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 Richmond
The benefits of gutter guards
Installing gutter guards on your house in Richmond can provide both short- and long-term benefits. Primarily, gutter guards lessen how much time is spent on gutter cleaning. There is no device that will eliminate the need for cleaning, but gutter guards will permit you to spend less time on this task (or less money on a gutter services professional).
In addition, gutter guards can help to keep pests away. Gutters that are well protected can avoid becoming home to pests such as bees and birds, and reducing debris buildup also helps discourage roaches and other pests that like to eat gutter waste. Guards also decrease the risk of mold growth and water damage and mitigate the chance of premature rust or corrosion on your gutters, which will save you money on repair and replacement.
Different types of gutter guards
There are six common types of gutter guards: brush, foam, mesh, screen, surface tension, and micro-mesh. The first four can be installed by yourself (although mesh and screen are usually more difficult and in the majority of cases should be professionally installed), while micro-mesh and surface tension guards must always be professionally installed.
- Brush Guards: These gutter guards are made of large brush bristles that sit inside your gutters, allowing water to pass through while catching debris. To be cleaned, brush guards need to be completely removed.
- Foam Guards: These guards are comprised of pieces of foam that sit in your gutter and block debris. They are lightweight and easy to install, but need to be replaced instead of cleaned.
- Screen Guards: These types of gutter guards allow water to flow through their holes while at the same time stopping debris. You will need to fully remove the guards for cleaning around once a year.
- Mesh Guards: These gutter guards have small holes that let water through while catching debris, like with screen guards. Mesh guards are durable and encourage debris to slide off rather than sit on top of your gutters, which means that they very rarely need to be taken down for cleaning.
- Micro-Mesh Guards: This type of guard has even smaller holes than mesh guards, which lets even less debris through. Micro-mesh guards are extremely effective.
- Surface Tension Guards: These guards, which are sometimes called reverse curve guards, are installed by a professional and generally come with a warranty. These types of guards use surface tension to let debris slide off while water flows through into your gutters. Surface tension guards require the lifting of roof shingles to install, and they can be seen from the ground.
The different types of gutter guards have different pros and cons, and which one is best for your Richmond home will be based on what your needs are. The fastest way to come to a decision is to get in touch with one or more local Richmond gutter guard installers to find out which types of guards they carry and identify which one best matches your needs.
How expensive are gutter guards?
Gutter guard cost
The price of gutter guard installation in Richmond will be based on several factors. The first variable is the kind of gutter guards you have selected — different materials cost different amounts per linear foot. Next you will need to decide whether you are installing the guards on your own, employing a local Richmond contractor, or hiring one of California's full-service companies. A full-service company can provide more guidance when it comes to choosing a gutter guard type and measuring your gutters. Last but not least, there are the unique aspects of your job, such as the size of your house and the accessibility of your gutter system.
Talking to one or more companies from our list of top gutter service professionals and asking for a free inspection and estimate is the easiest way to get a rough idea of how much your gutter guard installation is going to cost. You can also use our table below to determine specific price ranges for different types of gutter guard materials. Keep in mind that these estimates are not a guarantee of prices in Richmond, and they do not account for labor costs.
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 | $2,553 - $4,508 |
| Foam | $1.92 - $3.52 | $480-$880 | $1,903 - $2,303 |
| Screen | $0.38 - $1.38 | $95-$345 | $1,518 - $1,768 |
| Mesh | $0.82 - $2.7 | $205 - $687 | $1,628 - $2,110 |
| Micro-mesh | $1.69 - $2.32 | $244 - $580 | $1,667 - $2,003 |
| Surface tension | $1.08 - $1.55 | $270 - $387 | $1,693 - $1,810 |
Should you install your Richmond gutter guards alone or hire a company?
You might DIY many household projects yourself — you may have even installed the gutter system on your Richmond home yourself — but gutter guard installation is a job that should be undertaken by the professionals. A professional Richmond gutter services company can help guarantee that the measuring work is all completely accurate and that you purchase exactly the right amount of materials. They are your local experts in installing gutter guards and can complete the job quickly and safely, ultimately saving you time and stress. They can recommend which type of guard you should use based on specific features of your property. For some types of gutter guards, such as mesh, screen, micro-mesh, and surface tension, getting professional installation is highly recommended or required.
If you want to hire a company that can offer you a free inspection and estimate as well as a full installation, look no further than LeafFilter. The company's patented three-piece 275-micro micromesh screen system also has a lifetime transferable warranty.
