Leaf Guard Types in East Texas

Leaf Protection systems come in a variety of types, here are the ones most common in East Texas and how they compare to each other

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Debris Type, Roof Pitch, Roof Material and Budgets all are criteria in choosing the right Leaf Protection System for your home.

BEST OPTIONS

These 2 products are the BEST Leaf Protection options in East Texas, and are included as options on all quotes by The Gutter Guy.

Premium Stainless-Steel Mesh

Leaf Blaster Pro
Leaf Blaster Pro

Standard Punched-Type

Gutter RX
Gutter RX

Leaf Guard Types Explained

Most leaf guards fall into just a few different categories:

  • Expanded Mesh

  • Stainless-Steel Mesh

  • Punched

  • Adhesion or Helmet

  • Combination Guards

  • DIY Products

Each have different characteristics that make them fit different situations. In East Texas, we have a few things that determine what types of guards work best like,

  • Intense Rain

  • Lots of Sun

  • Pine Straw

COMPARISON

Click on each type to see pictures, descriptions, rating and Prices

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  • Slotted Guard (EZ Sweep)

    Slotted Type guards are a solid sheet with pressed slot openings. These slots allow a lot more flow that drilled type guards, but also allow more debris in, and are more prone to damming when debris gets lodged in the slots. Maintenance is a bit more aggressive on these guards, and needs to be done a couple times a year to keep those slots clean.

    PRICE: $$
    AESTHETIC: 3
    FLOW SPEED: 4
    PINE STRAW: 3
    BROAD LEAF: 4
    POLLEN: 2
    MAINTENANCE: 2+ per year/ brush out slots

  •

    Drilled Type Guards (Smart-Flo)

    Drilled Type leaf guards are one of the best all-around values for leaf guards, though they do have some decent downsides. These guards are a solid sheet of metal with a pattern of holes drilled in them. This is great for strength, and works rather well for keeping debris out of your gutters. However the flow speed is very low because so much of the surface area is solid. That means these guards cause a considerable amount of “tiger striping” or stains down the front of the gutter where excess water sheets over the gutter. This guard does not work well in heavy flow areas like valleys, and cannot be used with a metal roof.

    Maintenance is fairly minimal and can be done by simply using a leaf blower once a year to keep the surface free of debris.

    Our quotes will have this type of guard listed as SmartFlo

    PRICE: $
    AESTHETIC: 5
    FLOW SPEED: 2
    PINE STRAW: 3
    BROAD LEAF: 4
    POLLEN: 3
    MAINTENANCE: Annual, Blow-off with leaf blower.

  •

    Expanded Mesh Style (Roll Lock)

    Expanded Mesh style leaf guards are some of the most common options, mainly because they’re cheap. This style has endless brands, colors, shapes but all are relatively equal in function. These guards have great flow speed, but they have their flow speed at the cost of allowing nearly every type of debris into your gutter system. These guards really only work for broad leaf trees, as ‘caterpillar pollen pods’, pine straw and needles all go right through the large holes and dam up the leaf guard. Maintenance on these guards is therefor high, and needs to be done twice a year. the maintenance involves removing a section of leaf guard at every end, corner and spout and scooping out the debris; as well as brushing out all the material lodged in the holes.

    PRICE: $
    AESTHETIC: 2
    FLOW SPEED: 5
    PINE STRAW: 0
    BROAD LEAF: 3
    POLLEN: 5
    MAINTENANCE: 6mos Remove/clean/Brush