Are Gutter Guards Actually Worth It?

We pressure-tested six of the most-advertised brands. The honest answer surprised us.

Gutter guards are sold on a simple promise: never clean your gutters again. The reality is more nuanced. Fine mesh micro-screens stop almost everything — but pollen and roof grit build up on top of the mesh and need to be brushed off twice a year.

Reverse-curve helmets work in light debris but overshoot in heavy rain. Foam inserts trap seeds and become planters within two seasons.

If you have pine needles or a heavy tree canopy, micro-mesh is the only category worth paying for — and only if the installer adjusts your gutter pitch first.