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LeafGuard and LeafFilter are two of the most popular gutter guard companies on the market, but depending on your needs, one might be better than the other. To help you choose the right brand, we’ve put together a thorough comparison guide. We compared the two companies on several key factors including the benefits, drawbacks, warranties, customer reviews, and product specifications of both LeafGuard and LeafFilter so that you can make an educated decision on which of these products fits your needs as a homeowner the best.
LeafGuard vs. LeafFilter: Fast Facts
LeafGuard and LeafFilter are two of the most recognizable name brands in the gutter guard industry. The main difference between LeafGuard and LeafFilter is their design. LeafGuard is a reverse curve or surface tension design that replaces your current gutters. LeafFilter is a micro-mesh screen that fits over your existing gutters. While their approaches to gutter guards differ, they both offer impressive products, strong services, and reasonable prices. Here is a quick rundown of each company:
| Fast Facts | LeafGuard | LeafFilter |
|---|---|---|
|
Gutter Guard Options |
Aluminum reverse curve |
Stainless steel micro-mesh |
|
Warranty |
Transferable Lifetime |
Transferable Lifetime |
|
Price Range |
$10–$35 per linear foot |
$15–$45 per linear foot |
|
State Availability |
36* |
47** |
|
Years in Business |
30 |
18 |
|
BBB Score |
A+ |
A+ |
|
Read more |
*LeafGuard is not available in Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, West Virginia, or Wyoming.
**LeafFilter is not available in Alaska, Arizona, and Hawaii
LeafGuard vs. LeafFilter Benefits and Drawbacks
LeafGuard and LeafFilter offer sturdy and long-lasting gutter guards with transferable lifetime warranties. However, both companies have limited state availability. Overall, LeafFilter’s micro-mesh guard is more aesthetically pleasing, while LeafGuard is more sturdy and long-lasting.
LeafGuard Benefits and Drawbacks
LeafGuard has an impressive warranty, sturdy construction, and a scratch-resistant coating. However, it has a smaller operating area and a bulky design.
| Upsides | Downsides |
|---|---|
|
✔ Includes transferable lifetime warranty |
✘ Doesn’t provide cost information online |
|
✔ Uses ScratchGuard® paint for increased durability and longevity |
✘ Operates in only 36 states |
|
✔ Offers a sturdy, one-piece reverse-curve design |
✘ Reverse curve design is less attractive than other designs |
LeafFilter Benefits and Drawbacks
LeafFilter backs up its stainless steel micro-mesh guard with a transferable lifetime warranty and a convenient, professional installation process. However, it only operates in 43 states, and its lifetime warranty has some limitations.
| Upsides | Downsides |
|---|---|
|
✔ Offers a high-quality micro-mesh gutter guard |
✘ Price makes it a big investment |
|
✔ Includes a transferable lifetime warranty |
✘ Includes a number of limitations in its warranty |
|
✔ Performs a detailed, convenient installation |
— |
LeafFilter
LeafGuard vs. LeafFilter Gutter Guard System
Both LeafGuard and LeafFilter are established companies with high-quality gutter guard systems. Whereas LeafGuard has a one-piece, aluminum reverse-curve gutter guard, LeafFilter offers a three-piece, stainless steel micro-mesh system.
LeafGuard’s system is supported every two feet by hidden hangers and filters up to 32 inches of rain per hour. It also uses downspouts that are 30% larger than average, allowing them to carry more water during heavy downpours. Both companies pitch their guards flush with your roof, blending them seamlessly with your home. However, LeafGuard’s overall design is more distracting and noticeable than LeafFilter’s.
Neither LeafGuard nor LeafFilter provides pricing information online, which is standard practice for gutter installation companies. These providers will offer you a quote after conducting an inspection of your home that includes measuring your gutters. You can expect pricing to align with the average cost of gutter guard installation, totaling between $900 and $2,000.
LeafGuard vs. LeafFilter Product Specs
LeafGuard and LeafFilter’s gutter guard systems both protect your home from sticks, leaves, and other debris, though LeafFilter’s micro-mesh design is better for small debris such as pine needles. See the specifications for each provider’s gutter guards below.
LeafGuard Product Specifications
- Aluminum reverse-curve: LeafGuard offers a one-piece aluminum gutter guard with a reverse-curve design. Its system can handle up to 32 inches of rain per hour. Aluminum is sturdier and longer-lasting than other gutter cover materials such as foam or brush.
- Custom-fit: LeafGuard custom-fits its gutter systems to each home.
- Hidden hangers: LeafGuard’s gutter guards are supported every two feet by hidden hangers and fitted to your roof pitch. Additionally, the company mounts its gutter guards away from your roof shingles to avoid damage that could void your roof warranty.
- ScratchGuard® paint finish: LeafGuard uses a ScratchGuard® paint finish that prevents chipping, peeling, and cracking.
LeafFilter Product Specifications
- Steel micro-mesh: LeafFilter uses 275-micron, surgical-grade, stainless steel micro-mesh. This material doesn’t rust or erode and is compact enough to allow surface tension to draw water through. LeafFilter’s micro-mesh screen is designed to block even small debris such as pollen and shingle grit.
- uPVC frame: LeafFilter makes its frames from a durable, lightweight material called unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC) that won’t warp or bend over time. The frame also has a built-in pitch, so the gutter guard can be installed to fit seamlessly with the angle of your roof.
- Hidden structural hangers: LeafFilter uses hidden hangers to fasten its gutter cover to your fascia board, the edge that runs along your roof. This provides stability while keeping LeafFilter’s guard from being an eyesore.
LeafGuard vs. LeafFilter Installation Process
As the first step of LeafGuard’s installation process, a licensed technician will visit your home, do a walkthrough, and provide a free, detailed estimate. You’ll then select an installation day with the company.
LeafGuard’s installation team will start by disassembling your old gutters. Next, they’ll use a specialized roll-forming machine to form your custom gutter guards on-site. The team will insert patented hangers two feet apart and connect your gutter system to your fascia board. They’ll also measure each gutter’s pitch to ensure efficient water flow. Finally, the team will attach downspouts to your new gutter system. Once everything is installed correctly, LeafGuard will clean your property and remove all equipment and debris.
LeafFilter follows a similar process. After a free inspection, you’ll schedule an installation day. A local team of professional gutter contractors will clean your existing gutters and install new ones if necessary. They’ll then ensure your gutters have the correct pitch and are properly sealed and aligned before installing LeafFilter’s guards. Like LeafGuard, the team will clean up any debris from the installation.
The installation process may take anywhere from a few hours to a full day for both companies.
LeafGuard vs. LeafFilter Maintenance and Cleaning
Gutter guards significantly reduce how often you have to clean your gutters, but we recommend you check them annually. You may also need additional maintenance if you experience an extended period of inclement weather.
Though LeafGuard’s gutter guards work in up to 32 inches of rain per hour, you may experience overflow if rainfall exceeds this. If you live in a cold climate, it’s also possible that snow will accumulate, leading to ice dams and icicles if excess water freezes. You can prevent this by using a broom to push snow off the top of your gutter guards.
Similarly, wet debris may get stuck on LeafFilter’s gutter covers during heavy downpours. You can wait for it to dry and fall on its own or use a blower or broom to knock off the debris. You may have to clean LeafFilter’s guards more frequently because they block more debris than LeafGuard.
LeafGuard vs. LeafFilter Warranty
LeafGuard includes a transferable lifetime warranty with its gutter and rain-carrying accessories. If your LeafGuard gutter guard blisters, flakes, chips, cracks, peels, rots, rusts, or experiences other structural deterioration, the company will cover repairs, replacement, and cleaning. However, this is only if the damage results from manufacturing defects or ordinary wear and tear. Your guards must also have been installed to LeafGuard’s specifications, and you must have kept up the cleaning methods described in your warranty.
LeafFilter similarly offers a lifetime transferable warranty. However, it includes some significant limitations. The company doesn’t cover damage to gutters, fascia boards, roof substrate, or surfaces caused by gutter guard installation, nor incidental damage from ice dams or ice flows. The warranty is also void if the LeafFilter product sustains damage from structural changes, such as roof adjustments, adjacent trees or plant life, or any uncontrollable acts of nature, such as storms. Modifying or altering your guards after installation may void your warranty.
Because both of these warranties are transferable, they increase your home’s value, guaranteeing gutter guard protection for future homeowners.
LeafGuard vs. LeafFilter Customer Responses
Both LeafGuard and LeafFilter have positive reputations on popular customer review sites such as the Better Business Bureau and Google. Many LeafGuard reviews praise the company’s professional sales reps and high-quality products, but others mention steep pricing and difficulty scheduling maintenance appointments.
Many LeafFilter reviews applaud the company’s thorough installation process, high-quality products, and overall professionalism. Critical reviews mention confusion about estimates and receiving higher pricing than expected.
Read a mix of reviews for both companies below.
LeafGuard Reviews
“Beautiful gutters. Very knowledgeable installers. Detailed and friendly. Careful to explain what they were doing and didn’t mind you keeping an eye on them! They ARE expensive gutters but seem to be quite maintenance free.” —Meredith R. via Google Reviews
“The salesperson was very well-trained, knowledgeable, [and] patient. They provided a very competent installation team the very next day after signing the contract. The manager took the time to call after the installation to make sure I was satisfied. I would recommend them to anyone having issues with gutter and leader leaf problems—you will be satisfied.” —Patricia Iacobelli via Google Reviews
“We had an 8 a.m. install scheduled for a Friday morning, they called at 9:52 a.m. stating they were caught up somewhere else and would call back with an ETA. Around 5 p.m., we still didn’t have anyone show up, and we still never received a call back, so we had to call them. A courtesy call apologizing would have been better than nothing. They said they would come out Saturday morning, which they did.” —Kristy McMaster via Google Reviews
“Please be informed that this company installed LeafGuard gutters on my home and was WAY overpriced. I made the mistake of not getting a couple more estimates…my fault. I looked into it more after the fact, and found out the price I paid was ridiculous.” —Monica Palmieri via Google Reviews
LeafFilter Reviews
“Great product and a good experience overall. From meeting with the representative from LeafFilter all the way through the installation, they provided a great experience. We were particularly impressed with the installation, as the crew was very efficient and very thorough. They handled every detail well; worked very hard; were extremely pleasant; and even made improvements to our existing gutter during the installation process.” —Richard Rose via Google Reviews
“Very pleased with the installer’s professionalism. He explained all the details of the installation. I especially appreciated his very courteous interaction with me. By far the best!” —Felix Mancuso via Google Reviews
“We had a leaf filter salesman come to our house to give us a price. We agreed upon the price, signed and set up an installation date and time, June 1, between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. At 12:30 I called Sam to let him know the installer hadn’t shown up yet, but got his voicemail and left a message. He never returned my call. We called their main number, and they informed us installation was scheduled for June 2, 8 – 12.” —Dave Colbert via Google Reviews
“I purchased Leaf Filter in 2018 based on the fact that I would receive a free lifetime warranty on any blockage or cleaning of these filters. I had these installed on a new home, and I find after 2 years that the asphalt shingle stones have blocked a lot of the screens causing water to overflow over the gutters. I called to make a service appointment and was told it would cost me $95 dollars for this service.” —Terry via Google Reviews
Our Recommendation for LeafGuard vs. LeafFilter
LeafFilter offers an efficient, aesthetically pleasing gutter guard ideal for homeowners interested in maintaining their curb appeal. You may have to clear out buildup more often because its design blocks more debris. However, LeafFilter combats ice dams and icicles better than LeafGuard. If you’re more concerned about sturdiness and longevity than appearance, LeafGuard is a solid choice.
Gutter Guards FAQ
Does LeafGuard or LeafFilter get clogged?
Both LeafGuard and LeafFilter gutter guards are designed to avoid clogs and come with a no-clog guarantee. However, both are also susceptible to issues due to inclement weather and heavy rainfall.
What is the best material for gutter guards?
The best material for gutter guards depends on the type of debris your home experiences, but micro-mesh and surface-tension gutter guards provide the best overall results. These types of gutter guards are more effective at blocking small debris like pine needles and require the least amount of maintenance and gutter cleaning compared to brush and screen gutter guards.
Does LeafFilter prevent ice dams?
LeafFilter does not prevent ice dams entirely. However, its micro-mesh gutter guard is more effective at preventing them than a reverse-curve guard like LeafGuard’s.
Why are clean gutters important?
Cleaning your gutters is important because rainwater won’t drain properly if they get clogged by leaves and other debris. This causes water to overflow from your gutters, which can lead to water damage to the interior and exterior of your home, roof, and foundation.
How We Chose the Top Gutter Guard Providers
We researched and analyzed dozens of gutter guards and gutter guard companies to create an in-depth review methodology. We formulated a rating system based on the factors homeowners find most important. We evaluated each provider’s gutter guard design and aesthetics, service offerings, customer service and communication, quote process, warranties, and financing options.
We created a separate rating system for DIY-installed gutter guards sold on retailer sites. We evaluated these guards based on their quality of materials, aesthetics, communication, warranty, customer reviews, and cost.
We evaluated each provider’s reputation using independent, third-party sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Google My Business pages. For products, we analyzed the customer reviews on whichever online retailer primarily hosts the product.
