.productbox h4 {clear: both;}
Cleaning the gutter is one of the most tedious and dangerous home chores you'll ever have to perform. If your yard is generously adorned with all sorts of beautiful trees, that exposes your gutters to a lot of leaves falling. Gutters also create the perfect environment for nesting critters and insects, because of the moist and damp environment. Thankfully, gutter guards are here to solve most of your gutter-related issues.
Let us show you the best way to deal with fine debris, such as pine needles: micro-mesh gutter guards.
Our Top Choice - LeafFilter
Our top choice in mesh gutter guards. Their professional installers clean and align your gutters prior to being installed, which is super important for guards to work properly. It's made of stainless steel, which makes it extremely durable, and is also backed by a transferable lifetime warranty. The link below will get you 10% off your order.
Backyard Boss Top 6 Micro Mesh Gutter Guards for 2021
|
|
PRODUCT |
FEATURES |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
Why You Can Trust Us
Back in the 1990s, when I was in 9th grade, I signed up for my school's building trades program. The first major project we completed was building a utility shed from the ground up, the last project we completed was building an actual home for a local family. At the same time, I was working for my dad's general contracting business as a roofer. During that time, I have deconstructed and installed several types of gutter guards.
Best Overall
The LeafFilter gutter guard is one of the most popular names on the market for a definite reason; no one does it quite like them.
- Works well even in heavy rain and snow
- High-end construction
- Professional installation
- More expensive than others
- Availability of installation dates and schedule changes
|
|
What We Like: LeafFilter is one of our favorite home-improvement products for many reasons. Firstly, it is genuinely made well, it does what it is supposed to do, and comes with a lifetime warranty. Secondly, you won't have to install it, the professionals will handle it for you.
Who Should Buy It: LeafFilter is the right choice for those who are looking for a top-of-the-line product that can protect their homes from the perils that come with neglected gutters, like rotting facia and water damage.
Want to know more about this particular product? Read our full LeafFilter review.
Best for Dual-Method Installation
If your home happens to be surrounded by trees, especially of the pine variety, these easy-to-install guards may be the solution for you.
- Efficient against pine needles
- Made with surgical grade stainless steel
- Double installation options
- May not prevent ice dams
- Taping may not be as reliable as screws
|
|
If your yard has a generous amount of pine trees surrounding the house, then you already know that their needles will easily find their way into the gutter system. The best way to block pine needles from getting into the gutters is a micro-mesh gutter guard.
The EasyOn gutter protective system has a total of 24-feet of guards, made up of six sections that measure four feet each. The system is delivered together with 25 self-tapping screws. What's interesting about this system is that you can choose to screw it on, but you can also opt for taping the pieces onto the gutters. The guards are made with surgical grade stainless steel micro-mesh and are reinforced with aluminum support frames.
What We Like: You can install this product with either screws or adhesive. Moreover, it's made from high-grade materials.
Who Should Buy It: If leaves and pine needles tend to pile up in your gutters, the EasyOn system may be just the product to eliminate the problem. Further, if you enjoy home DIY, you'll appreciate that this product is not too hard to install.
Best for Quick Installation
Compatible with gutters of most widths, and constructed with high-end PVC, these snap-in gutter guards do the trick when it comes to keeping out the finest of debris.
- Keeps out fine debris
- Snap-in installation
- Made with durable PVC
- Works best on newer gutters
- Does not install well on dented or gutters
|
|
Amerimax has proven that it knows its way around creating a high-quality product that keeps the gutters clean. This snap-in micro-mesh filter has all the right tools to become one of the best products of its kind. It's compatible with four, five, and six-inch K-style gutters, so there's plenty of versatility in terms of the gutter sizes.
The guards themselves are made with durable PVC, meant to withstand some serious wear-and-tear, capable of staying strong when facing nature's harsh elements. This gutter guard system is comprised of 25 different pieces, which leads up to a total of 75-feet coverage, being great for most average-sized homes.
The snap-in mechanism makes it very easy to install the protectors, without having to mess around with the structure of your home (like walls, roof, etc.). Because of the micro-mesh filter, the Amerimax gutter guards will do a great job in keeping away fine debris, as this is the main reason why micro-mesh filters are preferred by a wide number of customers.
What We Like: This product really keeps the water flowing through your gutters, and the debris out, regardless of the size and type. Another nice perk is that it is super quick and painless to install without professional help.
Who Should Buy It: If you are concerned about a costly installation, or voiding your roof or gutter systems warranties, this could be the right product for you. It doesn't get much easier than this!
Best for Professional Installation
As the name suggests, this well-known product genuinely keeps the leaves out of your gutter system and water flowing properly.
- Sample product available
- Made with stainless steel
- Keeps out fine debris
- Difficult to install
- Requires screws
|
|
LeafsOut makes some of the best gutter protectors on the market. This particular model is tested and approved by many customers that have rated this system as being useful and getting the job done. What we really like is that you can order a cheap sample gutter guard, to see just how well it perform before ordering more. The bigger package version includes gutter protectors with a total length of 23 and 100 feet.
The fine micro-mesh surface is designed to allow water to drip through the surface and into the gutters while keeping even the finest forms of debris on top. It's made with stainless steel mesh, which grants the product durability over long periods of time. Due to the material chosen, this protective system is efficient and long-lasting, even when exposed to sunlight.
As advertised, it's compatible with a lot of different roofs and gutter types. With a total width of five-inches, these gutter guards are great for a system with a width of four inches or narrower. This protective system is made of three components: a siphon control strip, a V-bend filter mesh, plus an aluminum drip edge. There are tapping screws included that will fix the system to the existing gutters.
What We Like: This guard system is constructed with high-quality materials and really works at keeping debris out and water in. We love that the company will send you a free sample, too!
Who Should Buy It: Being one of the favorites and best-rated micro-mesh gutter guards on the market, the LeafsOut system is perfect for readers who want to invest in a well-known and reliable product. In addition, if you plan to have professionals install your new gutter guards, this is a great choice to consider.
Best for Fine Debris
Available in both standard and super sizes, this guard is a guaranteed fit for your gutters, no matter how wide they happen to be.
- Made with stainless steel
- Installation hardware included
- Sample gutter guards available
- May cause overflow during heavy rain
- May not prevent ice dams
|
|
Here is yet another masterpiece amongst micro-mesh gutter guards, capable of keeping the gutters clean, the rainwater flowing, and all pests and insects away from nesting here. The protection system made by Raptor features stainless steel construction, which is the best material you could hope for when dealing with a product that exposed to the elements and a wide range of temperatures.
There is a "Standard" type of Raptor guards that can cover five-inch gutters or smaller, but there's also the "Super" version, which is best suited for wider gutters, up to seven inches. You can also order a sample pack for a very low price, which will give you small pieces of these two types of guards, so you can test and see which one fits your gutters before ordering a larger amount.
Each box of gutter guards can cover a total of 48 feet of gutters, and the package includes a hex head driver, plus the self-tapping screws you need to install the protectors. The guards are protected by a warranty period of 25 years, so you can rest assured that these babies will do their job for a long time to come.
What We Like: This product doesn't void roof warranties, all of the installation hardware is included, and it has a generous warranty period. The fact that it repels even the finest debris, however, is what we like best.
Who Should Buy It: The GutterGlove Raptor guards are made from durable materials, which makes them the perfect choice for houses in more extreme climates. Homeowners shopping for non-standard gutters will appreciate that this product is available for up to seven-inch wide gutters.
Best for Versatile Selections/Models
These versatile micro-mesh gutter guards offer far more selection in choice of surface style than competitors, allowing you to choose what's best for your home and gutters.
- Made with 22-gauge galvanized steel
- Invisible from the ground
- Five different hole spacings
- Warranty is not as good as others
- May cause some water overflow during heavy downpours
|
|
The Ultra Flo gutter protector is available in five different surface options, but we're going to focus on its micro-mesh version. What you need to remember here is that you get to choose hole spacing that's best suited for your personal needs. The protectors are made with 22-gauge galvanized steel, with an extra coat of powder to make sure that nature's elements won't get in the way of its durability.
Because of its construction, the system is basically invisible when looking from the ground up. This could be an important feature for someone who is worried that the looks of the gutter system might affect the aesthetics of the house.
There are also two different sizes to choose from, one of them being suitable for five-inch wide gutters, while the other best fits six-inch gutters. You will benefit from a ten-year warranty when you purchase the Ultra Flo gutter guards, which is pretty generous, although you might want to go with the GutterGlove Raptor guards if you're interested in a more extended warranty period.
What We Like: One of our favorite features of this product is that it is invisible from the ground level. We also really like that it is made with high-quality galvanized steel.
Who Should Buy It: The Ultra Flo gutter guards are available with different types of surfaces, giving their potential clients a lot of choices in terms of how well the guards can perform in keeping out different forms of debris. That is why we recommend it to those looking for a versatile product with options.
Choosing the Right Gutter Guards
Generally speaking, guards are typically divided into three main categories:
- Screens made from either mesh or plastic that act sort of like lids for the gutter system.
- Gutter filters, which are mounted inside the gutters themselves.
- Surface tension units, that are normally placed on top of your existing gutter system.
Choosing the gutter guards that are best for you is a process that requires a lot of thought and prioritizing. The following factors should be some of your top considerations while shopping for the right guards for your home.
Your Budget
The first consideration that will help you slim down your choices is your budget. Everyone has one, and sometimes it is the single factor that determines one product over another. Whatever your budget may be, rest assured, one of the selections on our list will work for you. Keep in mind, though, that you will need to budget in more cash for professional installation if you don't have the time or skills to install them properly yourself.
Warranty Options
Speaking of budgets, if you are spending a decent amount of money on a product that you need to last for a long time, you should invest in one that comes with a decent warranty and/or guarantees. Further, if a product is truly superior to others, and does what it says it will, there is no excuse for it not having a warranty and you should probably choose a better product.
Your Property
If your home is located near the woods, has a lot of trees, flowerbeds, and shrubs, or is close to neighbors with tons of trees, then you will definitely benefit from installing guards on your gutters. Even more, whether your home is a couple of centuries-old, or brand new, it is never too late, or early, to start protecting the integrity of your facia, peaks, and walls with gutter guards.
What Region You Live In
Depending on your region, you may receive more or less heavy rain and snow than the next home. If you live up north, for example, you will definitely need guards that help with snow and ice in addition to basic debris like leaves and dirt. For those who live in rainier-than-average places, like Seattle, guards that deal well with constant and heavy rain are necessary. This consideration can save you both time and money by installing a product that works the first time.
Installation Process
Whether you plan to install your new guards, or you will be hiring a professional to do it for you, this is a consideration you need to take into account before selecting the best product for your gutters. That said, several of the options here in our guide work for the DIYers out there, like the EasyOn guards. We also put a spotlight on great products like LeafFilter, which require professional installation.
Maintenance
It is crucial to understand that there are zero gutter guard options out there that truly require no maintenance. Little maintenance? Sure. LeafFilter, for example, once installed, only needs a basic wipe-down once a year or so. Other options may need to be cleaned as often as your regular gutters. With those models, the biggest difference is that your home won't suffer too much damage if you take a bit longer to get around to it.
How We Picked
To pick the best micro-mesh gutter guard products, we took a long hard look at all of the possible options we could find. If you haven't figured it out by now, micro-mesh is absolutely a favorite type in the gutter guard industry. That said, we really had a job to do here!
We looked at major retailers and manufacturers, product descriptions, consumer reviews, ratings, and more. We paid extra close attention to several factors including quality of materials and construction, warranties, ease-of-installation, brand history, and efficiency. What we came up with is a list of six products we believe to stand out from all the others.
Which Micro Mesh Gutter Guards Are Best for You?
The tricky thing about micro-mesh systems is that, while they are effective in keeping away fine debris from your gutters, they might not always be efficient during a powerful rainstorm. Because their micro-mesh surface is basically made from a ton of really small holes, heavy rain might not be able to penetrate the surface of the guards, especially if the holes are somewhat trapped by debris.
However, micro-mesh filters will always be the favorites of many homeowners. Since hole spacing is really small, they are practical when you have to keep away a small piece of debris from the gutters, especially those pesky pine needles that are super-thin, and have a way of clogging the gutters. Most micro-mesh gutter guards are made from some form of stainless steel, which makes them durable, and a really good investment overall.
Our pick for the best micro-mesh gutter guards to invest in is the LeafFilter Gutter Guard. Estimates are free, installation is top-notch, by professionals, and each set is customized to fit your specific home/gutters. Oh yeah, the transferable lifetime coverage that comes with it is also a huge plus.