You’re an intrepid do-it-yourselfer who’s not afraid of ladders, but you’re tired of cleaning out gutter crud two, three, or four times a year. You’ve thought about it and gutter guards seem like the way to go.
You understand that even with the guards, you’ll still have to occasionally clean your gutters. But you’re optimistic that once the guards are in place, you’ll be up on that ladder much less often.
However, before any piece of material is placed on your gutters, you need to make a decision: do you want to do it yourself or would you prefer to seek out professional services to complete the task?
High-end gutter guards might be too complicated to install without assistance and many manufacturers insist on professional installation only.
These types of gutter guards are also expensive, more so when considering the cost of labor.
Nonetheless, there are now so many DIY varieties of gutter guards available, that you decide you’re up to the task.
So, you run out to the home improvement store and buy some to install yourself. OK—what are you in for?
INITIAL STEPS AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN INSTALLING GUTTER GUARDS
Having read up on the different types of gutter guards, you know every available option and the steps required to install them. But before you pick up a screwdriver or a hammer, you need to establish a plan and a timeline for the project. Organizing everything beforehand will save you time, effort, and money.
Write out a list of all the required materials and tools you’re going to need to complete the project; snippers, crimpers, gloves, wire cutters, fasteners, you name it. It’s a big hassle if you’re already up on your roof sizing the material and you find out you don’t have the corresponding screws.
Make sure to carefully peruse your homeowner's insurance or your roof warranty so as to avoid any potential cancellation or invalidation of the policy. By trying to save money you could end up costing yourself a whole lot more.
Likewise, read the installation instructions thoroughly.
Join sections of the gutter guard that need to be combined while you’re still on the ground. Doing additional work while you’re up on a ladder is courting unnecessary risk.
After completing these pre-requisites, you’re ready to start the physical labor.
CLEAN & REPAIR YOUR GUTTERS BEFORE INSTALLATION
Before you can think about putting up gutter guards, your gutters need to be clean and in good shape.
So, get up on that ladder and scoop out the crud, secure in the knowledge that henceforth this job won’t be so nasty or frequent.
- Rinse out the gutters with a garden hose and make sure the downspouts run freely.
- Check to make sure that the gutters are tightly snug against the fascia.
- Straighten out any serious bends and dents so that the guards fit correctly.
- Dry out the gutters so that any adhesive or sealants you use can bind properly.
- Examine the gutters for signs of rust or rot and determine if any need to be replaced.
MEASURE THE LENGTH OF EACH GUTTER BEFORE PURCHASING
You know the old saying, measure twice, cut once? That definitely applies here. The length of your gutters will determine how much you have to buy.
Gutter guards are generally sold by the linear foot. Some come in long rolls, while others come in pre-cut three- or four-foot lengths. With some kinds of guards, such as brush and foam types, you won’t have to worry much about waste.
You can cut those to whatever lengths you need. Filling in with shorter cuts won’t seriously impair their effectiveness.
However, if you’re installing micro mesh, screen, or grille-type guards, you’ll want to minimize seams. That means that you’re inevitably going to have some scrap.
Allow for 10% waste when you buy. After all, you may be able to return what you don’t use.
Also, some home owners like their gutter guards to match their home seamlessly. But what's the exact color of the house? Was it Sherwin Williams that the previous owner used or a different brand? Matching paint colors can be a time consuming nightmare, but there are literally hundreds of thousands of Pantone paint colors, which are popular among paint professionals, but also available for homeowners to purchase in order to achieve a perfect color match.
FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS
We mentioned it before, but it’s worth repeating. Maybe you think you’ll get a certain amount of DIY cred from tossing the manufacturer’s instructions and figuring things out for yourself. Listen up: save that kind of posturing for less vital projects.
If you don’t install per factory instructions, you’ll likely lose any hope of a successful warranty claim if your guards don’t work. That’s not good.
If you take a hammer and nails and start banging away at your roof, you may void your roof warranty. That’s really not good.
Guards that aren’t installed right can cause gutters to overflow or the guards to overshoot and dump gallons and gallons of water down the exterior walls of your house into the foundation. That’s absolutely, positively not good.
FASTEN GUARDS IN WINDY AREAS
Pro tip: being high up and exposed as they are, gutters take a lot of buffeting from the wind. Screen guards, grill guards, and even micro mesh guards can be blown right off your gutters in a good storm.
If you live in a particularly windy area, or if one side of your house seems to get a lot more wind than other sides, go heavy on the gutter guard fasteners in that area.
Use whatever materials the instructions call for, minding the impact it can have on your structure. Screws, nails, or adhesives have their proper functions for securing materials, therefore it’s important to note when to use each type.
INSPECT THE GUARDS AND CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS TWICE A YEAR
Wait, what? You thought you were going to be excused from cleaning your gutters twice a year just because you have gutter guards?
Sorry to disappoint you. Despite what some manufacturers claim, there is no such thing as a gutter guard that keeps out every mote and molecule of gutter crud.
You’ll find that gutter guards do a fine job of protecting against debris such as small branches, twigs, and large seeds like acorns.
However, dust, pine needles, tiny pieces of decaying shingles, insects, pollen, seeds, and other debris can still find their way through even the best gutter guards, especially in heavily wooded areas.
Even when kept out of the gutters themselves, organic material starts to decompose, and this mush can create blockages in the guards themselves.
So put a mark on your calendar to bust out the ladder and head up to your roof six months after the installation is complete, but don’t be shy about checking more often if you feel there might be any type of obstruction.
This is especially true after wind, rain, or snow events pass by. Material will most definitely be accumulated, and violent movements might shift the gutters or guards if they weren’t fastened correctly.
Nonetheless, those are extreme circumstances. Gutter guards can resist much of these situations and can be a snap to clean. Brush and foam guards may have to be removed and rinsed or blown free of dirt and contaminants. If the gutters themselves are still relatively clean, you can clean them out with a garden hose or a blower.
But even the least effective gutter guards will make this job easier, cleaner, and faster than the chore of cleaning out your unguarded eavestroughs.
When deciding which gutter guard is best for you, you can learn from our review about what options are available and compare the top-ranked gutter guard providers on the market.