Gutter guard
Also known as: leaf guard, gutter screen, gutter cover
Cover installed over gutters to keep leaves and debris out while allowing water through. Various types (mesh, screen, foam, reverse-curve) with different effectiveness and cost.
Gutter guards are protective covers installed over gutter openings to prevent leaf and debris accumulation while still allowing water to flow into the gutter. The goal is reducing or eliminating the need for routine gutter cleaning.
Main types: micro-mesh (very fine stainless steel mesh, most effective at fine debris exclusion, $7-$25/linear foot installed); screen guards (perforated metal or plastic screens, mid-range effectiveness, $3-$8/linear foot); foam inserts (open-cell foam pushed into gutter, lowest effectiveness and shortest lifespan, $1-$3/linear foot); reverse-curve (water rolls around a curved cover and into gutter; expensive and requires specific roof pitches, $20-$40+/linear foot).
For gutter cleaning operators, gutter guards are both an opportunity and a threat. Selling and installing guards is high-margin work. But guards reduce future cleaning revenue from the same customer. Most operators position guards as appropriate for specific situations (heavy tree coverage, multi-story homes hard to access) rather than universal upgrades. Even with guards installed, periodic inspection and cleaning of guard surfaces remains necessary every 1-3 years.
Related terms
Downspout
Vertical pipe carrying water from gutters to ground level (or extension piping). Common failure point — clogs, disconnections, and damaged extensions cause foundation and landscape water issues.
Ice dam
Ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof, blocking meltwater from draining and forcing it back under shingles. Causes major roof and interior water damage if not addressed.