In fact, there are many different types of systems that will still require maintenance and cleaning. For example, small hole gutter protection systems may keep out animals and large leaves, but can still allow finer debris like pine needles, dirt, and shingle grit in your gutters. Other systems may have the opposite effect. It’s important to know the pros and cons of each gutter protection system in order to make the smartest investment. Let’s take a look at what type of debris can get into your gutters with certain ineffective solution systems:

2. The
debris
Mold
Pests
Maple Spinners
Pine Cones
Dirt
Birds
Insects
Seeds
Plants
Seed Pods
Shingle Grit
Leaves
Pine Needles
Trees
Bees
Weeds

3. DIYGUTTER SYSTEMS

4. A homeowner installed solution, this is a foam or sponge material that is placed
inside your gutters, with the intent of allowing water to drip through while keeping
debris out. Unfortunately, foam gutter guards will trap airborne dirt and seeds, and
vegetation such as weeds, plants, and trees will grow with the abundance of moisture
held in the foam, making this gutter guard an ineffective solution.
Dirt Seeds Weeds Plants Trees Leaves MoldDEBRIS
FOAM

5. ATTRACT THE MOST
FOAMGUTTER GUARDS
MOLD

6. GUTTER BRUSH
Brush gutter guards are known to be an inexpensive, short-term solution that
homeowners can install themselves. These types of gutter guards are shaped like large
pipe cleaners and are meant to repel debris. However, brush gutter guards are known
to actually attract birds and other nesting animals, and trap large and small items such
as pine cones, leaves, maple spinners and pine needles in your gutters.
Pine Cones Leaves Maple Spinners Pine Needles Birds Shingle Grit InsectsDEBRIS

7. ATTRACT THE MOST
BRUSHGUTTER GUARDS
PINENEEDLES

8. This DIY product is typically made out of steel or aluminum. Their low cost and easy to
install appeal make them a common choice for homeowners looking for a DIY gutter
guard option. As a result of the larger openings, smaller debris items, anything that is
about the size of a dime, can enter and clog your gutters.
Pine Needles Seeds Insects Mold Leaves Shingle Grit Maple SpinnersDEBRIS
METAL SCREEN

9. ATTRACT THE MOST
METALSCREEN GUTTER GUARDS
MAPLE
SPINNERS

10. Although plastic screen gutter guards are easy to find and inexpensive, with their wide
openings, it’s nearly impossible to keep gutters clog-free. Almost every type of debris
can enter into a plastic screen gutter guard including leaves, pine needles, seeds and
insects. A plastic screen gutter guard is a low end solution and is not always the best
option for homeowners looking for reliable gutter guards.
Pine Needles Seeds Insects Mold Leaves Shingle Grit Maple Spinners DirtDEBRIS
PLASTIC SCREEN

11. ATTRACT THE MOST
PLASTICSCREEN GUTTER GUARDS
LEAVES

12. Small hole gutter guards address clog concerns since many small items are still able
to make their way into your gutters. Pine needles, shingle grit, seed pods, and dirt will
enter your gutter, making these types of gutter guards an unreliable gutter protection
system. In fact, homeowners will routinely have to remove these gutter guards in order
to clean out the debris that is trapped inside the gutters.
DEBRIS Pine Needles Seed Pods Mold Shingle Grit Dirt
SMALL HOLE

13. ATTRACT THE MOST
SMALLHOLE GUTTER GUARDS
SHINGLE
GRIT

14. PROGUTTER SYSTEMS

15. Professionally installed louver systems feature a large opening that runs the entire
length of the gutter guard. Though larger debris won’t find its way in, small items such
as pine needles, pests, insects and smaller debris can easily make their way inside your
gutters causing them to clog. Louver gutter protection installers also make no promise
that their gutter guards prevent ice damming.
DEBRIS Leaves Pine Needles Seed Pods Pests Insects Shingle Grit Dirt
LOUVER

16. ATTRACT THE MOST
LOUVERGUTTER GUARDS
SEED PODS

17. Reverse curve gutter guards feature a rounded hood covering for your gutter with a
large opening or channel that runs along the entire front edge of the gutter guard.
Reverse curve products rely on surface tension to work, and water is supposed to follow
the path of the curve of the hood into your gutters. If water adheres to a curve, so will
pine needles, leaves and other debris that will find their way into the open channel in
the front of the reverse curve gutter guard and into your gutters and downspouts.
DEBRIS Leaves Pine Needles Shingle Grit Dirt Insects Bees
REVERSE CURVE

18. ATTRACT THE MOST
REVERSECURVE GUTTER GUARDS
BEES

19. Micro mesh gutter guards are typically made of two main parts:
DEBRIS Nothing
An ultra-thin mesh material. A supporting frame.1 2
MICROMESH

20. Depending on the brand and quality of the micro mesh gutter guard you are
researching, the supporting frame can be made of multiple types of materials, from
plastic to metal to uPVC.
Despite the supporting frame of these types of gutter guards being manufactured
out of different materials, they all do one thing similarly – create a completely
sealed gutter system. That is what makes micro mesh gutter guards the #1 choice
in gutter protection.
NOT ALL MICROMESH GUTTER
GUARDS ARE CREATED EQUAL

21. ATTRACT THE MOST
MICROMESH
GUTTER GUARDS
WATER

22. LeafFilter™
is the only micro-mesh product on the market that does not install under your first
row of shingles. Installing under your first row of shingles creates two problems:
It voids your roof warranty.
It can create a very steep slope to your gutter protection,
causing serious water runoff.
1
2
LeafFilter™ is installed on your existing gutters, and is manufactured at an 11 degree pitch,
which has been proven to be the perfect angle for maximum water collection and ensures that
you do not experience any water runoff.
LEAFFILTER™ ELIMINATES BOTH OF THESE ISSUES