Leaf Guard Styles

Leaf Guards come in many varieties and none are created equal. There are several things to consider when choosing which style works for your situation.

These considerations include:

NO leaf protection system is maintenance free, but the level of maintenance varies between styles.

What type of trees do you have, and what other sources of debris are present?

What type of roof do you have, and how steep is it?

Does your roof line have a lot of valleys, or other areas that focus an extraordinary amount of water into a small area?

Each Type will have a rating that looks like this:

PRICE: $cheap to $$$$$very pricey
AESTHETIC: 1ugly - 5pleasing or invisible
FLOW SPEED: 1low to 5high
PINE STRAW: 1no protection to 5very protected
BROAD LEAF: 1no protection to 5very protected
POLLEN: 1no protection to 5very protected
MAINTENANCE: Interval/Type

Skip to Videos

  • Combination Guards (Leaf Filter)

    Combination type guards are any product that uses more than one type in the same product, usually a micromesh over a slot guard. These are typically consumer traps. While it may seem like you could get “double protection” you’re really only getting whatever the top layer is. In most cases that is a light guage micromesh. Unlike a micromesh only type, these have even smaller holes that are more prone to clog with pollen. These combination guards are typically very over-priced (Leaf Filter is $38/ft). While some of these products, like the one in the video function just fine when clean, they are not at all worth the markup compared to more simple and cheaper products.

    PRICE: $$$$$
    AESTHETIC: 2
    FLOW SPEED: 4
    PINE STRAW: 5
    BROAD LEAF: 5
    POLLEN: 1
    MAINTENANCE: Annual, Brushing.

  •

    Water Adhesion (Gutter Helmet) Style Leaf Guards

    Water Adhesion Leaf Guards, commonly known as ‘Gutter Helmet’ are a style of leaf protection that is designed to allow water to follow a curved ‘helmet’ into the gutter while leaves and debris simply fall off the guard. While they are very nice to look at, and come in all the gutter colors, they are COMPLETELY in the Gimmick category and do not actually function in the real world despite the constant advertising to the contrary.

    PRICE: $$$$$
    AESTHETIC: 4
    FLOW SPEED: 1
    PINE STRAW: 1
    BROAD LEAF: 1
    POLLEN: 5