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.

  •

    Slotted Guard (EZ Sweep)

    Slotted Type guards are a solid sheet with pressed slot openings. These slots allow a lot more flow that drilled type guards, but also allow more debris in, and are more prone to damming when debris gets lodged in the slots. Maintenance is a bit more aggressive on these guards, and needs to be done a couple times a year to keep those slots clean.

    PRICE: $$
    AESTHETIC: 3
    FLOW SPEED: 4
    PINE STRAW: 3
    BROAD LEAF: 4
    POLLEN: 2
    MAINTENANCE: 2+ per year/ brush out slots

  •

    Drilled Type Guards (Smart-Flo)

    Drilled Type leaf guards are one of the best all-around values for leaf guards, though they do have some decent downsides. These guards are a solid sheet of metal with a pattern of holes drilled in them. This is great for strength, and works rather well for keeping debris out of your gutters. However the flow speed is very low because so much of the surface area is solid. That means these guards cause a considerable amount of “tiger striping” or stains down the front of the gutter where excess water sheets over the gutter. This guard does not work well in heavy flow areas like valleys, and cannot be used with a metal roof.

    Maintenance is fairly minimal and can be done by simply using a leaf blower once a year to keep the surface free of debris.

    Our quotes will have this type of guard listed as SmartFlo

    PRICE: $
    AESTHETIC: 5
    FLOW SPEED: 2
    PINE STRAW: 3
    BROAD LEAF: 4
    POLLEN: 3
    MAINTENANCE: Annual, Blow-off with leaf blower.

  •

    Micro Mesh Leaf Guards (Leaf Blaster)

    Micro Mesh style Leaf Guards are designed to keep a maximum flow rate and a minimal amount of debris passage. These types of guard are very good for steep pitch and metal roofs where maximum flow is needed. The Downside is the micromesh is very susceptible to pollen clogging the tine holes. The maintenance schedule needs to be annual and consists of brushing the guards to loosen any clogged pollen.

    A Price for this guard “Leaf Blaster” will be included in your Gutter Quote.

    PRICE: $$$$
    AESTHETIC: 3
    FLOW SPEED: 5
    PINE STRAW: 5
    BROAD LEAF: 5
    POLLEN: 2
    MAINTENANCE: Annual Brushing

  •

    Expanded Mesh Style (Roll Lock)

    Expanded Mesh style leaf guards are some of the most common options, mainly because they’re cheap. This style has endless brands, colors, shapes but all are relatively equal in function. These guards have great flow speed, but they have their flow speed at the cost of allowing nearly every type of debris into your gutter system. These guards really only work for broad leaf trees, as ‘caterpillar pollen pods’, pine straw and needles all go right through the large holes and dam up the leaf guard. Maintenance on these guards is therefor high, and needs to be done twice a year. the maintenance involves removing a section of leaf guard at every end, corner and spout and scooping out the debris; as well as brushing out all the material lodged in the holes.

    PRICE: $
    AESTHETIC: 2
    FLOW SPEED: 5
    PINE STRAW: 0
    BROAD LEAF: 3
    POLLEN: 5
    MAINTENANCE: 6mos Remove/clean/Brush