How to Install Gutter Guards DIY Guide

Different Types of Gutter Guards

There are a few different kinds of gutter guards available from home improvement stores, all of which are typically suitable for DIY installation. We’ll include some brief information on each below.

Foam Gutter Guards

Foam gutter guards are triangular lengths of foam that simply fit inside your gutters, so DIY installation is a breeze. 

However, this style isn’t particularly effective and needs cleaning more often. It’s also the least environmentally friendly style.

Brush Gutter Guards

Brush gutter guards are long stretches of what look like large pipe cleaners that catch debris in their bristles. Installation is easy and fast. 

However, this style of gutter guard can still allow clogs without frequent cleaning, which can be time-consuming.

Reverse Curve Gutter Guards

These guards have a solid surface to route debris off of your roof and a curve that scoops back toward your gutters to pull water in for proper drainage.

These work quite well using surface tension to direct runoff, but they can be challenging to install and almost always require help from a professional.

Screen Gutter Guards

Screen gutter guards consist of a screen that lets rainwater fall through but prevents large debris like leaves and roof grit from entering your gutter system. 

These are usually simple to install.

Micro Mesh Gutter Guards

Micro mesh gutter guards are a type of screen, but the perforations are much smaller, so they allow less debris through. 

These are a bit more challenging to install, but they catch most debris, including small things like pine needles and even pollen, in some cases.

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How to Choose the Right Kind of Gutter Guard for Your Home

Choosing the right type of gutter guard for your home is important. The wrong one can still lead to gutter clogs, rendering the guards useless. 

You could also pay far more for your gutter guards than you need to if you don’t optimize them for your home, your climate and the tree coverage in your area.

We recommend choosing a gutter guard based on what type of debris you see most in your area. If it’s mostly large leaves, then something like an affordable screen guard might be ideal. If you expect to see pine needles and other small debris, micro mesh might be best for you.

You can also consider the amount of runoff they’ll need to direct into your gutters. The larger the perforations on your guards, the more water they’ll be able to handle effectively, but the less debris they will catch.

DIY Vs. Professional Gutter Guard Installation

In most cases, installing your own gutter guards can save you a few hundred dollars over having a professional do the work for you. However, there are some downsides to a DIY gutter guard installation. These include:

• The potential for installing the wrong kind for your home
• The risk of improper installation, leading to poor performance
• DIY installations typically don’t include a warranty
• You won’t have any guarantee that your product will maintain clean gutters
• Getting up on a ladder or roof can be dangerous
• Stainless steel and aluminum gutter guards require a hacksaw or circular saw, which can be expensive if you don’t own them

Ultimately, you’ll have to decide for yourself if a DIY installation is right for you. We recommend getting a quote for a professional installation and then deciding if the gutter guard installation cost savings is worth it for you.

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How to Install Gutter Guards

The process of installing gutter covers varies based on the type of guards you purchase. However, many of the step by step guides are similar regardless of the style. We’ll walk you through the process in the sections below.

The video below will use micro mesh gutter guards as an example of how to install gutter guards.

Take Measurements and Buy Equipment

The first thing you need to do is measure your gutters to see what lengths of guard you need. Make sure you measure all sides of your home that have gutters on them and be sure to include any gutters on your second story as well.

We suggest purchasing more than you think you need — around 10% of the total length on top of your measurements is a good idea. This will help avoid multiple trips to your local home improvement store, and it can account for mistakes made during the cutting process.

Once you’ve measured and added some onto the total length, you can go buy your gutter guards from Home Depot or Lowes. Some options can be ordered on Amazon.

In addition to the gutter screens themselves, you’ll also need some tools and equipment. Depending on the type of gutter guard you’re installing, this could include:

• Cordless power drill
• Self-tapping screws
• Hammer
• Nails
• Hacksaw or circular saw
• Sturdy ladder
• Tape measure

Clean Your Gutters

We recommend you begin the gutter guard installation process by cleaning your existing gutters. Once your gutter guards are installed, you won’t have easy access to the gutters, and cleaning out debris will be a challenge.

You can certainly hire a professional gutter cleaning service to take care of this step for you. If you choose to install the gutter guards yourself, we recommend waiting for a dry period in your area and then using a cordless leaf blower to blow the debris out and onto the ground. You can also just scoop out the debris, but this is more time-consuming.

Test Your Gutters

Once your gutter system is clean, it’s a good idea to test it for proper functionality. Gutters should be installed with a slope that allows fast drainage of runoff, and systems with low spots can experience pooling. Additionally, you might notice during testing that your downspouts are clogged, which will require additional cleaning for proper functionality.

It’s best to get any issues with your gutter system fixed before installing gutter guards. Once the guards are installed, accessing the system to address clogs and other issues will be more expensive and more time-consuming.

You can test your gutters by using a hose to add water directly to the gutter. Check for drainage toward your downspouts. We also recommend adding water directly to your downspouts to confirm that they aren’t clogged.

Install Your Gutter Guards

Once you’re certain that your gutters and downspouts are draining properly, you can begin installing your gutter guards.

Below, we’ll include a brief description of how this is done based on the type of gutter guards you buy. However, we do recommend that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions, especially since failing to do so can void your warranty.

• Foam: Foam gutter guards can usually just be slid into place in your gutters. They don’t need to be attached with screws or nails, so the process is quite straightforward. You can cut the foam to length using a utility knife.
• Brush: Brush gutter guards are just as easy to install as foam options. However, you might need wire cutters or a hacksaw to cut the brushes to the proper length.
• Reverse Curve: We typically recommend having a professional install reverse curve gutter guards. If you prefer to do it yourself, you might need to screw them into your fascia boards or use gutter guard hangers to secure them properly.
• Screen: Screen gutter guards can often just be snapped into place, but you have to make sure you get the right width. Common options include those for 5-inch gutters and 6-inch gutters. You can cut these using a utility knife if they are made of PVC or a hacksaw or tin snips if they’re made of aluminum.
• Micro mesh: Micro mesh gutter guards can be installed the same way you’d install screen guards. Cut them with a utility knife, hacksaw or circular saw, and snap them into place on your gutters. Some micro-mesh gutter guards require fasteners or gutter hangers to mount them properly.

​​Test Your Gutter Guards

Finally, test your gutter guards to ensure that water flows through them. You can do this by spraying a hose up onto your roof and confirming that the water drops through the gutter guard and gets routed to your downspouts.

It can be tough to test to make sure debris doesn’t enter your gutters, so we recommend getting up on your ladder about a month or two after installing your leaf guards to make sure debris hasn’t collected underneath.

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