Let’s face it, finding the best gutter guards for your home is a pain.
Gutter manufacturers all claim they make the “highest quality” product on the market, which simply isn’t true.
The current gutter landscape is confusing for the average consumer and leads many to purchase gutters that will not meet the needs of their home.
We’ve heard this story far too many times, and we want to help. With 15 years of experience, we’ve seen the best and the worst gutter guards out there. The goal of this post is to help you navigate the confusion surrounding gutter guards, and connect you with a reliable product you’ll love.
For a quick breakdown of our favorite gutter guards, check out this video:
4 Best Gutter Guards For Homeowner’s In 2024 (Our Quick List)
We know a lot of you aren’t looking for a full breakdown, so here are the best gutter guards for your home in 2024.
- Rain Drop Gutter Guards (The Only First American Approved Gutter Guard, Read Why Below)
- Amerimax Aluminum Screen Gutter Guards
- Raptor Micro Mesh Gutter Guards
- A-M Aluminum Gutter Guards
Types Of Gutter Guards: Pros And Cons For Finding the Best for Your Home
There are several different styles of gutter guards that achieve similar results. Much like comparing roofing materials, your gutter guard materials play a large role in the functionality and durability of your home’s exterior. Unfortunately, determining which type is best requires some knowledge of how gutter guards work. To make things a bit easier for you, we’ll break down the main types of gutter guards below:
Mesh Screen Gutter Guards
If you need a lightweight gutter guard that’s easy to install and fits well, mesh screen guards are for you. They slide under your shingles and allow debris to slide off at an angle. Screen gutter guards are typically the most affordable option but don’t come without a few drawbacks. Their lightweight nature makes them susceptible to damage if large debris hits them directly. Since they are merely slid under the shingle, they are also known to slide out in adverse conditions.
Gutter Belts
If you need a sturdier guard, gutter belts are a good option or you. They are a flat surface with punctured holes, ensuring no debris touches your gutter. Gutter belts great for keeping those whirlybirds, helicopters, or whatever you prefer to call them, out of your gutter. One major drawback is its installation process. They are invasive to install because require you to screw them directly to the house.
Filter Brush Gutter Guards
Filter brush gutter guards are probably our least favorite gutter guard option. They are a bristled round brush that sets in your gutter to catch debris while allowing water to flow. These filters are neither aesthetically pleasing nor easy to clean. We recommend calling us before trying anything because we have adopted a gutter guard that we have found to be fail-proof and the most effective.
Gutter Guard Trial and Error
We used to get a lot of calls from people saying they had gutter guards installed, but they are still having to clean them out, or are noticing too much downfall of water in one area of their house. There are hundreds of brands and types of gutters guards, so it can be hard to know which one to choose. Just like with roof intake vents, sometimes homeowners go with aesthetics vs. functionality, and that can backfire.
After years of trial and error, and eliminating gutter guards that we kept getting calls about, we found one we love. We now know that there’s one brand that we’ve been installing for about 4-5 years now, which has significantly decreased calls and complaints that the gutter guards aren’t doing their job.
Let’s break down why Raindrop Gutter Guards are far superior to other brands.
Raindrop Gutter Guards: The Best Gutter Guards For Homeowners
Raindrop Gutter Guards from right here in the midwest have become one of our go-to brands for our customers. Raindrop has been around for almost 20 years, and continues to provide high-quality, maintenance-free, self-cleaning water protection for homes all over.
These guards can fit any 5 or 6-inch gutter but can be customized to fit 4 or 10-inch gutters as well. They are incredibly strong and durable and allow for even the most torrential flow of water to run over and through. These gutter guards are virtually invisible and can match any aesthetic of a home.
How it works is it’s laid on top of your gutter and screwed into place. It has slats that allow debris to flow right over it and off the gutter, without getting trapped in any holes or divets. There is no edge for debris to get caught. Its black color absorbs the sun’s heat even on the coldest of days and naturally melts ice and snow, alleviating any problems with ice dams or icicles.
First American Would Love To Help With Your Gutter Guards!
Many homeowners do not know how to inspect a roof and often overlook simple things like gutter guards, and we would love to help. At First American Roofing, we only want to give our customers the best, and since adopting the Raindrop Gutter Guards, we have yet to get a call back about an issue with the gutter guards. Not only that, but they are a fellow Wisconsin company located in Milwaukee, and we’re always happy to support our fellow Wisconsinite businesses! We stand by this brand, and we’re so glad that they changed how we do business, and how we can leave our customers satisfied.
If you are having trouble with debris-filled gutters, heavy waterfall creating craters in the corners of your home, or notice recurring ice dams every winter, it may be time to evaluate your gutters or gutter guards. We would love to help out, and please feel free to give us a call anytime! We can walk you through the steps we can take to solve your problems.