How to choose the best gutter guards in San Antonio
The benefits of gutter guards
When you have gutter guards installed on your San Antonio home, you increase its value and gain many long- and short-term benefits. First, gutter guards reduce the amount of time spent on cleaning your gutters. There is nothing that will eliminate the need for cleaning, but with gutter guards you will spend less time on this task (or less money on a gutter services company).
Additionally, gutter guards will lower the risk of gutters getting blocked and overflowing, which will help prevent mold growth and water damage to your lawn and house. Gutters that are well protected are also less likely to corrode and rust prematurely, which can help you save on repair and replacement. Last but not least, gutters that are covered avoid becoming home to beehives and birds' nests, and clean, empty gutters are less likely to attract roaches and other insects.
Different types of gutter guards
In general, gutter guards can be broken down into six types, and separated based on how easy it is to install them yourself. Foam and brush guards are the easiest to DIY, while screen and mesh guards are in the middle and ought to be installed professionally. Micro-mesh and surface tension guards require professional installation.
- Brush Guards: These guards are made of large brush bristles that are installed in your gutters, stopping debris while allowing water to pass through. They must be completely removed to be cleaned.
- Foam Guards: These types of gutter guards are light and easy to install, but they cannot be cleaned — instead, they need to be replaced when worn out. The foam obstructs debris and keeps it away from the path of water.
- Screen Guards: These types of gutter guards have large holes, which let water through while blocking debris. These types of guards will need to be fully taken off for cleaning yearly.
- Mesh Guards: This type of guard is similar to screen guards in the way that they catch debris while letting water flow in through small holes. These guards are durable, infrequently need to be taken off for cleaning, and let debris slide off onto the ground rather than sit on top of your gutters.
- Micro-Mesh Guards: These guards, thanks to their extremely small holes, let even less debris through than mesh guards. Micro-mesh guards are extremely effective.
- Surface Tension Guards: These types of gutter guards, which are sometimes called reverse curve guards, are always installed by a professional and normally come with a warranty. These guards use surface tension to encourage 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.
Each gutter guard type has its upsides and downsides, and the right type for your house in San Antonio will be determined by several factors. It is a good idea to speak with one of San Antonio's local gutter guard installation companies to find out about which types of guards they carry and what type is best for your specific needs.
How expensive are gutter guards?
Gutter guard cost
Gutter guard installation services in San Antonio, Texas, can be over a wide price range. One of several factors that may affect this price is whether you go the DIY route, hire a local contractor in San Antonio, or go with one of the full-service gutter guard installation companies that operate in Texas. Hiring a full-service company will almost always be the most expensive, but can also offer the most support during the steps of the process such as choosing a type of guard and measuring your gutters. If you would rather pay someone else to install your guards, the labor costs you pay will be influenced by property-specific factors like the accessibility of your gutter system and the size of your house. Lastly, the price of materials will vary based on which type of gutter guard you select.
The best way to obtain a rough idea of the cost of your project is to communicate with one or two of the gutter guard service providers from the above list to request a free inspection and estimate. You can also utilize our table below to determine specific price ranges for various types of gutter guard materials. Be mindful of the fact that these estimates are not a guarantee of prices in San Antonio, and they do not take into account 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 | $2,302 - $4,257 |
| Foam | $1.92 - $3.52 | $480-$880 | $1,652 - $2,052 |
| Screen | $0.38 - $1.38 | $95-$345 | $1,267 - $1,517 |
| Mesh | $0.82 - $2.7 | $205 - $687 | $1,377 - $1,859 |
| Micro-mesh | $1.69 - $2.32 | $244 - $580 | $1,416 - $1,752 |
| Surface tension | $1.08 - $1.55 | $270 - $387 | $1,442 - $1,559 |
Should you install your San Antonio gutter guards alone or hire a company?
While there can be some home projects that you are comfortable tackling yourself, it is always a good idea to have professional guidance when installing gutter guards on your San Antonio home. When you decide to go with a professional San Antonio gutter services company, they will provide assistance with the process of deciding which type of gutter guards are best for your specific property, and can assist with measuring to determine how many linear feet will be needed. This will ensure that you get the correct amount and type of materials without under- or over-purchasing. A gutter services professional will also save you time and stress with their understanding of how to install gutter guards efficiently and safely. Should you select certain kinds of gutter guards, such as mesh, screen, surface tension, or micro-mesh, then installation by a professional is required or highly recommended.
We recommend employing the services of a company like LeafFilter, whose patented three-piece 275-micron micromesh screen system comes with a free inspection and estimate as well as a full installation. The LeafFilter system also comes with a lifetime transferable warranty.
