How Much Do Gutter Guards Cost (2023 Update)

Gutters essentially keep the area around your home from flooding. However, gutters can become clogged over weeks or months with everything from bird twigs and leaves to dead wildlife and bird eggs. And if you’ve ever cleaned a clogged gutter, you know the hassle that it can be.

This is where gutter guards come into play, as they help prevent gutters from obstructions. But how much do gutter guards cost? We’ve looked into current gutter guard pricing and will answer this question for you. We’ll also provide other important information regarding gutter guard installation and usage.

The Importance of Gutter Guards

Cleaning clogged rain gutters can be a time-consuming, costly, and hectic process. And if you live in an area that is prone to wildlife such as birds, squirrels, and raccoons, you’ll likely understand the importance of measures taken to keep your gutters free of debris build-up caused by animals in nearby trees.

Gutter guards help to keep your gutters cleaned by simply blocking access from animals and falling leaves. They also help to protect gutters from freezing rain and snow, which can cause them to become clogged during the winter months, resulting in flooded areas on the side of your home and the backyard.

Gutter guards come in a variety of different styles, covers, and materials. So, if you’re looking for a quick and easy solution to keeping your gutters cleaned, and you prefer not to do it yourself (or pay a contractor), gutter guards can help save you the trouble of this laborious task.

How Much Do Gutter Guards Cost?

The cost of gutter guards will depend on the type you choose and the total length you need. Roofing and gutter installers usually charge per linear foot for the installation–so the bigger the house, the higher the cost. On average, you can expect gutter guards to cost about $.50 to $ 2.30 per linear foot.

Installation costs can range anywhere from $5.50 to $13.35 per linear foot. Overall, the total cost can range from $800 to $2,500 for an average-size home of about 2200 square feet.

The costs to install guards can range by region, but you can save a significant amount of money by installing the guard yourself. Some guards, such as plastic, mesh screen, and PVC, may cost less and are easier to install, while surface tension helmets are more expensive and generally take longer to install.

Additional Costs to Anticipate

Installing most gutter guards is a fairly simple process. However, additional costs can occur if you have a home that is larger, tight gutter areas that are harder to access, or specialty guards designed for your gutters. Gutter guards may also require additional hardware to install which can increase the cost as well. It’s best to discuss all of the potential fees and costs with your installer before signing any contracts.

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The Different Types of Gutter Guards

The size and shape of your gutters and your budget and home design will determine the best guards for your home. The most common types of gutter guards used for homes are mesh screens, foam, bristles, or plastic-based guards. These guards are usually the least expensive, and they can be installed within 2-4 hours.

Foam Inserts

These types of gutter guards are perfect for homeowners looking to do self-installs. They are one of the most inexpensive guard options you can purchase, ranging from $2 to $4 per linear foot. These guards are a great option if you have gutters that tend to catch a lot of large items and debris, especially during the late summer and early fall seasons.

They can also be replaced fairly easily and quickly. On the downside, these gutters do require maintenance and cleaning to keep them viable. They can also become clogged, which can lead to water flooding.

PVC Covers

PVC and plastic gutter guards are another inexpensive guard option and range anywhere from $0.60 to $1.75 per linear foot. These guards are best for homeowners looking for a sensible and inexpensive way to keep their gutters free of debris or are looking to self-install.

PVC gutter guards go on fairly easily as they simply slide inside the gutter and snap right over the top. On the downside, PVC gutter guards don’t have the longest lifespan, on average, they can last anywhere from two to three years. So, if you’re looking for a long-lasting solution, you may want to consider other guard options.

Steel or Aluminum Mesh Screens

Another guard option is aluminum or stainless steel mesh screens. These screens conveniently filter things such as twigs, leaves, bird feathers, and small insects from the gutters. You can expect to pay anywhere from $0.60 to $1.35 per linear foot for these guards, and they’re perfect for DIYers.

They easily slide into place on the top of gutters, have a fairly long run, and generally last three to six years. The biggest downside to these guards is that they aren’t able to protect against larger pieces of debris that may fall onto the screens.

Reverse Curve or Surface Tension

These types of gutter guards aren’t as common as others due to their costs, but they are more than effective. On average, these guards are usually the most expensive, ranging anywhere from $3.50 to $6.50 per linear foot.

Their reverse-curve design allows them to utilize surface tension, gravity, and rainwater to easily get rid of debris that falls on top of the gutters–it simply slides off the top of the guard and onto the ground.

However, during heavy rain downpours or icy conditions, these guards can run into issues with backlogs, which can be resolved by simply brushing them off. Before installing this type of guard, you’ll want to check with your roof warranty (if you have a recently installed roof under warranty), as they can conflict with it.

Brush Guards

And then you have brush guards, which can cost anywhere from $3.00 to $4.25 per linear foot. These guards are also perfect for DIYers looking for an easy gutter guard insert. Brush guards are cylinder-shaped and have large bristles (similar to a straw cleaner) that work to catch pine cones, branches, twigs, and fallen leaves.

The guards sit right inside of the gutters and will stay in place all year round. They will, however, require semi-annual or annual cleaning to remove debris and fallen objects such as pine needles, dead insects, and small twigs can get stuck in the bristles, causing clogs.

Does Home Insurance Cover Gutter Damage?

The type of insurance policy on your home will determine whether or not it will cover damage to the gutters. Insurance policies typically fall into two different categories: named-peril policy and open-peril policy.

Open-peril Policy

An open-peril policy is one that doesn’t name specific perils that are included in your insurance coverage. They generally will provide protection from almost every type of loss, except any specifically included within the insurance policy. Though gutter damage isn’t usually included in these types of policies, it is best to check with your insurance provider to confirm this.

Named-peril Policy

A named-peril policy is the exact opposite. This type of insurance policy will list all perils that are to be covered under the policy. For example, common perils such as vandalism, falling objects, or fire are included in named-peril policies. If your policy does not specifically include gutter damage related to one of the listed perils, you may find yourself paying for replacements out of your own pocket.

Keep in mind that you can always negotiate certain policies with your insurance provider, depending on your location, regional conditions, and the specific provider. Smaller insurance companies may have more room to do this than larger companies such as State Farm or American Family Insurance.

Also, be sure to keep up with required maintenance of your gutters. In the event that you do need to file a claim against the damage, you will have required proof that they were in good condition beforehand. Failure to provide this proof may sometimes lead to voided coverage.

Conclusion

There are quite a few different types of gutter guards that you can choose from for your home. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $800 to a little over $1,000 for installation and equipment.

If you want to save money on labor, you can purchase easy-to-install guards such as mesh screens, PVC, or brush guards. Ultimately, you want to consider the size of your home, the design of your roof, and the length of your gutters before choosing the ideal gutter guards. A licensed, reputable roofing company can also assist with this.

See also: Do Gutter Guards Work? Are They Worth It?

Featured Image Credit: tokar, Shutterstock