Does the idea of a great weekend involve getting your hands dirty with home improvement projects? Or maybe it’s conquering the next DIY furniture build? The opportunities are practically infinite.
If you’ve landed on this page, we’re thinking you’re smart, resourceful, and excited about all the DIY tasks on your to-do list. Maybe you’ve even got a repertoire of home improvement skills you put to use every weekend.
If you’re a DIYer and you’re considering do-it-yourself gutter guards as one of your next home projects, you’ve come to the right place. DIY gutter protection is certainly a worthwhile consideration.
Gutter guards can protect the beauty and integrity of your home. The right gutter guards will minimize clogged gutters, enhance water drainage from your roof to the ground. They can prevent structural and aesthetic damage to your roof and the exterior of your home. You can actually keep your home structure safer by adding gutter guards to your existing gutter system.
The benefits of gutter guards are clear. It’s time to add gutter guards to your home gutter system. With your know-how, it makes sense that you’d consider DIY gutter protection. But what exactly does DIY mean here? Can you really install gutter guards to your existing gutter system on your own?
Well, we’re happy to say that do-it-yourself gutter protection is a real thing! You are certainly not alone in your interest, as plenty of handy homeowners consider this option every year. Still, we’re talking about the integrity of your home. There are some very important notes to consider. We’ve put together some information to help you decide if DIY gutter guard installation is right for you.
A DIY Gutter Guard You Can Trust
First things first — what are your options for DIY gutter guards?
MasterShield offers some of the most innovative and highest quality products on the market. However, MasterShield Gutter Guards remain a dealer-installed system. Don’t get too bogged down with that news.
MasterShield inventor Alex Higginbotham has created a DIY gutter guard that may be just what you are looking for. This uniquely designed gutter guard is called GutterLove™. The design for this do-it-yourself gutter guard is based on Higgenbotham’s original vision for MasterShield Gutter Guards. It incorporates some elements of the patented technology of MasterShield Gutter Guards, like the expanded metal and micro-mesh, that make our premium gutter guards stand out.
While it doesn’t have all the bells and while you’ll find in the typical MasterShield Gutter Guard system, the GutterLove™ gutter covers do stand out from the rest of your DIY options. If you are thinking of doing it yourself, we wouldn’t recommend anything else.
The Best Do-It-Yourself Gutter Guards
Some gutter guard designers and manufacturers are trying to convince homeowners that it only takes stainless steel and a filter to make gutter guards worthy of protecting their home.
But we know that filters haven’t accomplished anything on their own that offers quality, long-term protection. Remember gutter screens? You probably don’t, because they failed as gutter protection. Now, take that same screen, make it out of better material, add more threads to shrink the openings, and call it a filter. Is it going to work any better? Absolutely not. We have something better to offer you.
Alex Higginbotham’s technology is not just based on having a stainless steel filter. Yes, we’re saying that the DIY GutterLove™ gutter guards may be more effective than your other options on the market. While it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles found in MasterShield Gutter Guards, Alex Higgenbotham’s DIY gutter guard design does have a few unique features his earlier technology didn’t have. This version brings his expanded metal and micro mesh concept to a whole new level.
Here’s an example of why this new technology is more effective. If you’ve spent any time with our online resource bank at MasterShield.com, you’ve probably learned that the oils that leach from roof shingles frequently clog gutter filters. Alex Higgenbotham’s GutterLove™ DIY gutter guard, like MasterShield Gutter Guards, offers features in the product design to self-clean roof oils.
These two products — Gutter Love™ and MasterShield Gutter Guards — are at the top of our list as we present these pros and cons of DIY gutter guards for you.
Before You Decide
Even with such a great option at your fingertips, we have a few expert notes to offer before you make the decision to install this gutter guard yourself. It can be difficult to get it right. Let’s dive into some of the questions you might be thinking about with this decision. First up, explore with us the challenges of DIY gutter guards.
Cons of Gutter Guard Self-Installation
Installing gutter guards yourself isn’t necessarily an easy task, and there are some important things to consider before you make your decision. Based on our experience in the gutter guard industry, we’ve gathered these three most important points we want to share with you.
- Product Limitations
We’ve already shared that even GutterLove™, the advanced DIY gutter guard with the innovative technology of Alex Higgenbotham, just isn’t as advanced as MasterShield’s professionally installed version. For example, in addition to doing their job of filtering out debris and preventing gutter clogs, MasterShield gutter guards incorporate copper to eliminate the growth of living organisms on your gutter guards or in your gutter. - Novice Mistakes
There’s plenty you’ll need to pay attention to when you set up your gutter guard. For example, how will you pitch the gutter guard to accommodate the angle of your roof? It’s easy to make mistakes with any project. You’ll probably learn a lot as you go. It’s important to remember that mistakes happen. An unintended mishap could impact the functionality of your gutters or gutter guards. It could affect the aesthetics of your home. Or it could create the opportunity for damage to your home. - Inexpert Analyses
There’s no replacing the experience and knowledge of a gutter expert. In all the steps you’ll take from purchase to installation, you may not even know what you should be thinking about. As a gutter guard novice, some aspects are bound to elude you. It can be tricky to truly compensate for the trained eye and practical experience of a gutter guard tradesperson. - Unexpected Expenses
While at first it may seem much cheaper to install your gutter guards yourself, the costs can add up. You may need to purchase new supplies like a ladder (tall enough for your tallest gutters), tools for installation, and protective equipment like gloves — all in addition to the gutter guards themselves. Putting your own time and energy into this project can add up. And all of this isn’t even factoring in the costs of mistakes, repairs, and damages in the case of improper installation or subpar products.
Pros of Gutter Guard Self-Installation
Even with the obvious challenges to DIY gutter installation, we can see how it might be a good idea for an experienced DIYer like you. Here are some of the reasons we agree you may want to go the DIY route for your gutter protection.
- New Technological Advances
It’d be much more difficult for us to encourage folks like you to take on their gutter guard install on your own if you didn’t have the option of purchasing an innovative option like GutterLove™ with its expanded metal and micro-mesh technology. Because these gutter guards incorporate Alex Higgenbotham’s technology, you can be confident your gutter guards will do their basic job and more. These are the best DIY gutter guards on the market.
Celebrated characteristic of the DIY GutterLove™ include- Added channels throughout the length of the gutter guards for improved support
- Multi-point installation for pitch alignment and extra stability
- Stainless steel micro-mesh filter to keep your gutters clog-free and the waters flowing.
- Potential Savings
If you’re a frequent DIYer, you probably have a good idea of how much money you save with every DIY project. Hopefully, by taking on the work of your gutter guard purchase and installation, you’re eliminating what you’d pay for a quote, delivery, and installation labor, along with the other business costs you’d incur if you hire a contractor or installer to do it for you. Upfront savings like this are an incentive for lots of DIYers. - Handle Maintenance
An ever-present plus to any DIY project is in the name itself: DIY. You’ve done it! When you’ve put the work in on a home project, you’ve gained valuable experience and practice. Then you’ll be more likely to be able to tend to any issues that arise and take care of regular maintenance needs as well. As you probably know well, the DIY spirit builds on with every project.
Time to DIY?
We’ve shared with you some of the most important things to think about with this DIY decision. From product design to expenses, you’ve got a good idea of what you’re taking on if you decide to DIY.
Now, it’s your turn to answer some questions —
Are you handy with a drill and snips? Would a home improvement project you do from the top of a ladder work for you? Are you ready to get up close and personal with your gutter? Then GutterLove just might be what you’re looking for.
Not quite ready to take on this DIY project? Don’t worry. We can help you figure out whether an alternative like MasterShield’s Gutter Guards is a bitter fit for you. Contact us today to find out.
