Are DIY Gutter Guards a Good Idea?

Gutters are an essential part of keeping your home safe. They protect it from water damage by moving water away from your home after storms. In order for your gutters to do this effectively, you must also protect them from clogs, which can lead to costly damage. Gutter guards provide this protection by preventing debris from getting inside gutters and blocking water flow through them. But do you need to call a pro for this job, or can you DIY gutter guards?

Continue reading to find out how much you can expect to spend when you install gutter guards yourself, as well as the pros and cons of embarking on this project.

How Much Do DIY Gutter Guards Cost?

The cost depends on the type of gutter guards you choose. Here are the costs per linear foot for different types of gutter guards.

Pros and Cons of DIY Gutter Guards

As you might expect, like many other home improvement projects, you can save money by taking care of the labor yourself. What you don’t want to do is put yourself in a situation where you will ultimately need to call in a pro to fix a DIY job. Then you’d be spending your time on the DIY aspect plus additional money spent on calling a professional. Here’s what to consider before you decide if this is a good project for you.

Pros

DIY gutter guards can save money. If you’re a skilled DIYer, you may be able to install gutter guards yourself. Keep in mind that since this particular project needs to stand up to the elements, you want to ensure you have the know-how to keep gutter guards from blowing off during the next storm. As such, this is not the best project for homeowners who don’t DIY often.

The gutter guards may have simple installation. But that installation will depend on the type of gutters you have and the guards you choose. Some materials can be trickier to work with, so a professional may be needed to prevent damage to your gutters and roof. 

Gutter guards may reduce maintenance costs. DIY gutter guards are not a project you can just do and forget about: You have to maintain them regularly to ensure that twigs, leaves, and other debris don’t get stuck inside. But if you’re able to install gutter guards yourself, then chances are handling the maintenance won’t be a problem.

Cons

DIY gutter guards may lead to extra expenses. You may not have all the tools necessary to complete a DIY gutter guard installation, so that’s an added expense you may not have considered. Depending on the type of guards you get, you may need to buy tools as well as a ladder that’s tall enough to reach the gutters. 

DIY gutter guards can lead to costly mistakes. Although an experienced DIYer may be able to save money by installing gutter guards themselves, someone who doesn’t have as much experience may actually spend more money. If you make mistakes, you may need to buy additional materials or call in a professional, and that can get costly depending on the extent of the problem. Remember that gutter guards generally don’t have warranties, so replacement costs can mean the job ends up being more than professional installation would have been in the first place.

DIY gutter guards may have complex installation. While some styles of gutter guard have a simple installation process, others are more difficult to install.