Is the Cost of Gutter Guards Worth the Money?

Practically every home is now built with gutters; these gutters must be cleaned out frequently in order to be sure that they are functioning properly.  Most homeowners clean out their gutters twice each year: once in the spring to clear out debris such as flower petals, flower buds, seed pods, animal feces, and small leaves, and once in the fall to clear out larger dead leaves, animal feces, and other debris.  If you live in a place with a lot of trees or debris, you’ll need to clean out your gutters even more often.

Many homeowners either don’t know or forget about regularly cleaning their gutters (whether they do it themselves or hire a professional) and that’s why the option of a gutter guard is so attractive.

What is a gutter guard?

A gutter guard is metal or plastic mesh that is designed to fit over your gutter in order to keep it free of debris.

How much does a gutter guard cost?

The cost of a gutter guard and installation depends largely on your house.  The more curves in your roofline, the area in which your house is located, the types of trees on your property, and your personal tastes will all determine the cost of a gutter guard.  On average, a homeowner can expect to pay between $7-$10 for every lineal foot (including installation); with the average home having 200 feet of gutter and this would mean that the project would cost about $1500-$2000.

Are gutter guards worth the cost?

Though the upfront cost of gutter guards seems like a large investment, remember that they are actually saving you money if you hire a professional twice a year which usually runs about $200-400 per cleaning, or can save you time if you are cleaning the gutters yourself.  It should be noted that even with gutter guards, your home’s gutters should still be cleaned once every two or three years and the gutter guards will need to be removed in order to clean them properly.  Because of this, be sure to choose gutter guards that are easy to remove, most designs will click in and out of place.