Do Gutter Guards Go Under Shingles
The installation process is one of the most common concerns among homeowners who are considering having gutter guards installed. In many cases, this is because a poor gutter cover installation can affect the validity of your roofing warranty. At Gutter Helmet of Minnesota, we understand this concern and our gutter guards are compatible with almost all types of roofing systems. We work closely with many different roofing manufacturers to ensure our installation methods will not void their warranties, and our gutter guards can be installed either over or under shingles, as per factory specifications.
Shingles Extend Too Far
Too often, to compensate for lack of drip edge or flashing, shingles are installed too far forward, covering what is supposed to be the open trough of your new gutter. In some markets, youll see roofers drop shingles down into the gutter. When exposed to all of the water that can flow through a gutter your shingles will wick water up like a straw. Not good to start off with a new roof and gutters with this problem built in.
Shingle manufacturers say to use a 1/4- to 3/8-inch shingle overhang over the eave . Weve seen other references that suggest extending the shingles a bit more than the manufacturers suggest to compensate for wavy eaves, but they do not indicate extending more than 1 inch over the eave. For more information on this, see our post on shingle overhang.
How Do Gutter Guards Work
Gutter guards work by keeping various types of debris from interrupting the water flow in your gutter system. The gutter guard system fits inside or on top of your existing gutters and uses a filter to prevent large or small debris from clogging gutters and downspouts. Although gutter guards dont eliminate the need for cleaning, they significantly reduce the frequency.
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The Importance Of Gutters
The quality of your roofing materials is only as good as your gutters. Seriously. If your gutters are clogged, then your roof is in danger of getting damaged. Gutter guards were designed to add an extra level of protection for your roof.
Maintaining your gutters is one of the best ways that you can ensure your roofs longevity. Plus, by investing in a quality gutter protection product and having a professional come to install it, you dont have to worry about your roofing warranty.
Even though most roof warranties have language that prohibits the installation of foreign objects on the roof, gutter guards are specialty products that are designed to protect your roof and are acceptable additions to your roof .
How To Install Gutter Guards
Gutter guards can save homeowners a lot of time and energy attempting to unclog gutters. Once gutter guards are in place, they offer tremendous benefits to the home however, the installation takes some work. If you want to install your gutter guards, you must have some knowledge about this process. Gutter guards come in several different types, and knowledge of these types and general best practices to install gutter guards is essential.
In this guide, we will show you:
- How to choose the right gutter guard
- How to prepare to install gutter guards
- Tips for installing gutter guards
Finding thebest gutter guards for your home can help you avoid costly water damage and ensure proper draining through your gutters. If you are tired of cleaning your gutters after every storm, we have all the information you will need to help get you through this process.
Top picks from our guide to the best gutter guards of 2022
- 4.8 out of 5 stars
- Provides free estimate
- 4.6 out of 5 stars
- Patented stainless steel screen
- 4.4 out of 5 stars
- Lifetime no clog warranty
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Buying The Wrong Size
This is pretty basic but is something that many homeowners forget. It is critical that you purchase the properly sized gutter guard for your gutter system. Purchasing a gutter guard that is too big will cause you to stuff it into the gutter, and thereby it just does not help maintain the proper flow of water throughout the gutter system. If you purchase a gutter system that is too small, then it will allow dirt and grime into the gutter system.
+why Should You Choose 7
Various reasons make 7-inch gutter guards a wise choice. First of all, you should choose 7-inch gutter guards because they are highly durable and provide an enormous capacity to handle more rainwater. Hence, you ensure the safety of your gutter and roof systems, as well as the structure and the foundation of your house. Also, 7-inch gutter guards enable water re-usability by collecting a large amount of rainwater that can be used in gardens and yards. Last but not least, they successfully keep leaves and debris away from your gutter system so that they prevent clogging and over floating.
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How Long Do Gutters Guards Last
About 20 years. Some manufacturers have warranties from 20 years, such as GutterRX, all the way to 30+ years. This variation will depend on the material the gutter guard is made of . The quality of your selected gutter guard system can fluctuate the lifespan expectancy. If your gutters and gutter guards face a lot of debris, water, and moss build up, this could limit how long the gutter guards last.
Can Gutter Guards Cause Leaks
A gutter guard can cause leaks if you fail to maintain or install it correctly. You must clean your gutter guards regularly or your gutters could get clogged and damaged. Manufacturers and professionals recommend that you clean your gutters at least every 2 years if you have gutter guards.
Gutters with no protection are much more maintenance-intensive and you need to clean them twice per year. You should clean your gutters more than every 2 years even with gutter guards if you notice problems. This is especially true if you have several trees around your home that are close to your roof.
Even a fine mesh gutter guard cant protect your gutters entirely, but they can certainly help. Improper installation is the easiest way for a gutter guard to cause leaks. That is why professional installation is a great idea if you can afford the average $1,400 cost and have limited experience with gutters.
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Are Gutter Guards Worth The Money
Gutter guards are worth the money if you want to reduce how often you clean your gutters. Over time, your gutters will naturally experience clogs from pine needles, tree branches, leaves, and other debris. You could experience the following problems if you dont have a gutter guard or dont clean your gutters regularly:
- Roof leaks when the water doesnt drain properly
- An insect infestation in the moist debris found in your gutters
- Foundation damage from water collection
While gutter guards still require occasional maintenance, they dont have to be cleaned as much as unprotected gutters, which makes them a good solution for someone who doesnt want to climb a ladder to clean out their gutters a few times every year.
Why Is 1/4 To 3/8 Inch The Suggested Shingle Overhang
Shingle manufacturers want roofers to stay within this range so that it will reduce the likelihood that wind could catch the shingle edge and lift it, which can damage the shingle.
Weve seen references in some professional publications that like to extend the shingles to compensate for wavy eaves, but they do not suggest more than 1 inch over the eave. Thats not too much of a difference from the manufacturers specifications.
Too often, leaf gutter guard installers see conditions where roof shingles extend even furtherby an inch or two. Sometimes, in the South, youll see shingles touch the bottom of the gutter.
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How Far Down Should Gutters Be From Shingles
The gutters should be installed against the edge of the fascia and extend 3 to 4 past the shingles. The problem with many roofs is that the shingles and the gutter sometimes meet with barely an inch to spare. Many flat roofs or roofs with a steep incline or valley will not have a sufficient gap to place gutter guards without interfering with the shingles.
The shingles and gutter are too close if there isnt a space of about an index finger between them. You will not be able to attach the guard directly to the gutter. Instead, you will have to put the gutter guard under the first row of shingles.
Putting the gutter guard under the first row of shingles elevates the shingles off the roof more than they were when installed. This elevation allows water to sneak in under the shingles. When you see mounds or bumps on the shingles, this means that the shingles were not pressed firmly back in place after adding the gutter guard, and there is now water damage under the shingles.
What To Consider When Installing Gutter Guards On Shingle Roofs
We explain why our Triple-G gutter guard is usually the best option for roofs with slate, asphalt, wooden and terracotta shingles.
In Australian roofing, the word shinglesis used to describe roofs with small, overlapping rectangle-shaped tiles that normally lay flat. The most common shingles in Melbourne are slate shingles, which are made from stone, though occasionally roofs will also have terracotta or wooden shingles. Top quality slate shingles can last hundreds of years, requiring less maintenance than other roof types. However, installing a gutter guard on them can be tricky. While shingle roofs may be durable when untouched, they are quite delicate once other fittings come into play. During the gutter guard selection and installation process, care must be taken, and one must be mindful of the special requirements of shingle roofs.
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What About Those Brands Which Claim To Keep Debris Out
They may. However, the material and design which makes that possible will also work to keep airflow and sun out. If debris gets in, if there are seams in your gutters, or the guards get damaged, moisture will remain trapped. The combination of moisture and a small but of debris can result in mold growth. With no easy way to see it, you may never know its there.
How Are Gutter Guards Attached
Gutter guards are generally attached with screws and the installation is easy. You can slide gutter guards over a gutter without any effort in most cases as long as it fits well. Gutter guards vary from brand to brand, but they often come with screws and or rivets to secure them in place.
Simply attach the screws or rivets at the allotted points on your gutter guards to attach them. It is important to secure gutter guards with screws, rivets, or nails to get the best performance. Otherwise, debris and leaves could easily get into your gutter which would render the guard useless.
Some gutter guards dont require nails or screws at all which saves time on installation. Always secure gutter guards with nails and screws if the manufacturer suggests it, however. Otherwise, the gutter guards could potentially blow away with the wind.
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Do You Still Need To Clean Gutters With Gutter Guards
Rarely. A good gutter guard should work for many years with zero maintenance. Experts would recommend checking on your gutter cover status every couple years to ensure the effectiveness.
The better the system, the less frequent the cleaning. However, smaller debris may build up over time in your gutters and would need to be hosed out.
Is The Leaffilter Gutter Guard Brand Any Good
The LeafFilter brand is not as good as it claims. It claims that youll never have to clean your gutters again, but many consumers find them to be overpriced. Its sales are also gimmicky. Consumers filed many complaints against the company at the Better Business Bureau. It will also gather debris and act as a shelf that you must clean off.
The biggest problem that the LeafFilter has is in the winter when the snow melts. Water overflows from the gutters and then pours down below before refreezing. While the company claims that this is due to misalignment of their product, the fact remains that this is a slip hazard and may expose you to civil suits if someone slips on the ice and injures themselves.
We suggest that you use the following brands as alternatives:
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Flat Leaf Gutter Guard Installations
When shingles extend this far, what can happen to systems that sit flat or virtually flat on your gutter? If the shingle isnt trimmed back as part of your installation, then you can lose more than half of the water receiving area of the product, rendering it much less effective than it could be or was designed to be. You may also wind up with water overshooting the system in a heavy downpour.
In many cases, the shingle will extend over the leaf gutter guard and not come in contact with the system. This can create another set of issues. Debris, especially small debris, can get trapped under the shingle, where wind cannot blow it away. When it rains, this debris gets wet and stays wet longer than it would if it was exposed on the front of the system. Water will want to wick from this debris into the bottom of the shingle, onto your fascia board, or into anything else its touching. If your roof underlay is roof felt, it can cause it to deteriorate and lead to dry rot.
Leave Installation To The Pros At Leaffilter Gutter Protection
As you can see, gutters and gutter protection systems are more complicated than you may think. Your gutters have to be properly inspected and free of holes and sags prior to installation. Plus, installing the wrong type of gutter guard can create even more issues and headaches down the road.
Get total debris protection with LeafFilter Gutter Protection and let our pros handle it all. Our installation team will clean, realign, and reseal your gutters, so they are in peak performance prior to installing our award-winning gutter protection system. Learn more about LeafFilter and request your free estimate today.
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The Problem With Gutter Guards
In the Pacific Northwest with all of our tree species, we get a mix of broadleaf varieties and fir trees. That means plenty of leaf and tree litter which can easily get through the gutter guards or screens and more than can completely cover them so water cannot get through.
While there are varieties of guards which will help prevent leaves from covering them by using a curved design, that design creates a different problem. Small twigs and other debris can create a dam by building up against the raised portion of the guard.
Even if the gutter guards work as intended, there is still the issue of moss and algae growth. As long as a small amount of leaf material makes its way into the gutters, it creates the perfect growing environment for lichen and moss. Left unchecked, it will continue to grow. As it does, it can block downspouts or break free and clogged them.
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Is Leaf Guard Any Good
LeafGuard frequently touts its Good Housekeeping seal, and generally the the company has satisfied customers. That said, we believe the warranty is less complete than on other competing systems. LeafGuard comes with a limited lifetime warranty that protects the paint finish, but otherwise just a clog-free guarantee.
Get The Essential Equipment
You will need a ladder to install guards safely. You can consider a ladder stabilizer suppose you are working from a ladder extension. It is essential that you feel comfortable on the ladder before you start using it. Besides, it is important to have essential tools such as a tape measure, screw gun, and more. The type of gutter you install determines the tools you might require.
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What Are The Best Gutter Guards On The Market
The best gutter guards on the market are high-quality options made from durable metal, such as stainless steel. Micro-mesh gutter guards offer optimal filtration from various sizes of debris and are considered the most effective. Investing in a professionally installed micro-mesh guard provides the best long-term protection for your home.
Gutter Guards Will Need Maintenance
Many gutter guard manufacturers like to tell customers their products never need maintenance after installation. Thats misleading information, to say the least because youll still have to maintain your gutter guards even if you dont need to clean your gutters as often as you used to.
Debris may clog the gutter guards screening device, keeping water from getting in the gutter. In this event, your gutter guards will require cleaning, especially after a massive storm. While gutter guards to an excellent job of keeping debris out of your gutters, debris can still back up over the gutters. This can cause water to back up under the roof.
Another potential issue with gutter guards is exaggerated ice problems because melting snow and ice build-up and reacts differently with gutter guards than with traditional gutters. These issues may lead to water leaks and, again, emphasize the importance of regular gutter guard maintenance.
Gutter guards may also create basement leaks. Rainwater which isnt contained by existing gutters spills over the edge of the roof to the ground nearest the house. Water dumped near the home makes its way quickly to the foundation and into the basement through porous concrete and masonry, deteriorated mortar joints, and more.
Checking and maintaining your gutters guards every spring and fall is a good practice for preventing roof leaks on other issues.
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