grade stainless steel, which means nothing grows or sticks to it. No mold, moss, mildew can grow on it. This means you never have to clean your gutters again. Yes, it costs a little more, but it also works better...and forever. Makes no sense to dismiss leaf filter, then claim #1 is micro mesh. It's actually quite affordable, especially considering you do it once and never have to worry about it again. It's a no brainer.
Sorry. Too many negative UA-cam videos about sales pitch and the fact that folks still need to get on the ladder to clean the filters. Seems like the company likes to target retirees and veterans. Shame on them
The ratings speak for themselves by all accounts. And, no, you do not have to get on a ladder to clean the leaf filters. They are maintenance free. As far as targeting elderly and veterans, well, Leaf Filter "targets" everyone. It just so happens that many customers are elderly, you know, because they aren't able to climb a ladder to clean gutters and keep their home protected from water damage. Additionally, the disabled veteran, who had both his legs blown off and is wheel chair bound, who bought leaf filter from me was extremely happy he was "targeted" for this much needed service, and very grateful for the only gutter protection system hell never have to clean or worry about. Perspective is everything
@@GutterGod-fe9iy
ua-cam.com/video/-m5VWlTay1M/v-deo.htmlsi=_7wpNuWW05xY1zXG
Funny story Was in England and saw gutter brush, so I brought it back to the US in my luggage. When the customs x rayed the luggage, they saw something odd, so they opened the luggage, and it sprang out.
I am an eavestrough company owner and have been installing gutters for over 30 years. There are no gutter covers that are maintenance free. Save your money and clean your gutters a few times a year.
I don't think he mentioned it being maintenance free. I don't think the top brands he showed are making that claim either.
MIKE, YOU HAVE THE ONLY HONEST ANSWER TO GUTTER MAINTENANCE ON THE ENTIRE INTERNET...THANK YOU....THE REST OF YOU TAKE YOU HEADS OUT OF YOU BUTT AND LISTEN TO A TRUE STATEMENT FROM A PROFESSIONAL.
If he would have talked about leaffilter he would have told you they have a maintenance-free warranty and a no glog warranty...
Micro mesh seems like the small stuff would clog up the mesh
Great video, thanks
Which of these styles will not void a shingle warranty?
I put in a foam and it works great I've had them for 3 years now keeping all of the stuff out of my gutters before my gutters would plug up at least 3 times a year now only water is in my gutters and the gunk fly's off and they also work great in the winter with snow and ice no issues even below 0 just one thing do not put them under the support brace in the gutter just make a cut at each one works much better that way and the nice part is when they need to be replaced it's cheap and easy and all you need is a scissors and a ladder.
Do you have to go under your shingles to install them?
Latest fires have changed code you are not allowed in some areas to put plastic or foam gutter guards in our area now it has to be metal.
E-Z gutter guard leaf destroyer would be my number one.
The problem is not the gutters, rather it is the downspout construction. They have tight turns and use crimp and screws to attach them. The crimp can reduce the size by nearly an inch. What is needed is something that retains the downspout size and reduces the tight turns. Something like a flexible, continual downspout, no joints.
I have Raindrop on my house it performs great, does not clog, well engineered product. Also, it easily works on multiple roof systems and gutter types. Should be #1.
Raindrop should be #1, they don’t clog up and are great if you have Pine Trees. I had leaf guard in the past, but they clog up due to the algae and pine needles. Luckily the Insurance paid to replace our gutter after the hail storm and we went with RainDrop. Highly recommend.
Thank you!!
Stainless steel micro mesh is all I install! Only complaint I've gotten is leaves building up at inside corners when splash guards are present but that's inevitable with any gutter guard. Now its just something I inform customers about beforehand and let them know they still have to get their roof blown off once a year.
Why would u pay to have something installed just to have it blown off every year for little bit cheaper than a thorough gutter cleaning
@@d.c2123 It's much easier to blow off a couple inside corners than to clean out all of the gutters. They also help keep out pests (if installed properly). And they don't have to worry about gutter clogs.
The gutter guard you use should be determined by what is falling into it. If you have pine needles you need a small mesh and you will still need to sweep them off once or twice a year. If you only have leaves falling down, use a large mesh. The leaves that fall on them will dry out and blow away and they let plenty of water through.
What about when your shingles are sealed down and you just cant lift the shingle up and slide the guard under??
I do like raindrop alsoleaf blaster pro micro mesh for pine needles
What options in panhandle of Florida?
I lived in the far east for a few years, on our house there were no gutters, when it rained straight off the roof into the ground. The overhang on the roof was larger than here in N America,
Hi Dmitry - what is your opinion on LeafDefender micro-mesh stainless ?? Would it do well on the Pacific Northwest where moss grows easily?
#1 My question is it hard to install with hangers on your eavestroughs ?
#2 what about the grains that come off my shingles? They have installed my eavestrough so level that water sits in it and also the grains from the shingles.
Nice ... thank you. What ladder do you recommend for us home newbies! Thanks
as a home owner I have several pines around the property and that tends to be my biggest problem I had gutters installed that have the mesh but I already see pone needles sticking up....do any gutters keep the pine needles away??? Please help!!!
I don't believe that there is any gutter guard that will help with pine needles. I'm in Canada and I got DoublePro from Alu-rex installed last month. It's the top of the line with great reviews. Before getting a quote and placing the order, I read a lot of reviews about gutter guards and when it comes to pine needles it's a problem with whatever you install but some gutter guards are better than others. I asked the contractor about it and he was honest and told me that I might have to get the ladder out some times to give a wipe on top of the guard or use an extension on a leaf blower to blow them off from the ground. Hope this answers your question.
Great video, thank uou
All of those will void a roof warranty. Also, leaffilter is another one that has a plastic base, which is a terrible idea in the sun. If you put anything under your shingles, you are inviting wind to blow water under the shingles and ice to build up in the winter, creating ice dams that force water under your shingles. A roof warranty doesn't cover the underdecking, so water under your shingles is a bad, bad thing. The other problem is most states have building codes that probably prohibit penetration through the drip edge, and most of these covers, probably all of them, have to fasteners the back edge into the drip edge in some way otherwise they would fly up in the wind. LeafGuard, not "leaf guard" which is a different thing, but actual LeafGuard (one word) is the only product that keeps the debris out, while preventing damage to your roof, and not allowing water to follow the fasteners back into the roof edge at all. He said he was going to review LeafGuard, but he didn't. The only thing negative about LeafGuard is the price. It's the only one backed by Good Housekeeping because it's the only one that can meet or exceed the claims of the manufacturer.
Which gutter cover has the best chance of not causing freeze-ups which will cause thawing snow to run over the gutter, which then causes icicles to form and have to worry about?
Same h here. Waiting for an answer
Any answers minnesota resident here
Well, so much for expecting the author of video to actually keep in touch with the questions posted here. Or any review posted by anyone, for that matter, months later. I'm pretty sure I have Not seen any review about gutter guards, mention anything about the results of what to expect during the winter months, which makes me think none of these gutter guards, no matter who makes them, are worth spending my money on. I REALLY want someone to prove me wrong. I really do!
With all pros and cons of every guard factored in, Raindrop should take #1
Do you work for rain drop?
What do you think about Leaf Solutions installed under the shingles? Thx
Who won the preakness
How do you cut micro mesh or leaf filter?
any of these cause ice dam problems? behind the gutter? if not protected by aluminum flashing of fascia
We love Raindrop. It does a great job of keeping leaves out but more importantly in our area, it protects the gutters from sliding ice and snow.
and no, I don’t work for them😉
we sell micro mesh systems in the NW to combat pine needles & finer debris. You didn't review LeafGuard or Gutter Helmet reverse curve system??? Any reason why?
Because the rain misses the gutters
leafguard was the first product he brought up at #7. Overpriced for the performance it delivers. Had it on our house in Seattle for 20 years. Pine needles began to stick to the opening slot rendering the fancy system useless. Result, gulleys formed around the house as water rolled over the edge of the leafguard. Needed constant attention to scrubbing the needles out of the slot. So much for never having to clean out the gutters.
I have the Leaf Filter, and the mesh is so fine that the water runs right over the Gutter on a heavy rain as the holes are too small.
There is a class action lawsuit against Leaf Filter for this.
@@petersonfamily6223
High time for a class action lawsuit to stop this scam
He's right stay away from Leaf filter their product will fail, and the warranty is absolutely useless, and a waste of money. My wife and I purchased Leaf filter and call them for warranty work product was warping and twisting and breaking from the cheap vinyl plastic they were using. They wanted to charge us to come out and look at it in the first place. When we did get them out here, they wanted to charges for any fix and replacement of their product. The product had been on the house for only 2 1/2 years.
Micro mesh does not work on steep roofs the water goes right over it and off the edge of the gutter
My son put micro mesh on his house two years ago with a very steep roof and they get 5" of rain a month (at times very heavy), and I was surprised, but the rain actually goes through he mesh, even in heavy rain.
@@gregroper9072 my roof is a 12 /12 pitch and it doesn’t work on mine there are several UA-cam videos showing it doesn’t work
Some micro mesh guards have very small or fine holes. Those are the ones that will clog up the fastest especially in a shady area.
I think they’re so many manufacturers with different filtering or mesh spacing. Never go with the fine mesh what ever anyone does. Get the more courser mesh if you do buy it.
If you have any trees near your home you will have debris clogging every product we have on this vid. Gutter helmet has it's own problems. The heavy rains can overwhelm the system depending on roof pitch and fiberglass roofing particles and sand/dirt does make its way into the gutter over time and the only way to clean is to disassemble some sections.
I will clean my open gutters once a year and they work best.
Anyone have experience with Diamond Back?
Dude any product that has to be zipped under The roof voids any roof warranty why would you even recommend that?
What works best for live oaks that drop pollen in the spring that turns to mush/muck that might clog micro mesh or get past others and then sludge up the gutters themselves?
Sir you ever in Southern California
A lot, with clients. Come to Orlando February 15, you will never be the same, would love to meet you! Roofconference.com
Don’t go with Leaf Filter, and I’m here to say why. I had them installed only on my back patio gutter, and it was $3,000. That was just a year ago this past March, and the gutter is already clogged. So I called them to have someone sent here to fix that. They said it would cost me $97, because my one year warranty was up. So much for their so called “Lifetime No Clogs Guarantee” 😑
ua-cam.com/video/-m5VWlTay1M/v-deo.htmlsi=_7wpNuWW05xY1zXG
What is raindrop costing. Bought a little for test and it was around $6/ft? Seemed a little high.
Should be $4.00 / ft or less if your distributor is putting a standard mark up
Can someone please tell me which guard is best when it comes to pine needles??!
LeafFilter
Leaf Relief is the best for your money
Hi. We have problem with the roof shingles and the black material getting thru gutter guards and clogging Which one of these works for that or are there any? Thanks
It's called roof or shingle sediment. Nothing works against it. You have to go on the roof periodically and clean it out with a leaf blower. I do it every year.
We had a Four Seasons Sunroom installed at our house some years ago. The owner of the franchise recommended the foam stuff. It's terrible! Avoid it like the plague just as said in this video.
RainDrop may be a great product, but I can't help but think RainDrop asked all their employees to come leave reviews. Not a bad marketing ploy though.
I was going to say the same. I am in contact with hundreds of professional gutter installers and very few use raindrop as opposed to everyone commenting here...
And they have recently created UA-cam accounts with no other activity from Feb 2023. They saw the video, saw an opportunity, and likely did something unethical.
Gutter Guard/toilet brush 🤣
Micro mesh is awful. The mesh cloggs with roof grit and then leaks over. I had Gutter Helmet installed on my house and I love it! Does amazing with the pine needles.
I disagree I think Raindrop should be number one - Very sturdy, super easy to install, and since it doesn't sit down in the gutter itself nothing gets stuck in it. Also Cost Effective!
There is no gutter guard system of any kind that actually works. We’ve tried them all from $400 to $12,000. Not a single one works. Put a screener in your downspout and clean your gutters three times yearly.
As your co-host, you got 1 and 2nd places backwards. But that’s ok…..you will be forgiven this one time
Raindrop is better than micromesh because of the pitch it adds to shed debris. Anything that lays flat will collect more than something smooth and angled. We stopped installing anything flat for this reason.
Lol
Pine needles ruin raindrop guards. Reinforced micromesh seems to perform better for us.
@@ricecowboyHow does it get ruined? Also, do you mean short or long needles? I have both types.
@ricecowboy what's the name brand you like for pine needles? I'm amongst lots of pine trees, it's a real pain having open gutters...
I spend most of my time throwing them out. So much dirt still gets underneath the guards causing more damage and resulting in a much more expensive clean. Add it to the list of scams right alongside the Microsoft Technical Support con and the classic Nigerian Prince scam.
Where did Gutter Helmet fall in your ratings?
He lumped it in with leafguard and leaf filter at number 7. I have Gutter Helmet on my house and love it! Installed and maintained by a local company in my town.
Open gutters are the best. if you have trees in your area you will have to clean once a year.
Several times a year is necessary if you have trees very close to the house.
I think a good old fashioned gutter with no cover that you clean every other year is best option. You can see what is in there and it collects ALL the water. My new leaf guard system is dripping here and there. Should not be. It is hardly raining.
So honestly just a metal screen type over the downspout drain area and just pay attention to leaves and debris from your area. Clean gutter when it needs. Otherwise get hustled by gutter guard contractors
Gutter brush looked like a chimney sweep brush.
In Canada I use alu rex, it also has the micro mesh system, great product
Don’t need to buy expensive premanufactured brand gutter guards. Make your own. I installed the equivalent of #2 raindrop on my 2500 square foot home:
1. Bought 5 rolls of 36” x 5’ hardware cloth (galvanized steel mesh) with 1/4” mesh spacing for a total of $110 and 2 boxes of self tapping screws (100 in each box) total screw cost $50. Mesh and screws both in stock at Ace Hardware.
2. Cut the steel mesh into 3’ x 6” strips.
3. Tuck one side of the steel mesh strip under the roof shingles and secure the other side to the edge of the gutter with self tapping screws.
Total cost for materials $160. My own labor took me about 8 hours.
Same as #2 Raindrop.
I actually like my method better than raindrop because you can easily see through the steel mesh to see and monitor what’s going on with drainage/debris inside your gutters. With raindrop and the other gutter guards you can’t.
LeafFilter..interesting, but as a consumer How would you rate its performance? I'll negotiate it down!! It's it's THE BEST for the job.
Micro mesh is a lot like a sifter - anyone who has ever used a sifter knows what I mean. I don't think it's sustainable to remove all guards and shake the dirt stuck in the mesh preventing water from going in and the re-install them.
These are all options for a flawed design. They come in pieces and always require maintenance. I could be wrong but I didn't hear anything about a seamless, all one piece gutter design from LeafGuard. let me know if you'd like to know more.
Спасибо фор тхе ревиеш, комрад.
WE NEED TO STAND UP AGAINST BIG GUTTER GUARD! TOGETHER!
I have leaf filter, and they did not cost the amount you state, I do not believe it is overpriced You get what you pay for. I paid less than you stated they charge, well under 40$ per foot. Performance ids excellent with a transferrable lifetime warranty and the installation does not go under the shingles which can void the roofing warranty
Dan-jr, if you paid more than $15/foot you got ripped off!
Mesh gutter guards will freeze over in the winter.
Dude what are you f****** talking about leaf filter did my house for a 4th of the cost of my roof? Plus ive had them for 7 years and they still look brand new. The house came with leafguard but it kept on clogging all the damn time.
Rain drop… no reason for anything else…
Rip off! Especially for elderly people they rip off!
I really dont know how to trust something like this, I mean wow ur number 1 product just uses tape lol? that'll last 6 months with the sun and wind
Don't do it