Click
to learn more about our leaf protection systems:
LeafBeater 
Black Magic
Leaf Solution
Leaf Relief
Traditional screening products have an open mesh that easily allows water to flow into the gutters. These open-mesh screens also often work well in the Fall with dry leaves. However, in the Spring season, these open-mesh screens become a magnet for the various systems designed by Mother Nature to deliver seed-pods. Maple 'helicopter' seeds and Oak 'spaghetti' pollen stick to open-mesh screens. We recommend an occasional sweeping of the screen to maintain performance.
How do gutter guards work? First there is large debris; leaves, sticks, twigs, and acorns. Second is small debris; seed pods and oak tassel. These are the things that clog the gutter and cause the system to overflow. Screens are designed with thousands of 3/16 inch holes to keep out the large items yet lets in the heaviest rain. As the smaller materials wash into any guard they tend to congregate in the bottom of the gutter. The next downpour, these materials get congested and are carried to the downspout. These congested materials will plug a 2x3 inch downspout, causing the system to overflow. We suggest the use of larger downspouts to help flush out incidental debris.
What works?
Hoods, helmets, foam inserts and louvered caps are a few of the type of guards available. These range in price from $8.50 to $18.00 per foot.
Hoods and helmets block off most of the gutter and have an opening of about three-eights of an inch or larger to let rain water in. These systems depend on surface adhesion, that is water ‘sticking’ to the surface. In a driving rain, rain drops break the adhesion causing the water to shed off. During the winter snow melt off, water does not obtain enough speed to follow the curve of the hood and enter into the gutter. The water drips off the hood and forms huge icicles. What happens after a hot summer cloudburst? The streets and roofs steam, and inside the hood it is a mini sauna!! NO air can get in or out, causing condensation to takes place. Over a period of time all this moisture rots the roof decking and wood fascia boards. Products placed under the shingle VOIDS the roofing manufacture’s warranty. The opening on these hoods as with all guards will clog! “You never have to clean your gutters” is so true, but now you have to clean the gutter guard!
Foam filters are made of plastic and the sun causes them to disintegrate. They collect debris on top and crust over, so no water gets in the gutter. They trap debris inside the filter and restrict water flow, causing your gutters to overflow.
No gutter guard or leaf protection system is intended to be a totally maintenance-free system, so we recommend occasional inspection and removal of surface debris to maintain peak performance. While we continue to believe there is no perfect gutter guard system, we have found a few time-tested products which provide the best protection on the market. LeafBeater gutter protection system, Black Magic gutter protection system, Leaf Relief and Leaf Solution. We feel Leaf Solution offers the best protection while providing the least maintenance for homeowners. For more information click on one of the links at the bottom of this page.
