No matter what guard you get, you have to perform occasional maintenance. I installed the GutterGlove covers on my roof, 4 years ago. During that period, I climbed up on my upper roof, two times and blown off the debris with my leaf blower. For the tenacious "tassels" which clump in some areas, I drag the front of my leaf blower on the guards to loosen them up and blow them off. For my lower roof (garage and family room) I knock off any debris I see with a brush mounted on the end of an extension pole. For my house, I find the "tassels" are more likely to gather on certain sides of the gutter, dependent upon where the upper trees are, as well as the direction of the prevailing winds. Note: My property is wooded and I used to have to clean my gutters from 4 to 6 times a year. The GutterGloves I installed have been a Godsend. I just turned 71 and wanted to limit my time up on the roof. BTW, I was 68 when I installed them, so if you are an able, DIY'er, it is not too much of a challenge.
That's great information. Thanks for your perspective, sharing your experience and highlighting that installing gutter guards does not always mean you can set it and forget it, especially in wooded areas.
@@gutterguardsdirect I just had a gutter estimate today that comes with performance warranty if I got the Gutter RX leaf guards. If it ever does build up or clog they come out and clean it. This is a well know local company so I know they will come out if trees start growing in my gutters again😁
Did you ever go out and observe your gutters during a HARD rain, both before they had collected debris and again after? I would like to hear your observations as to which of these systems allowed water to run over the edge and which ones allowed the gutter to collect all of the rainwater. I understand your attempt to explain this through you observation of debris on the face of the gutter but it would be unbelievably more helpful for you to tell us (if you can't actually video in the rain) what you actually observed. You have gone through quite a bit of work to perform this test and I can't believe that you omitted this facet of each gutter guard's performance. Otherwise nice job!
There are 2 videos in the series so far that focused on rain. Look for episode 8 (www.gutterguardsdirect.com/gutter-guard-challenge/gutter-guard-rainstorms/) and episode 14 (www.gutterguardsdirect.com/gutter-guard-challenge/gutter-guards-rain-pain/) to see the gutter guards performing in the rain. Naturally, it's hard to time a visit to the gutters during the heaviest downpours, but it was raining very hard in episode 8 and less so in episode 14. We also captured water at the later stages of the test and we will release those results in a later video.
The edge is there to help drive water and debris away from the face of the gutter. As you saw on gutter guards that don't have the drip edge, water that falls out of the sky lands on the gutter lip and rolls down the face of the gutter, where it drips from the underside of the gutter. But, sure, there were plenty of instances where water streamed over the gutter guards surface. Nothing's perfect, so best to keep your expectations in check.
Consumer Reports' article on gutter guards is now over 11 years old (September 2010), so it is no longer relevant, which is likely why it's hard to find. Honestly, it was a puff piece to begin with, as I was a subscriber to the magazine and a LeafFilter dealer at the time the article was published. In the world of micro mesh gutter guards, they only tested LeafFilter and GutterGlove Pro. They gave both systems #1 ratings: LeafFilter for "professionally installed" and GutterGlove for "do-it-yourself." LeafFilter is pretty much the same system today. They have slightly modified the screen, but the problematic plastic framework remains. GutterGlove Pro has been completely redesigned. There are many other micro mesh systems on the market today, some of which may be worth a look. Here's an article we wrote as a follow-up to Consumer Reports' test that you might find helpful: www.gutterguardsdirect.com/company-news/why-best-gutter-guards-consumer-reports-is-our-top-search-term/
Yes, lots of salespeople who have no clue what they're doing or selling because they've never installed or worked with the products they're selling. However, sales people aren't responsible for how well a leaf guard performs. That's up to the product designers.
Every gutter guard has its place. The trick is knowing where that place is. Small debris is an issue for solid gutter covers such as LeaFree, LeafGuard and GutterHelmet. It doesn't mean that they're "trash." It just means that you need to know where to use it and where to avoid it. Where do you think the solid gutter covers would work well, Brad?
Thank you for sharing your findings. They were quite helpful. Seems to me, master shield is superior compared to the other brands. I wonder how much of a difference in water flow and catchment between a metal and shingle roof And how master shield holds up to high pollen areas?
MasterShield came out on top in these test. MasterShield and LeafFilter performed the best in our water tests. The primary difference is that MasterShield is designed to rest under the first course of shingles and LeafFilter is designed to sit relatively flat inside the gutters. It has a built-in slope because the plastic frame is a bit taller in the back than in the front. We gave the nod to MasterShield because it took in a lot of water and it had the steepest slope of any of the gutter guards in the test. It does a nice job with metal roofs, too. MasterShield offers two screen densities: standard and high flow. The standard, super tight woven screen, was featured in our tests and works well with asphalt shingles, cedar shake, metal, etc.
LeafFilter is installed to the fascia board right underneath the shingles if any of those guards go underneath your shingles your shingle warranty is 1000% voided!! Nobody should EVER have the shingles lifted up and something nailed to the roof decking your roof warranty will no longer exist the day they do the installation.
What I wished you could have made it a note that the gutter covers that have a drip edge, have a cleaner gutter sides and bottom but that is because the water is falling off the drip edge. I would think if you video those drip edges while it is raining you will see a lot of the water coming over the edge of the gutter and the point of these covers is to keep the water in the gutter so that it does not come down along the outside edge of the gutter to the foundation nor erode the garden or lawn or when walking into the house we don't want to walk under a water falls.
Robert, there are at least 3 videos in this series that were filmed while it was raining. “Rain” or “downpour” should be in those titles if you search or browse through our videos on our channel @gutterguardsdirect. In some cases, there were heavy downpours. The only two systems with the drip edge were MasterShield and LeaFilter. Water does drip from the drip edge; however, not because it’s washing off the gutter cover. It happens because water is falling from the sky and has to go somewhere. What you describe as a concern generally wouldn’t be an issue with MasterShield and LeafFilter. There are instances when water can overwhelm a gutter guard, but that’s generally because the flow rate off a roof valley is significant enough to render any gutter guard and many gutters ineffective at handling a heavy volume of water.
@@gutterguardsdirect Thank you for your response, I would like to say that I was a MasterShield believer but when I had them put on my house, I realized that they had put slots in the front edge of the Gutter shield, they had not shown that in their advertisements. I was very upset that they had done this because the only shield that I saw advertised was completely covered with the mesh and now with these slots in the front edge, the roof grit can now go into the gutters and Roof grit is a big culprit, in clogging up a gutter. I did like the copper strips incorporated in the mesh so that algae will not grow with this copper infused. This fine of a micro mesh clogs up with algae and it is almost impossible to clean out of the mesh even if using clorox and high pressure water.
I'm sorry to hear that you've had issues with MasterShield. Are you referring to the weep holes near the leading edge of the gutter? Those are a necessary addition to allow water to go into the gutter prior to it dripping over the edge. This is an area where a lot of other gutter guards fail, frankly. Once the water moves past the screen, then it can drip from the edge or bottom of the gutters. While we see small debris sometimes get lodged in the weep holes, and some debris will get inside the gutter, it's never meaningful in our experience. Unfortunately, there's a lot of incompetency in our industry. Gutters are typically installed incorrectly. That's a problem well before many folks contemplate buying gutter guards. If the gutters are hung improperly, then water and shingle granules can accumulate in the gutters. If the gutters are not positioned correctly -- vertically -- on the fascia board, then a gutter guard may have too little or too much slope. MasterShield needs a good forward slope in order to work properly. It's one of the few gutter guards that performs well with a good forward slope. Here's another video we made on this topic that may be helpful: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BvIH-ep5aBQ.html We have seen plenty of good gutter guards fail, including MasterShield, LeafFilter, and LeafSolution. Sadly, most installers are interested in making a quick buck. The faster they can install it, the faster they get paid. Homeowners are left picking up the pieces. That's one of the reason we make these videos. There are lots of claims of #1 gutter guards from many companies. Even though it's not possible to have ten #1 gutter guards on the market, if the correct gutter guard is chosen for the environment, and it's installed properly, then you will be in good shape. No gutter guards is perfect, so it's important to find the right leaf guard for the job and make sure that the people who are installing it know what they're doing.
@@gutterguardsdirect Much appreciate the time you took to explain to me how MasterShield is good, and it really does all make sense and I did watch the RU-vid with the Link you had given but here is what I must say, and I am sure you will not like it but remember I have no reason to embellish because I do not believe in lying. I have this MasterShield on our house and I have Gutter Glove Pro on the Shop. In response to your comment on the slots created at the front edge of the MasterShield, I will tell you on the Gutter Glove Pro I have gone out to look how it was working when it was a downpour, I mean raining cats and dogs okay that is embellishing but people know what that means. I wanted to see how the Gutter Glove Pro was doing when this deluge was coming down, there was no water coming over the edge from the roof and this gutter cover does not have those slots incorporated into it. I must say that the company that makes Gutter Glove Pro makes a lot of different styles they make cheaper ones but I am not suggesting anyone to get those, I am saying to make sure you are buying the Pro only it is literally made like a Tank it has heavy extruded aluminum that will not warp or bend even if a branch should come down and hit the gutter it is not going to pierce the cover and then yank down a lot of the gutter. Remember I have had a lot of experience with gutters and have done huge amounts of research and I was one that really believed in the MasterShield until I found Gutter Glove Pro and there truly is no other one that comes close. No, I have no affiliation with this company but I am so impressed with their product and have it on our shop to prove just how good they really are.
I signed a contract for new gutters back in Oct and was informed that I would be contacted for a Pre- install Inspection. that was done within 2 weeks of the contract. I was told someone would contact me within 24-48 hours about when job could be started. Well I called the company as was told someone would contact me within 24 hrs. I waited a week and call Customer service and was told Maybe they were withing for the materials. Waited and other week ans was tol someone would contact me within 24 hrs. Nope didn't happen. Again I called and given the same per-written speech .. 24hrs here it is now Dec and nothing nadda, nix from this company
Leaffilter is not installed properly. It doesn’t sit that flat. Not only that it has a wicking effect so even if some debris is on it , water still goes through and no debris goes in.
Thanks for your comment. LeafFilter did a good job keeping debris from the inside of the gutters. Depending on which videos you watch, there were times when it had more or less debris sitting on top of it. It did a better job on the south side of the garage than the north side. In terms of installation, it was installed correctly. Not sure what you think the correct angle is, but we used to be a dealer of LeafFilter, and know what we were doing.
Gutter guards that slide under the shingles do not affix to the roof. The weight of the shingles is adequate to hold the gutter guards in place. Sliding gutter guards under shingles will not void roof warranties. Period.
It'd be good to know what types of tree canopy is above it. This way we know that the MasterShield isn't simply on a favorable portion of the roof... lol
There are at least 15 videos in this series. If this particular video doesn't show you, I'd recommend looking at some of the earlier videos to get a better perspective. If anything, the gutter guards that are farthest away from where Mastershield is located are probably in the best position because there are no trees directly overhanging the gutters at that end of the garage. Despite this, MasterShield still did the best job overall. It doesn't mean that it was perfect by any stretch. Other leaf guards had its moments in the sun, too. Since the test took place over the course of 12-months, we'd recommend looking at other videos to see how each did at different times during the year.
@@gutterguardsdirect so far from what I've seen the master shield look the best. Have you done an overall winner/recommendation? The master shield looks superior by far from the videos that I've seen. Does it void warranty to go under he shingles?
A local gutter guy calls what you show at 9:37 "Tobacco Juicing" That is why he recomends dark colors of gutters. As far as no maintenance there is no such thing. People should educate themselves. A good product will prevent cleaning out gutters but not cleaning OFF gutters. Much like washing off the dirt from your siding from time to time. To clean mine I Broom them off with a telescopic pole and gutter broom twice a year it takes a half hour out of my life. A friend of mine rigged up a lightweight plastic pipe and connects it to his battery powered leaf blower. Do your Homework BEFORE you Buy. Edit: Gutter size is also very important. When homes are built many times the builder will use the "good enough" approach In my current home the previous owner had a metal roof installed and did nothing about the 4 inch gutters. My gutter guy said he only installs 6 inch gutters for metal roofs and steep roofs.
You’re right, the water does look like tobacco juice! It is possible to get a gutter guard that you don’t have to blow or sweep off, but there are factors beyond product choice that will determine that. Chiefly, the proper type of gutter guard selected for the environment, and was it installed correctly?
After watching all these gutter videos, I'm starting to think that the best houses are built with two-foot overhangs at eaves and gables, hardscape/landscape features that can handle any amount of rainwater coming off the roof and drain it away from the foundation of the house without erosion, and NO gutters, downspouts or leafguards anywhere. And preferably no trees within half a mile either...
@@gutterguardsdirect I forgot to mention that it should also be located in Death Valley. (Rain is not a homeowner's friend, so why live anywhere that even HAS much of it, right?)
MasterShield is on both sides of the garage. So is LeafFilter and LeafLock/GutterLove. MasterShield is a consistently strong performer on both sides. LeafFilter and LeafLock gutter guards performed better on the south than north side.
@@gutterguardsdirect i didn't see the video detailing the info about both sides of the dwelling however good honest review and would like to hear more from you.
Unfortunately, salespeople and advertisements give people unreasonable expectations. Valley areas and tough environments like the trees shown here prove that no cover is without limitations. But I would much prefer cleaning of the top of a cover, or paying someone to do it, in just a few minutes compared to possibly hours digging the gunk out of a gutter. Usually in those environments the roof needs to be cleaned off as well anyway, so the gutter cover is more or less an extension of the roof cleaning.
You make some good points. Several covers that have debris on top still take in more water than they shed. Nothing will be 100% effective 100% of the time. However, there are a few covers that will get you closer to 100% than others. Not everyone can climb a ladder or pay for ongoing maintenance, so we’re highlighting what gutter guards work best in a tough environment.
That may be true if you have no gutters or live in an area without trees, but for the folks watching these videos, that’s generally not the case. That said, lots of gutter guards claim to be the “best,” so these videos showcase the best bet where gutter guards are necessary or preferable to regular cleanings.
Thanks for your question, Jody. In my opinion, all bets are off in the winter time. Any gutter guard can and will allow icicles to form. Much has to do with temperatures, how much snow and ice you get in your region and in what period of time; how well your attic is insulated, etc. Homeowners have resorted to installing heat tapes -- either inside their gutters or secured to the roof shingles or, perhaps, both. The issue with the heat cables is that the may not be powerful enough to melt that snow in all but a concentrated area, but it's worth a look if you cannot tolerate the presence of icicles. In other regions of the country, it's not unusual to shovel off the roof and gutters to prevent the build-up of snow and ice. We've written a few blog articles about snow, ice and ice dams. You can locate the articles at www.gutterguardsdirect.com/?s=icicles
Do you know what surgical grade stainless steel is? It's not a definition. It's a marketing term. Stainless steel is graded by numbers such as 304 and 316. Some micro mesh gutter guards are made with 304 stainless steel and others are made with 316. MasterShield, for instance, is made from 316, which is marine grade stainless that resists salt water environments, plus it has pure copper woven into the screen. Other gutter guards, such as Valor and HomeCraft, use the less expensive 304 steel which is not rated for marine environments.
We'll see if we can get our hands on it. From what I have seen, I wouldn't expect great things. It's just another gutter screen that sits flat to relatively flat inside the gutter. It may be fine if the trees are at a distance from your house, but if you have trees nearby, these systems tend not to work as well. We have tested several micro mesh and perforated aluminum gutter guards that also install within gutter, with little to no forward slope, and they're all subject to the same issues.
All gutter guards seem to me to be junk. All those catkins are piled up on nearly every guard you have there, and that really depends on wind and direction of wind and where the tree is at. There has to be a better way.
Those were mostly locust flowers. They have much the same effect as catkins because they clump together when wet. This is a tough environment and the effectiveness of the same gutter guards at your house may vary. If anything, it highlights that not all gutter guards work equally well and while they may look similar, they can perform quite differently.
@@gutterguardsdirect for someone living in an area with zero trees they dont need guards. For someone living in an area with pine trees a fine meshed guard helps a lot but if that same place gets really heavy downpours of rain the water will create water tension as it goes thru while the rest of the water flies off the side of the roof and destroys the foundation. Guards are almost a gimmick to be honest. Just clean the gutters every 6 months and save yourself the headache.
So this demonstrates that none of these systems work. You would have even more problems if there were valleys. Just makes it stop up in a different place. Get large downspouts and clean out twice a year.
100% agree. My home has large pines and oaks that shed constantly. I've tested ALL types of gutter guards available. Had best success with the mesh...until WINTER where I had constant ice daming. After all my trial and error I bough large mouth downspout funnels. These allow all leaves and pine needles to flow through my downspout and not collect in the gutter. I've only had to clean them twice a year! Before this I was cleaning my gutters ONCE A WEEK OR MORE...
I talked the sales person down from $8600 to $2000. What a scum bag!!!! After he tried to scam me out of thousands of dollars he said he wanted me to put a sign in my yard for three weeks and I was not to tell others what I paid, that I should tell them that I paid $5000.
@@pausqualinaveres-shands8625 you’re right, LeafFilter does have a slight pitch. The pitch on LeafFilter is fixed. The built-in pitch is reflected in these videos. In other words, because the pitch is fixed, it cannot be adjusted like gutter guards that fit under shingles or gutter guards that screw to the front lip and fascia board. Since LeafFilter sits on the gutter hangers or spikes within the gutter, the position of the spikes and hangers will determine the pitch, if any, beyond what is built into LeafFilter’s frame. The images of LeafFilter in this and every video utilized LeafFilter’s installation method with hidden gutter hangers that were clipped and secured over the back edge of the gutter. Every gutter guard in this series was installed per manufacturers guidelines. If it looks like LeafFilter is sitting flat inside the gutter, that simply highlights the forward slope difference between it and other products in the test that slide under the first course of shingles.
Whats to keep the gutters from filling up with dirt and shingle grits? Every couple of years I have to scoop out considerable goop. I can only imagine what it would be like after 10 years. Seems it would be very difficult to remove all these gutter guards for scooping out the gutters. Or impossible. Leaves will be prevented, but not the other stuff from what I can see.
Just so you know, you installed the LeadFilter product incorrectly, hence why you have a “shelf” system that is catching more debris than MasterShield. LeafFilter (when installed properly) should sit at a 8-10 degree pitch. Sometimes even more depending how heavy of a debris fall the individual customer gets.
For clarity, Gutter Guards Direct was a LeafFilter dealer for several years when LeafFilter was sold by a dealer network, so we know what we're doing. Every product tested was installed per manufacturers' guidelines. LeafFilter's pitch is built into the product. It's taller on the back than on the front of the PVC frame. The profile of the product determines the pitch. When LeafFilter rests on the spikes and ferrules or gutter hangers within the gutter, the pitch is further determined by how high the gutter guard sits on those support brackets. If the hangers are installed properly, we believe LeafFilter advertises an 11 degree pitch. We actually haven't verified it, but since this looks like it might become a recurring comment, we will. If the hanger is recessed into the gutter, not hung properly, or LeafFilter is installed on top of spikes/nails, which are rarely installed in a straight line since they are hammered or screwed-in free form, the slope could be more or less than advertised. We have actually seen LeafFilter with a negative slope -- pitched back towards the house on numerous occasions, so it's quite possible that it could be installed flat or worse. LeafFilter is one of a few gutter guards on the market where its ability to work properly is dictated by the position of the gutter hangers. That's potentially a huge disadvantage when compared to systems that slide under the shingles. The slope of gutter guards that slide under the shingles is determined by the roof pitch rather than the position of the gutter hangers. This is why most of the guards in the video have a significantly steeper pitch than LeafFilter, which is simply sitting on the hidden hangers inside the gutter. What you saw on video shows LeafFilter installed per manufacturer's guidelines. What it also shows is that it sits relatively flat when compared to other gutter guards on the market. This may be okay if there are few trees in a yard, but, as you will see in the videos, it's less than ideal in environments with a lot of trees nearby.
Derrek bullshit. I have crape myrtles around my house and the leaves and flowers being small mat down in the STEEP (40deg)valleys of my roof. I think they would have no trouble matting down on the 8 to 10 deg. surfaces of these leaf guards. So seeing lots of youtube videos confirms what I thought. Over rated junk.
Then y’all haven’t installed a leaf filter in a long time. They don’t use the gutters brackets or spikes anymore, they install their own to ensure the 11* pitch is always achieved.
That statement is 100% FALSE. Please do your homework before making baseless claims. If you want to learn more on the topic, visit www.gutterguardsdirect.com/customer-case-studies/will-gutter-guards-void-shingle-warranty/
@@gutterguardsdirect ,you're posting misleading content, call any of your local roofing companies and ask them if they will honor their roof warranty after some idiot gutter guard company installed gutter guards that go under the shingles, and see what they tell ya, then comeback and argue all you want and we'll see who's statements are false.
@@vonvolts1751 The roofing company that installed my new shingles several years ago just quoted me new gutters with rain drop guards (which slide under the shingle). No warranty issues from them.
Lol what I learn is that gutter systems are pointless. Just clean your gutters 2-3 times per year. Lol, all that money and you STILL have to clean the gutters
That’s fine if that works for you. Most of our customers have done exactly that over the years. But now they don’t want to do it; they’re too old, tired, or busy. Homeowners get gutter guards for a variety of reasons, including wanting to eliminate gutter cleaning altogether. It’s a personal decision. Thanks for your perspective!
It happens because water overflows the gutter guards and/or when water from the sky lands on the gutter lip/leading edge of the gutter guard and streams down the face of the gutter. The gutters that had more debris on the face of the gutter generally had more water coming off the gutter guard’s surface.
Such a long and dragged out video. I was exhausted just trying to find the guards I wanted to know about and I just see the front of the gutter of whatever date.
If you cannot see the top of the gutter guard you want because it’s buried under locust flowers and leaves, then you might want to keep shopping. The point of this and every video in the series was to show you what actually happened to these gutter guards in real-world conditions during a side-by-side comparison. Visit the manufacturers websites if you want to see pristine gutter guards. They’d be more than happy to show you the “before” photos.
@@gutterguardsdirect Alright thank you and I do appreciate you replying. All the gutters look the same, So which ones do you think are best, for your conditions? The last helmet one looks like a breeding ground for bees and others.
@@gutterguardsdirect I don't want the pristine gutter guards, I want to be able to clean them the least possible as I have recently had consistent back problems. Climbing on the roof to clean gutters isn't a normal day anymore.
@@inco-gneito7543 the best performing gutter guard in that test was MasterShield. It had the least number of locust flowers on the screen surface on both sides of the garage.
Don't purchase leaf filter North gutter guards Read the class action law suit against them Zelinski v leaf filter North They are responsible for damage done to people s house s
Any time you see a filter product (a product that the water goes through the product and the debris is filtered) that claims to be the best, you can bet they paid for that advertisement and made it look like a product comparison.
There is a lot of “pay for play” ratings and reviews, which is exactly what we began this series of tests. You can’t have nearly every micro mesh gutter guard #1. But you can have a #1. We wrote an article that dives deeper into this issue. Our findings show that popular publications, including This Old House, Architectural Digest and Forbes Magazines didn’t test a single gutter guard before rendering their opinions. In all likelihood, they never touched any of the products either! www.gutterguardsdirect.com/buying-guides-reviews/gutter-guard-reviews/
@@ALPHAOFSALES but that “comparison “ didn’t include all the products. All that crap is useless anyway, what matters is the warranty. Filter products don’t have a good a good warranty for a reason
@chuckkennedy7510 19 different gutter protection products in the article were tested. I know LeafFilter's warranty is a lifetime transferable warranty and offers a no-clog money back guarantee in writing. Is that a good warranty?
@@ALPHAOFSALES no, it means that when the filter plugs the homeowner has to get on a ladder and clean it, or pay someone to clean the filter. Why don’t I just pay someone to clean my gutters? No clog is a crappy guarantee used by crappy products that can’t do better
Thanks for your comment, Stephanie. As we’ve pointed out to others who have made the same comment, we were a dealer of LeafFilter several years ago. We installed it properly. The reality is that LeafFilter sits pretty flat in the gutter. It’s designed to sit on the gutter hangers, and it’s height is determined by the thickness of its vinyl frame. It is what it is.
@@stephaniecohen1413 Matt Kaulig bought the nationwide rights to LeafFilter in 2010 and replaced dealers within a year or two, so 2011-2012 is accurate.
@gutterguardsdirect there's ZERO dealers of LeafFilter, so you are lying. You clearly installed LeafFilter wrong. The frame has an 11° angle so it's impossible to lay "flat" on top the hangers.
I have crape myrtles around my house and the leaves being small mat down in the STEEP valleys of my roof. I think they would have no trouble matting down on the horizontal surfaces of these leaf guards. So seeing lots of youtube videos confirms what I thought. Over rated junk.
Thanks for your comment. "Overrated junk" is a bit of a strong term, but if you don't think they'll work in your situation, then you can keep cleaning your gutters. Valleys are a pain with or without gutter guards. You're complaining about them without any gutter guards. The likely improvement you'd see is that instead of the leaves getting trapped inside the gutters and building up into the valley, adding a cover may reduce the problem by allowing the leaves to shed from the valleys and not get stuck in the gutters. There are exceptions, of course, but it could help your situation if you find the right gutter guard for your environment.
@@gutterguardsdirect will do. 30 minutes 4 times a year is not a problem seeing how I would have to do it anyway to scrape the matted leaves of the guard screen anyway.
If you go to www.leaflock.com, you'll see that it is. However, we understand that there is a solid gutter cover on the market using the same name, and we're guessing that's what you installed.
Well, I hear no recommendation on which is best overall. The only difference I see is that MasterShield has little to no debris sitting on it. Is that the only difference? It only make sense that it would work better with nothing blocking the screen but you make no comments about it working best. So, what’s the point of your video?
That's the recommendation right there. All that material on the gutter is breaking down. When that happens it will start sticking to the surfaces. Creating a layercake of decomposing material. That's AMAZING how much more efficient the mastershield is. WOW
Thanks for your comment, Debra. The point of this series is to show how the gutter guards work over time. It’s not a sprint, but a marathon. If, however, you saw one system performing better in any given situation, you can assume that if it were on your gutters and installed properly, the gutter guard with the least debris or absorbing the most water would be most appropriate for your situation. Three gutter guards will be awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place later this summer after the tests conclude, but it is too early in the series to declare an overall winner. There are 4 seasons, and we’re still in spring/early summer in this episode. I hope that helps.
The reason we made these videos is to find out which works, if any. Clearly some work better than others. While you're entitled to your opinion, perhaps you missed the point of this series. If you watched more of the videos you would quickly see what works and what doesn't.
Few gutter guards are maintenance-free, which is one of the reasons we made these videos. That includes LeafFilter, the one you seem to be touting. Do you realize that LeafFilter is in the process of settling a class-action lawsuit where the company claimed that nothing would sit on the gutter cover screen? Yet, in most of our videos, debris sits on top of LeafFilter. There was very little time when that wasn't the case. But it's not the only gutter guard that had debris sitting on the screen for extended periods of time, so it's in good company.
That doesn't mean anything that stuff sits on LeafFilter! The mesh is surgical grade so the debris will NEVER stick to it and clog the holes! Once it rains and or wind blows it will blow the debris off of it. The water will still flow through the debris! The LeafFilter installed in Louisiana has a 11 degree slope and screws into the fascia right under the shingles so there is 100% a slope on LeafFilter!
Do you install or sell LeafFilter? LeafFilter does have a built-in slope. The slope is dictated by the thickness of the product at its rear and the thickness of the gutter guard at its front. The combination of that may be 11 degrees, but because it also sits on hangers within the gutter as its support system, it could just as easily be less or more than 11 degrees depending at what angle the hangers are installed. 11 degrees over the span of 5" or 6-inches is negligible. When compared to other products, such as MasterShield, which sits directly next to LeafFilter in these tests, and installs under the shingles, MasterShield sits at a ~32 degree angle, nearly 3X the pitch of LeafFilter. So, yes, 11 degrees is sitting virtually flat inside the gutter, and clearly is flat enough to consistently collect a lot of leaves and debris on top of the system.
Leaf filter is only installed at 12 degree pitch when using a receiver for half round or strap gutters on angled fascia. When installed into fascia it is installed at a near 45 degree angle.
![How are Consumer Reports Best Gutter Guards, LeafFilter & GutterGlove, Performing in Tests? [S1 E9]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
