How to choose the best gutter guards in San Jose
The benefits of gutter guards
By investing your time and money into adding gutter guards now, you and your San Jose property will reap the benefits in the years to come. Cutting down on the time you need to spend cleaning your gutters is the most important reason consumers purchase gutter guards. Gutter guards — or any other device — won't eliminate the need for gutter cleaning on occasion, but they can significantly reduce the time you spend on this chore, or the amount you spend on hiring a professional gutter services company.
Other benefits of gutter guards include reduced gutter overflow, which means less mold growth and water damage on your lawn and your house. Gutters that don't fill with standing water are less at risk for premature rust or corrosion, which will save you money on repair and replacement services. Covered gutters also avoid becoming home to birds' nests and beehives, and avoid the debris accumulation that attracts insects such as roaches.
Different types of gutter guards
There are six main types of gutter guards. Brush and foam guards are easy to install on your own; screen and mesh guards can be installed on your own, but in most cases should be professionally installed; and surface tension and micro-mesh guards always require installation by a professional.
- Brush Guards: These gutter guards are made of large brush bristles that partially obstruct your gutters, stopping debris while allowing water to pass through. They must be completely removed to be cleaned.
- Foam Guards: These guards are made of pieces of foam that rest in your gutter and catch debris. They are light and easy to install, but need to be replaced instead of cleaned.
- Screen Guards: This type of gutter guard allows water to pass through its holes while blocking debris. You will need to remove the guards about once a year for cleaning.
- Mesh Guards: These types of gutter guards are similar to screen guards, in that they catch debris while letting water filter through small holes. These guards are durable, infrequently need to be taken off for cleaning, and encourage debris to slide off onto your yard rather than sit on your gutters.
- Micro-Mesh Guards: This type of gutter guard is typically the most effective. Micro-mesh guards have even smaller holes than standard mesh gutter guards, and let even less debris through.
- Surface Tension Guards: These guards — also called reverse curve guards — need the expertise of a local gutter services professional, who will lift your roof tiles to install them. They often come with a warranty. They can be seen from the ground, and they permit water to flow into your gutters while debris slides off.
There are pros and cons for each type of gutter guard, and the variety you choose for your San Jose home will be based on several factors. Consider contacting a local San Jose gutter guard installation company to understand more about different guard types and choose which is best for your house.
How expensive are gutter guards?
Gutter guard cost
The total cost of gutter installation in San Jose will depend on some of the details of your property, for example the size of your house and how easy it is to access your gutters. The amount you'll pay will also be a product of the variety of gutter guard you choose, as the cost per linear foot varies based on materials. Lastly, the total cost will depend on whether you are installing the guards yourself, hiring a local San Jose contractor, or going with one of the full-service gutter guard installers that operates in California. The more you invest, the more guidance you're likely to get on certain steps of the process like measuring your gutter system and picking a guard material.
The easiest way to obtain a rough idea of the cost of your project is to communicate with several of the gutter guard service providers from the list above to ask for a free inspection and estimate. You can also utilize our table below to explore specific price ranges for various kinds of gutter guard materials. Keep in mind that these estimates are not a guarantee of prices in San Jose, and 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 | $2,791 - $4,746 |
| Foam | $1.92 - $3.52 | $480-$880 | $2,141 - $2,541 |
| Screen | $0.38 - $1.38 | $95-$345 | $1,756 - $2,006 |
| Mesh | $0.82 - $2.7 | $205 - $687 | $1,866 - $2,348 |
| Micro-mesh | $1.69 - $2.32 | $244 - $580 | $1,905 - $2,241 |
| Surface tension | $1.08 - $1.55 | $270 - $387 | $1,931 - $2,048 |
Should you install your San Jose gutter guards alone or hire a company?
Installation of gutter guards always benefits from the guidance of a local San Jose gutter services professional, even if you are typically handy at home. When you decide to go with a professional San Jose gutter services professional, they will be able to help with the process of deciding which kind of gutter guards are best for your house, and can assist with measuring to determine how many linear feet will be needed. This helps you get the right materials and avoid under- or over-purchasing. The gutter services professional will also save you time and stress by using their expert knowledge to install your gutter guards efficiently and safely. Should you choose certain styles of gutter guards, such as screen, mesh, micro-mesh, or surface tension, then hiring a professional to do the installation is required or strongly recommended.
Should you need a company that provides full installation and a lifetime transferable warranty, no need to look further than LeafFilter. With their patented three-piece 275-micron micromesh screen system also comes a free inspection and estimate.
