How to choose the best gutter guards in New York City
The benefits of gutter guards
By investing time and money into adding gutter guards, you and your New York City house will reap the benefits for years to come. Reducing the time you spend cleaning your home's gutters is the primary reason many people purchase gutter guards. Gutter guards — or any other device — won't get rid of the need for gutter cleaning on occasion, but they will greatly decrease the time you spend on this chore, or the money you spend on hiring a professional gutter services company.
Additionally, gutter guards can help keep pests away. Well-protected gutters avoid becoming host to bees and birds, and reducing debris buildup also helps discourage roaches and other pests that are attracted to gutter waste. Guards also lessen the risk of mold growth and water damage and mitigate the chance of your gutters corroding or rusting prematurely, saving you money on repair and replacement.
Different types of gutter guards
There are six common types of gutter guards: brush, foam, screen, mesh, surface tension, and micro-mesh. The first four can be installed on your own (although mesh and screen are usually more difficult and should generally be professionally installed), while micro-mesh and surface tension guards must always be professionally installed.
- Brush Guards: These gutter guards catch debris on their large bristles, while at the same time allowing water to pass through and drain via your gutter. To be cleaned, they must be completely removed.
- Foam Guards: These guards are light and easy to install. With this type of guard, debris lands on the foam instead of in your gutter. Instead of needing to be cleaned, this type of guard is simply replaced when necessary.
- Screen Guards: These guards have large holes, which let water through while blocking debris. Screen guards will need to be fully removed for cleaning yearly.
- Mesh Guards: These guards are durable and rarely need to be taken down for cleaning. In the same manner as screen guards, they have holes that allow water in while keeping debris out. One benefit of mesh gutter guards is that their shape allows debris to slide off onto your lawn as opposed to collecting on top of your gutters.
- Micro-Mesh Guards: This type of guard has even smaller holes than mesh guards, allowing even less debris through. These guards are extremely effective.
- Surface Tension Guards: These guards, which are sometimes called reverse curve guards, are always professionally installed and normally come with a warranty. These types of guards use surface tension to allow debris to slide off while water flows through into your gutters. They require lifting your roof shingles to install, and they are visible from the ground.
Every gutter guard type has its benefits and drawbacks, and the best type for your home in New York City will be based on multiple factors. It is in your best interest to reach out to one or more of New York City's local gutter guard installers to find out which types of guards are available, and which are best for you.
How expensive are gutter guards?
Gutter guard cost
The price of gutter guard installation in New York City will change based on multiple factors, such as the size of your home and the accessibility of your gutter system. The style of gutter guards you decide on will also affect how much you pay, as the cost per linear foot of material varies. Another thing that will change the cost is whether you go the DIY route, employ a local New York City contractor, or hire one of the full-service gutter guard installation companies that operates in New York. Taking care of the job yourself is the least expensive option, while hiring a full-service company will be the most expensive but also offer the most support when it comes to jobs like measuring your gutters and picking a material.
Getting in touch with one or more of the companies on our list of gutter service professionals and asking about a free inspection and estimate is the simplest way to get a rough idea of how much your gutter guard installation might cost. You can also take a look at our table below to determine specific price ranges for the different types of gutter guard materials. Be mindful of the fact that these estimates are not a guarantee of prices in New York City, 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 | $2,621 - $4,576 |
| Foam | $1.92 - $3.52 | $480-$880 | $1,971 - $2,371 |
| Screen | $0.38 - $1.38 | $95-$345 | $1,586 - $1,836 |
| Mesh | $0.82 - $2.7 | $205 - $687 | $1,696 - $2,178 |
| Micro-mesh | $1.69 - $2.32 | $244 - $580 | $1,735 - $2,071 |
| Surface tension | $1.08 - $1.55 | $270 - $387 | $1,761 - $1,878 |
Should you install your New York City gutter guards alone or hire a company?
Even if you are someone who is handy, adding gutter guards to the gutter system on your New York City home is one project that benefits from the help of a professional. If you are looking to install screen, mesh, micro-mesh, or surface tension guards, then hiring professional installers will be highly recommended or required. A local New York City gutter services professional can also help measure your gutter system to ensure that you don't over- or under-purchase materials. If you have not decided what type of guards are the best fit for your home, they can make a recommendation based on the details of your project. Lastly, they will work to install your guards safely and speedily, which will save you time and headache.
If you are looking for a company that can offer you a free estimate and a full installation, one of your best bets is going to be LeafFilter. Their patented three-piece 275-micro micromesh screen system has a lifetime transferable warranty.
