How to choose the best gutter guards in San Francisco
The benefits of gutter guards
Installing gutter guards on your house in San Francisco provides both short- and long-term benefits. The clearest benefit is that adding gutter guards to your home cuts down on the need for gutter cleaning. Although there is nothing that can eliminate the need for gutter cleaning, adding guards greatly cuts down on the amount of time that you (or your local gutter service company) have to spend on a ladder.
Some other benefits of gutter guards include keeping pests away — including bees and birds that make nests in gutters, as well as 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 less likely to rust and corrode prematurely, saving you money on repair and replacement.
Different types of gutter guards
There are typically six types of gutter guards: brush, foam, screen, mesh, micro-mesh, and surface tension. The first four can be installed by yourself (although screen and mesh are more difficult and should generally be professionally installed), while micro-mesh and surface tension gutter guards always require professional installation.
- Brush Guards: These types of gutter guards are precisely what they sound like — their large brush bristles sit in your gutters to block debris while letting water through. To clean them, brush guards need to be completely removed.
- Foam Guards: These types of guards are comprised of pieces of foam that sit in your gutter and stop debris. They are light and easy to install, but need to be replaced instead of cleaned.
- Screen Guards: These gutter guards have large holes that let water through while stopping debris. Every year or so, the guards will need to be taken down for cleaning purposes.
- Mesh Guards: These guards are similar to screen guards in how they block debris while letting water flow through small holes. They are durable, rarely need to be taken off for cleaning, and let debris slide off onto your lawn rather than sit on your gutters.
- Micro-Mesh Guards: These types of gutter guards have even smaller holes than mesh guards, and let even less debris through. Micro-mesh guards are very effective.
- Surface Tension Guards: These types of guards, also called reverse curve guards, use surface tension to permit water to flow into your gutter system while debris slides right off. Your gutter service professionals will have to lift your roof shingles to install surface tension guards, and they are visible from the ground. They normally come with a warranty.
The different varieties of gutter guards have different benefits and drawbacks — which one is best for your home in San Francisco will be influenced by your specific situation. The fastest way to come to a decision is to communicate with one or more local San Francisco gutter guard installers to ask what types of guards they offer and identify which one is best for your needs.
How expensive are gutter guards?
Gutter guard cost
The price of gutter guard installation in San Francisco will depend on several factors. First, the variety of gutter guards you have selected — different materials cost different amounts per linear foot. Next you will need to decide whether you'll install the guards yourself, employ a local San Francisco contractor, or hire one of California's full-service installers. A full-service company can provide more guidance when it comes to choosing a guard type and measuring your home's gutters. Finally, there are the unique aspects of your home, such as the size of your house and how easy it is to access the gutter system.
The easiest way to determine the total cost of your gutter project is to get in touch with several of the gutter guard service providers from our list to inquire about a free inspection and estimate. You can also utilize our table below to estimate specific price ranges for the various styles of gutter guard materials. Know that these estimates are not a guarantee of prices in San Francisco, 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 | $2,783 - $4,738 |
| Foam | $1.92 - $3.52 | $480-$880 | $2,133 - $2,533 |
| Screen | $0.38 - $1.38 | $95-$345 | $1,748 - $1,998 |
| Mesh | $0.82 - $2.7 | $205 - $687 | $1,858 - $2,340 |
| Micro-mesh | $1.69 - $2.32 | $244 - $580 | $1,897 - $2,233 |
| Surface tension | $1.08 - $1.55 | $270 - $387 | $1,923 - $2,040 |
Should you install your San Francisco gutter guards alone or hire a company?
However handy you are, installing gutter guards on the gutter system of your San Francisco home is a project that benefits from professional assistance. A professional San Francisco gutter services company can help make sure that the measuring work is all totally accurate and that you do not over-purchase materials. They are your local experts in installing gutter guards and know the best way to go about it safely and efficiently, which will save you time and stress. They will be able to recommend the best kind of guard for your home based on the specific details of your property. For certain gutter guard styles, such as mesh, screen, micro-mesh, and surface tension, getting professional installation is strongly recommended or required.
For a company that offers both full installation and a lifetime transferable warranty, consider LeafFilter. With their patented three-piece 275-micron micromesh screen system also comes a free inspection and estimate.
