Best Gutter Guard Alternatives for Colorado Homes

Gutter protection companies often advertise maintenance-free systems, but several of the most heavily marketed designs struggle in Colorado and Wyoming weather. J Bretz, founder and CEO of Excel Roofing Inc. of Englewood, Colorado, breaks down the four main types of gutter protection on the market, what each one does well, where each one falls short, and the alternatives Excel Roofing recommends instead.

The Four Types of Gutter Protection on the Market

J Bretz groups gutter protection into four basic types:

• Fine micro mesh screens, usually a steel mesh over a plastic frame, such as LeafFilter
• Solid metal caps, also called reverse curve covers, such as Gutter Helmet
• Segmented metal caps and expanded metal screens, which have openings across the top
• Foam inserts that are pushed into the gutter

Each type handles rain, debris, snow and ice differently, and those differences matter more in Colorado and Wyoming than in milder climates.

Micro Mesh Gutter Guards (LeafFilter): Pros and Cons

Micro mesh gutter guards use a fine steel mesh, often supported by a plastic frame. This is the design LeafFilter uses.

Pros

• The mesh is fine enough to keep nearly all dirt and debris out of the gutter.
• It lets a moderate to heavy flow of water into the gutter during downpours.
• It works on most existing gutters. Homeowners should not accept a sales pitch that says new gutters are required.

Cons

• Plastic does not hold up here. Plastic frames and other plastic gutter accessories warp and crack in the high ultraviolet environment of Colorado and Wyoming, which shortens their life.
• Debris mats on top. The tight mesh catches fine dust, silt and asphalt shingle granules. Most micro mesh designs form a tray across the top of the gutter, so leaves and pine needles collect there and form a mat.
• Yearly cleaning. Micro mesh guards need cleaning about once a year, so maintenance-free claims are not accurate. J Bretz has seen many of these systems clogged by debris sitting on top.
• Cost. Customers have told Excel Roofing that LeafFilter costs about $45 per linear foot, or roughly $90 for a two foot section. J Bretz considers that outrageously expensive.

Solid Metal Caps (Gutter Helmet): Pros and Cons

A solid metal cap, the Gutter Helmet type of gutter protection, covers the entire top of the gutter. Rain is supposed to roll over the curved front edge and be pulled into the gutter by surface tension.

Pros

• Solid metal caps are very strong and can carry heavy snow and ice loads.
• They are rigid enough that a ladder can lean against the front.

Cons

• Water overshoots in heavy rain. In moderate to heavy downpours, which are common in Colorado and Wyoming, water tends to shoot right off the front instead of entering the gutter. The heaviest rain is exactly when gutters need to work best, because a heavy water load next to the foundation is what leads to foundation damage.
• Pine needles still get in. Needles find their way into the front opening.
• Visible roofline. Solid caps change the look of the roofline and can be seen from the ground.
• Icicles and worse ice dams. Solid caps are notorious for forming icicles off the front. They do not create ice dams, but they make them much worse, especially on north and east facing slopes that build ice during heavier winters. Heat cable is often offered only after homeowners complain, at an added cost that can reach thousands of dollars.
• Warranty risk. Some versions tuck up between the first row of shingles and the starter shingles, which voids the shingle manufacturer's warranty.
• Cost. Based on customer reports Excel Roofing has seen, Gutter Helmet type gutter protection costs upwards of $60 per linear foot. J Bretz advises never paying $60 per linear foot for gutter protection.

Foam Gutter Inserts: Skip Them

Foam inserts are pushed into the gutter to block debris. J Bretz's advice is direct: never buy them. They are junk.

The Gutter Guard Alternatives Excel Roofing Recommends

Instead of LeafFilter style micro mesh, Gutter Helmet style solid caps or foam, Excel Roofing recommends one of two types of gutter protection, chosen based on the trees around the home.

For Homes With Pine Trees: Segmented (Perforated) Solid Metal Caps

A segmented metal cap looks similar to a solid metal cap, but the top is cut with a pattern of openings. Those openings catch much more of the water flow, so rain goes into the gutter instead of over it, and water also enters at the front edge through surface tension. Pine needles may build up a little and some may stick in the openings, but they tend to fall off rather than form a mat.

For Homes With Deciduous Trees: Expanded Metal Gutter Guards

For homes with only deciduous trees, such as ash, maple and oak, J Bretz prefers expanded metal gutter guards. Leaves gather on top and usually blow off with the wind, so cleaning may only be needed about once a year. Homeowners can also see what is inside the gutter through the screen.

Expanded metal is also do-it-yourself friendly. It is sold at big box home improvement stores and tucks easily into existing gutters, which makes it a good fit for homeowners who like working on their homes and saving money.

Does Too Much Dirt Get Through?

A common objection to both alternatives is that the larger openings let more dirt and roof granules into the gutter. J Bretz disagrees. He has almost never seen a gutter completely clogged with silt and dirt, and considers it very rare if it happens at all.

For Homes With No Trees: Skip Gutter Protection

If no trees surround the house, J Bretz recommends not bothering with gutter protection at all.

Why Heat Cable Belongs in a Colorado Gutter Protection System

The biggest advantage of expanded metal and segmented metal caps is the openings across the top. Excel Roofing can zip tie heat cable directly to the top of the guard and run it into the gutter itself. Excel Roofing typically sets up the system this way:

1. Heat cable is zip tied across the top of the gutter protection and run into the gutter.
2. The cable runs through the downspout.
3. A plug is left coming out of the bottom of the downspout and tucked up so no one trips on it.
4. When icicles or ice form in the gutters during winter, the homeowner plugs it in and the cable clears the ice from the gutter system.

Adding heat cable during the initial gutter protection installation does not add much to the cost. Excel Roofing especially recommends it on north and east facing slopes and on any home with a history of ice dams or icicles on the gutters. It is also the step many gutter protection companies leave out of the original sales pitch.

Gutter Protection Comparison for Colorado Homes

Competitor costs are as reported by customers to Excel Roofing and may vary by home and market.

How to Choose Gutter Protection for a Colorado Home

1. Look at the trees. No trees: skip gutter protection. Deciduous trees only: expanded metal. Pine trees: segmented (perforated) solid metal caps.
2. Check the north and east slopes. If those slopes have a history of ice dams or icicles, plan for heat cable at installation rather than paying more to add it later.
3. Avoid plastic. Plastic frames and accessories warp and crack under high altitude sun.
4. Keep good existing gutters. Most gutter protection works on existing gutters, so do not accept a pitch that new gutters are required.
5. Protect the shingle warranty. Make sure nothing gets tucked between the first row of shingles and the starter shingles.
6. Compare the price per linear foot. Never pay $60 per linear foot for gutter protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best gutter guard for Colorado homes?

For homes with deciduous trees such as ash, maple and oak, Excel Roofing recommends expanded metal gutter guards. For homes with pine trees, Excel Roofing recommends segmented (perforated) solid metal caps. Both let heavy rain into the gutter and allow heat cable to be zip tied on top for winter ice.

What is the best gutter guard for pine needles?

A segmented (perforated) solid metal cap works best for homes with pine trees. Pine needles may build up a little or stick in a few openings, but they tend to fall off rather than form a mat, and the openings still let heavy rain into the gutter.

Are micro mesh gutter guards maintenance free?

No. Fine micro mesh catches dust, silt and shingle granules on top, and leaves and pine needles then form a mat over it. J Bretz of Excel Roofing says micro mesh guards need cleaning about once a year, and he has seen many of these systems clogged by debris sitting on top.

Do gutter guards cause ice dams?

Solid metal caps do not create ice dams, but they make them much worse and are known for forming icicles off the front, especially on north and east facing slopes. Expanded metal and segmented metal caps allow heat cable to be zip tied on top, which clears icicles and ice when it is plugged in.

Can heat cable be added to gutter guards?

Yes. Heat cable can be zip tied to the top of expanded metal guards and segmented metal caps and run into the gutter and down the downspout, with a plug left at the bottom of the downspout. Adding it during the initial installation does not add much to the cost.

Do I need new gutters to install gutter guards?

Usually not. Most gutter protection, including micro mesh and expanded metal, works on existing gutters. Homeowners should not accept a sales pitch that says new gutters are required before gutter guards can be installed.

Do I need gutter protection if there are no trees near my house?

Usually not. J Bretz of Excel Roofing recommends skipping gutter protection entirely on homes with no trees around them.

How much do gutter guards cost per linear foot?

Customers have reported to Excel Roofing that LeafFilter costs about $45 per linear foot and Gutter Helmet type gutter protection costs upwards of $60 per linear foot. J Bretz advises never paying $60 per linear foot for gutter protection. Expanded metal guards are sold at big box home improvement stores for homeowners who want to install them themselves.

Get Gutter Protection Advice From Excel Roofing

Excel Roofing has helped homeowners across Colorado and Wyoming protect their homes since 1993, from roofing to gutters, gutter protection and heat cable. For more answers on roofing and gutter products, explore the Excel Roofing Learning Center. To have someone look at a specific home, call Excel Roofing or use the easy online scheduler to pick a day and time that works best.

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