Best Overall
- Professional installation
- Number one gutter guard company
- Quick installation
Best Design
- It has a lifetime transferable warranty
- Can be used with metal roofs
- Micro-mesh material for superior filtration
Best Customer Service
- Has impressive BBB ratings
- Strengthens the gutters on the home
How to choose the best gutter guards in Palo Alto
The benefits of gutter guards
Having gutter guards installed on your house in Palo Alto offers both long- and short-term benefits. The biggest benefit is that putting gutter guards on your home cuts down on the need to clean your gutters. Although no device can eliminate the need to clean your gutters, adding gutter guards greatly cuts down on the amount of time that you (or your local gutter service technicians) will have to spend on a ladder.
Some other benefits of gutter guards include keeping pests away — including bees and birds that nest in gutters, and roaches and other insects that are attracted to gutter debris — and reducing the chance of water damage to your home and property. Unclogged, free-flowing gutters are also at less of a risk of rusting or corroding prematurely, which in the long run will save you money on repair and replacement.
Different types of gutter guards
Overall, gutter guards can be divided into six types, and organized based on how easy it is to install them yourself. Brush and foam guards are the easiest to DIY, while mesh and screen guards are in the middle and typically should be installed by professionals. Surface tension and micro-mesh guards require professional installation.
- Brush Guards: This type of gutter guard is made of large brush bristles that sit inside your gutters, stopping debris while allowing water to pass through. They must be removed completely in order to be cleaned.
- Foam Guards: This type of gutter guard is made of pieces of foam that are placed in your gutter and stop debris. They are lightweight and easy to install, but cannot be cleaned and need to be replaced instead.
- Screen Guards: This type of gutter guard has large holes, which allow water to pass through while blocking debris. These types of guards will need to be fully removed yearly for cleaning.
- Mesh Guards: These gutter guards have small holes to permit water through while stopping debris, like with screen guards. Mesh guards are durable and encourage debris to slide off as opposed to sit on top of the gutters, meaning they rarely need to be taken off for cleaning.
- Micro-Mesh Guards: This type of gutter guard is normally the most effective. They have even smaller holes than regular mesh gutter guards, which lets even less debris through.
- Surface Tension Guards: These guards, which are sometimes called reverse curve guards, are professionally installed and generally come with a warranty. These types of guards use surface tension to encourage debris to slide off while water flows into your gutters. Installation of surface tension guards require lifting your roof shingles to install, and they are visible from the ground.
Different varieties of gutter guards have different pros and cons. The one that is best for your home in Palo Alto will depend on what your needs are. The fastest way to come to a decision is to get in touch with one or more of Palo Alto's local gutter guard professionals to find out which types of guards they carry and determine which one is the best fit for your needs.
How expensive are gutter guards?
Gutter guard cost
The amount you will spend on gutter installation in Palo Alto will, first and foremost, be influenced by some of the specifics of your property — things like the size of your home and how easy it is to access your gutters. The final price will also be a product of the kind of gutter guard you go with, as the price per linear foot varies based on the material. Finally, the final cost will depend on whether you are installing the guards yourself, hiring one of Palo Alto's local contractors, or hiring one of the full-service gutter guard installers that operates in California. The more you pay, the more guidance the company will provide on the steps of the process such as measuring your gutters and choosing a guard material.
To more precisely estimate how much it will cost to add gutter guards to your home, speak with one or two of the gutter guard service companies from our above list and request a free inspection and estimate. You can also take a look at our table below to find specific price ranges for different styles of gutter guard materials. Know that these estimates are not a guarantee of prices in Palo Alto, and they do not account for the cost of labor.
Cost by material
| Gutter guard material | Cost per foot of material | Cost for typical home | Total cost including labor |
| Brush | $4.52 - $12.34 | $1130-$3085 | $2,818 - $4,772 |
| Foam | $1.92 - $3.52 | $480-$880 | $2,168 - $2,568 |
| Screen | $0.38 - $1.38 | $95-$345 | $1,782 - $2,032 |
| Mesh | $0.82 - $2.7 | $205 - $687 | $1,892 - $2,374 |
| Micro-mesh | $1.69 - $2.32 | $244 - $580 | $1,932 - $2,268 |
| Surface tension | $1.08 - $1.55 | $270 - $387 | $1,958 - $2,074 |
Should you install your Palo Alto gutter guards alone or hire a company?
While there can be certain home projects that you feel comfortable handling yourself, it is always a smart idea to seek out professional guidance when installing gutter guards on your Palo Alto home. If you know that you are going to select a specific style of gutter guard — including mesh, screen, surface tension, or micro-mesh guards — hiring a professional to install them may be required or highly recommended. If you are feeling indecisive, one of Palo Alto's local gutter service professionals can aid you in selecting the best gutter guard type for your house. Your local experts can assist with measuring your gutters, reducing your final cost by protecting you from over-purchasing materials. They can also install the guards safely and efficiently, saving you time and hassle.
If you are in need of a company that offers a free inspection and estimate as well as a full installation, no need to look beyond LeafFilter. The company's patented three-piece 275-micro micromesh screen system has a lifetime transferable warranty.
