leafguard gutters price

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 12, 2022

How Much Do Gutter Leaf Guards Cost?

Sections: Overview | Product Costs | Installation Cost | DIY or Pro

Overview of Gutter Guard Protectors

Rain gutters are an affordable part of a home’s exterior with excellent return on investment because they protect your house from damage caused by rainwater and the costly repairs that follow. Gutters must be kept in good condition, as discussed in our breakdown on gutter cleaning, maintenance and repair. There, we introduced the idea of gutter guards, and in this Costimate, we explore the cost of leaf and debris protection, to help your gutters stay clean and divert rain water and runoff as designed.

Well-designed and properly installed gutter guards keep debris from filling gutters, where it gets soaked with rain and causes clogs and overflows. In a worst case scenario, water can cause erosion issues and possibly foundation damage. Where trees combine with windy and rainy autumn weather, gutter guards reduce but do not eliminate the need to clean gutters. What you’re paying for with gutter guards is the convenience and cost savings of cleaning your gutters less frequently.

In this Costimate, you’ll learn about the cost to install gutter guards on your home. We’ll discuss options on materials and types of debris guards available, as well as the installation costs and added costs you may incur when cleaning each season. At the end, we’ll share estimated gutter guard costs from around the web, as well as prices paid by homeowners who have them installed.

Gutter Guard Cost Details

Material Cost Factors

There are just a few basic cost factors:

• Type of Gutter guards installed – Aluminum, vinyl or plastic inserts each come at a different cost. Inserts such as brushes or foam wedges are next, and gutter helmet type guards, or surface tension covers are the most expensive.
• DIY vs. Pro Installation – If you can save on labor, you will reduce your cost by up to 50%.
• Linear feet of gutters – More gutters, more material, higher costs. Some gutter guard companies have set rates for up to 100 feet of gutter with per-foot rates for extra. Others charge strictly by the total length of gutter.
• Upper stories with gutters – Upper story gutters require more time for installing guards, and the estimates you receive will reflect the extra labor involved.
• Cleaning needed – Gutters and downspouts must be clean and in good repair before most gutter guard contractors will install their product.
• Other Repairs at the same time – If you’ve neglected to keep your gutters in good condition there may be rot behind the facia boards, or damages to the gutter themselves that may require a bit of extra maintenance ahead of time.

If you’re trying to decide which type is best for your home, Gutter Brothers has a good review of most of the common types available today.

Cost of Supplies

While you may not need, or already own some of the supplies listed below, they’ll make the job of installing new guards on your gutters much easier.

• $85 – $165 | 8′-10’ aluminum or fiberglass step ladder for first-story gutters
• $160 – $270 | 24’ aluminum or fiberglass extension ladder for second-story gutters
• $9 – $15 | Protective gloves
• $25-$60 | Electric drill (entry level), if needed
• $5-10 | Sheet metal screws for guards requiring fasteners
• $0.15-$0.35 per foot | Plastic mesh gutter guard
• $1.75-$2.85 per foot | Steel mesh gutter guard
• $2.50-$4.25 per foot | Micro-mesh steel gutter guard
• $1.85-$4.15 per foot | Foam gutter guard
• $2.95-$4.50 per foot | Brush gutter guard
• $3.35-$8.75 per foot | Surface-tension gutter guard
• $0.33-$1.85 per foot | Aluminum perforated gutter covers

Permits, Inspection, , Related Costs and Installation Time

Permits and Inspection Cost

• $0 | No permit is required for installing gutter guards

Related Costs and Installation Time

So far, we’ve covered materials for DIY gutter guard installation. If you hire a handyman or gutter company to install a product you purchase, or hire a gutter guard company to install its proprietary product, labor and/or material costs must be considered.

• $2.00-$4.50 per foot | Professional installation for labor only

Gutter Guard Install Time Schedule

Installation goes quickly without fasteners. It takes about twice as long when fasteners must be installed. Here are the likely installation times for a two-person crew:

Products without fasteners:

• 2-4 hours: Most single-story homes
• 3-6 hours: Most two-story homes
• 5-10 hours: Large single-story and two-story homes

Products with fasteners:

• 3-6 hours: Most single-story homes
• 5-8 hours: Most two-story homes
• 8-12 hours: Large single-story and two-story homes

DIY or Hire a Pro?

As I’m not too fond of ladders, I will generally hire a job like this out to professionals since we have a second floor with a 24 foot drop to the ground. I’ll go up there if it’s an emergency, but prefer not to do much from extension ladders for my wife’s peace of mind and my own safety.

We had a plastic insert leaf guard system on our home when we moved in and I removed it, due to constant clogging. The inserts were well aged and constantly cracked, causing additional clogs in the downspouts when the plastic got wedged and clumped together.

• Requires comfort on the roof, or working from a ladder.
• Many trips up and down the ladder to empty the bucket of debris.
• A friend or helper to assure your safety while working.

If my home was a single level home, I’d be perfectly OK installing my own gutter guards. Your mileage may vary, but for myself, it’s worth the extra cost for peace of mind.