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Gutter Guards I Installed Myself That Actually Keep Leaves Out
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items Spending every other weekend on a ladder scooping wet leaf sludge out of gutters got old fast. If you own a house with big trees and dread fall cleanup, this is everything I tested and actually kept. Took me two seasons and a lot of wasted money to l...
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Gutter Guards That Fit Without a Pro
Tools That Made the Install Way Easier
Gutter Cleaning Gear for Before You Install
Extras That Keep Gutters Working All Year
Gutter Guards That Fit Without a Pro
I called a gutter company once and they quoted me $2,400. Hung up and figured it out myself. These snap or slide right in, no special tools, no drilling into your roof.
Snap these in on a Saturday morning and forget about them. I did my whole house in under three hours. Perfect for anyone with standard 5-inch K-style gutters who refuses to pay a contractor.
amerimax home products 85370 snap-in gutter guard, white
Grab this if you just need a quick, cheap fix before fall hits. Cut it to length with regular scissors. My neighbor laughed until he saw zero leaves in my gutters while his were overflowing.
Frost King 6in. X 20ft. Black Plastic Mesh Gutter Guard
Shove the foam right into the gutter channel, done. Water flows through, leaves sit on top and blow off. Worked perfectly on the back of my house where pine needles were clogging everything monthly.
5-Inch K Style Foam Gutter Filter Insert
Use this for 6-inch gutters specifically. The tabs lock under the shingle so wind won't pop them out. Survived two storms last winter without budging. Wish I'd found these before replacing a gutter I thought was broken.
Amerimax Home Products 638010 Hoover Dam Gutter
For anyone tired of flimsy plastic guards that warp in the sun. These are aluminum and feel like they'll outlast the house. I installed them three years ago and haven't touched my gutters since.
Spectra Metals Spectra Pro Select Armour Screen Gutter
Toss these in your cart if you're on a tight budget. They're basic but they work. I used them on my detached garage where I wasn't about to spend real money, and leaves just slide right off.
Thermwell Frost King 1-7/8 in. W x 3 in. L White Plastic
Switch to micro mesh if regular screens still let small debris through. Tiny maple seeds were my nightmare until I put these on. Water still flows perfectly, even in heavy downpours.
Waterlock Micromesh 5 inch Gutter Guards Leaf Protection
Tools That Made the Install Way Easier
First time I tried installing guards I nearly fell off the roof reaching awkwardly. These tools turned a sketchy afternoon into a smooth, safe project.
Get a multi-position ladder if you don't already have one. I could lean it right against the roofline and adjust the angle for every section. Way more stable than my old extension ladder that scared my wife every time.
22 ft. Reach Aluminum 5-in-1 Multi Position Pro Ladder
Keep this around for the low sections over the porch. Dragging the big ladder around for 4-foot-high gutters is ridiculous. Light enough to carry with one hand while holding guards in the other.
Gorilla Ladders 3-Step Compact Steel Step Stool with 225
Use these to bend gutter guard tabs tight under the shingle lip. My fingers couldn't get enough grip, but these locked everything down in seconds. Also handy for pulling out old bent hangers.
CHANNELLOCK 10-inch Straight Jaw Tongue & Groove
Measure twice, cut once. I wasted three guard sections by eyeballing lengths before I grabbed this off my workbench. The blade stays rigid when extended so you can measure solo without it flopping.
STANLEY FATMAX 33-725E 25' Tape Measure
Pair these with any metal gutter guard. They slice through aluminum mesh like butter. I tried regular scissors on my first install and mangled the edges so badly I had to start over.
Hyper Tough 10-inch Aviation Snips
Wear these or your hands will look like you fought a cat. Metal gutter guard edges are sharp. I sliced my palm open on the first piece before putting gloves on. Learn from my mistake.
MECHANIX WEAR Original Men's Work Glove - Pack of 6
Toss your screws, snips, and tape measure in the pockets so you're not climbing up and down the ladder constantly. Saved me probably an hour on install day just by having everything on me.
Bucket Boss Duckwear SuperBib Work Apron in Brown
Gutter Cleaning Gear for Before You Install
You can't just slap guards on top of a gutter full of decomposing leaves. I learned this the hard way when water backed up three days after my first install. Clean them out first, then guard them.
Try this before you even get on a ladder. Hook it to your garden hose and blast debris out from the ground. I cleared 80% of my gutters without climbing anything. Great for anyone with a single-story home.
Orbit Telescoping Gutter Cleaning Wand 58543
Grab a couple of these. They're shaped to fit right inside the gutter channel so you scoop everything in one pass. Way faster than using your hands, and you won't scratch the gutter lining.
1 Pcs Gutter Cleaning Scoop, Plastic Leaves Removal Tool
Use the blower from the top of the ladder to clear dry leaves fast. I did my entire front gutter line in about ten minutes. Light enough that holding it one-handed while balancing felt totally manageable.
Worx, Cordless Leaf Blower, 20V Power Share
For anyone whose downspouts are packed solid. The flexible rod snakes right through the downspout and pushes clogs out the bottom. Saved me from disconnecting a downspout I couldn't figure out how to reattach.
Customer reviews for Unger Pro Window Cleaning Kit w/8ft
Bring one of these to the base of each ladder spot. Dump scoops right in instead of dropping leaf muck all over your landscaping. My wife specifically requested this after the first time I made a mess.
Rubbermaid Roughneck 18-Gallon Box, Dark Indigo Metallic
Rake up whatever falls while you're cleaning above. The wide head grabs everything in fewer passes. I keep one leaning against the house during gutter season so it's always within reach.
Ames 2916100 Poly Leaf Rake 30 Inch Grass Plants
Patch any small leaks you find while you're up there cleaning. I discovered two pinhole spots that had been dripping behind my fascia board for who knows how long. Five minutes of sealant saved a potential repair bill.
Gutter Sealant
Extras That Keep Gutters Working All Year
Guards handle leaves, but they won't stop ice dams or keep your downspouts flowing during heavy rain. These are the add-ons I didn't think I needed until I actually needed them.
String this along your roofline before the first freeze. I had ice dams backing water under my shingles two winters ago and the repair cost more than this cable kit times fifty. Don't wait for damage to convince you.
Frost*
Point water away from your foundation. This flexible extension rolls up when you mow and extends when it rains. My basement stayed dry for the first time in three years after I added these to every downspout.
Amerimax Home Products Flex-A-Spout Downspout Extension
Drop one of these in the top of each downspout. Even with gutter guards, tiny debris gets through and clogs the elbow joint. I pulled a solid brick of gunk out of mine before adding these. Never again.
Downspout Filter
For anyone who gardens and wants to use all that runoff. Diverts water from your downspout into a rain barrel without any cutting. I water my tomatoes with free rainwater all summer now.
Oatey Mystic Rainwater Collection System Fits 2" X 3"
Toss this on if your yard slopes toward the house. It's flat enough to mow over and directs water way further than the rigid kind. Solved a puddle problem by my side door that had been bugging me for years.
CAMCO Drip Rail Gutter Spout - 42123
Stick strips of this between the gutter guard and the gutter edge to seal small gaps. Wasps were building nests in the gap on my south-facing side. Sealed it up and no more surprise stings on ladder day.
Frost King, Weatherseal Tape, Self-Stick Foam, 1-1/2" x 17 ft
Swap out any saggy or bent hangers while you're installing guards. I found four hangers pulling away from the fascia, which explained why water was pooling in one spot. Quick fix that prevents big problems later.
Amerimax Home Products 210121 5" Hidden Gutter