Leaf Filter VS Leaf Guard: Which Performs Best?

Gutter cleaning is one of the least desirable home chores. That’s because it implies working from a very uncomfortable position, having to maintain your balance, while also getting your hands dirty. Not only is being up on a ladder uncomfortable, but it’s also unsafe. For these reasons, and many others, gutter guards were invented, and they are probably the best chore aid invention since the vacuum cleaner.

But, of course, there’s more than just one type of gutter guard out there. And since it’s best to have variety rather than be stuck with a single purchasing option, it’s best if you understand what different gutter guard brands have to offer. To help you in your gutter guard scavenger hunt, we’ve compared the LeafFilter and the LeafGuard, two of the market’s best-sellers.

Leaf Filter VS Leaf Guard Comparison

LeafFilter	​​​LeafGuard
Review Check The Price	Source
Installed on your existing gutters. Made from surgical grade stainless steel. Features durable uPVC material. Structural hangers keep the gutters close to the wall. Backed by a lifetime warranty. Mixed reviews about the efficiency of the installation crew.	Based on liquid adhesion principles. Created by specialists on-site. Use screws for attachment. Feature a ScratchGuard® paint finish. Made from metal 20% thicker compared to the industry standard. Can form icicles when using in winter. Opening at the edge can suck in debris.

Taking a Closer Look

Owning a gutter guard system can raise the value of your house, and also have your precious time and money, as water that doesn’t actually get into gutters can damage the roof and the exterior walls. By comparison, both LeafGuard and LeafFilter are two brands with quite some experience in this market, and we wanted to see what each of them has to offer.

LeafGuard

Features and Maintenance

LeafGuard is a reversed curve gutter protector, which is designed to create a path for water to follow. It is a gutter system made from a single piece of material, with a built-in hood meant to protect the bottom of your gutter and redirect leaves and other forms of debris away from your gutter system.

The entire gutter guard system developed by LeafGuard is based on the principle of liquid adhesion. Made from a single piece of aluminum, LeafGuard is cut at a custom length and is made from metal which is 20% thicker compared to the normal industry standard.
By taking a sheet of flat metal, the on-site machines will create a gutter channel with an arched cover and some holes on the surface of the metal. These holes allow water to pass through the surface, but the curved arch pushes away leaves, keeping them far from the gutter system.

LeafGuard is based on a reverse curved system, which is meant to divert debris, keeping it away from your gutter. While the opening at the front of the Gutter is meant to collect rainwater, the efficiency of the system is also questioned because it’s very likely for debris to enter through the same opening that allows water get into the gutter system.

Installation

As far as LeafGuard is concerned, you won’t have to worry about installing the protectors, as they have their own team of trained specialists that can do this job for you. What you want to know at this point is the LeafGuard is not designed to be an add-on for the gutter system, but rather a part of the gutters themselves.

Warranty

LeafGuard has a limited lifetime warranty as long as it’s been installed professionally.

LeafFilter

Features and Maintenance

LeafFilter, on the other hand, is a micromesh type of gutter protector, which is made from surgical grade stainless steel and is very resistant to corrosion and rust. These gutter guards come with PVC frame, which is very resistant to both low and high temperatures and will not deteriorate or warp in time.

LeafFilter uses structural hangers which are placed upon the fascia board, and also conveniently hidden inside the gutter system, so you will never have to see them from the ground up.

The LeafFilter gutter guards can bring this advantage to your home, because the fine holes on the surface of the metal allow water to pass through but can also trap even the finest forms of debris, like pine needles. However, even this efficiency is sometimes questioned by customers, because these very small holes are not always capable of handling large volumes of water, in case of heavy rainfall.

Installation

One of the few things that both of these gutter guard systems have in common is that neither one requires messing with the roof of your house in order to install it. This is a very important feature because when you purchase gutter guards that are attached to the roof upon installation, there is a very high chance that you’ll be voiding the roof warranty.

The LeafFilter system is designed in such a way as to be installed on top of your gutter system, which is one less investment for homeowners, as they do not have to buy new gutters. Because of the low-profile design, homeowners that are particularly interested in the aesthetics of their home will be happy to know that LeafFilter is not visible from the ground up.

Warranty

You can rest assured with this product because it comes equipped with a full lifetime warranty. There are limits attached, so be sure to read up on it before purchasing.

Bottom Line

In the end, the decision is always in the hand of the customer. There is no doubt about the fact that both LeafGuard and LeafFilter are some of the markets top leaders in terms of how well they can protect your gutters. However, there are a lot of variables to take into consideration before making a purchasing decision, such as the climate and the area where you live.

So, which one would best fit your current home configuration, and what is the common type of debris you have to pull out from your gutters?

*You might also like: A Close Look At Gutter Guard Vs Leaf Guard.