We were contacted by a homeowner in Cincinnati in 2019 because the gutter guards they had installed on their home several years earlier were no longer working properly.
When we arrived, the home had old 6″ gutters with LeafFilter gutter guards. Both the gutters and gutter guards were in rough shape. While the gutters were correctly sized, we determined that moving to new 6″ gutters would improve the performance and the overall look of their home.
The LeafFilter gutter guards were a hot mess. The screens had separated from the frame in some places, and they were covered with leaves, debris, and moss in other areas.
Prior to installing LeafFilter, the homeowners had started with GutterHelmet gutter guards many years earlier. Due to the quantity, proximity and types of trees in their yard, they knew that a solid gutter cover was not the best choice for their environment. They liked the micro mesh concept, but realized that there were better options than Leaf Filter on the market.
We zeroed in on MasterShield because it would slide under the first course of shingles. The contrast between MasterShield and LeafFilter was stark, in this regard, because MasterShield would keep a nice forward slope to help drive off leaves and debris, whereas LeafFilter sat relatively flat inside the gutters. There were even spots around the home where LeafFilter was pitched backwards, towards the house, causing additional problems that MasterShield would easily solve.
We installed new 6″ gutters and MasterShield gutter guards on this home in October 2019. Exactly one year later, in October 2020, the homeowners contacted us again to say that they were getting a new roof due to a hail storm that had hit their neighborhood earlier in the summer. They asked if we would assess the gutters and gutter guards for damage and share our recommendations.
As it turned out, because they were getting a new roof and MasterShield had been impacted by the hail stones, we recommended that they replace MasterShield. The gutters had been well protected by the leaf guards, so we collectively agreed that the few pings and dings on the downspouts did not warrant a full replacement even though their insurance carrier was willing to pay for it. They kept the existing gutters and replaced the leaf guards.
While it was the 4th time this couple had replaced their gutter guards, they were so pleased with the performance of MasterShield that they asked us to install it a second time.
Installation Dates: October 2019 and April 2021
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Gutters: 6-inch Seamless Aluminum and 4″ x 3″ Downspouts (2019)
Gutter Guards: MasterShield micro mesh gutter guards (2019 & 2021)
Color: Clay
Project Cost: $7,700 (2019) and $4,850 (2021)
