Buying Guides & Reviews
STOP: Don’t Hire a Gutter Contractor Until You Ask These 5 Critical Questions
When inviting a gutter contractor into your home, it’s natural to ask: How long has your company been in business? Are you a member of
You love being a homeowner, but hate cleaning your gutters. You may be hands-on, but you may be sick of taking your life into your hands every time you get up on the ladder. You don’t really want to pay for gutter guards right now, but you sure as thunder don’t want to pay for new guards and new gutters and interior repairs and foundation repairs because rainwater goes where it shouldn’t. You may not claim to be an expert in gutter guards, but you do know the previous company just didn’t land the plane.
So why is it so hard to find a company around Columbus that can install gutter guards the right way the first time? I suspect it’s because most of them don’t specialize in gutter guards, don’t specialize in gutters at all, haven’t been in the field for long, or have the wrong definition of a successful job.
To most companies, a good job is where they sell you the priciest gutter guards on the lot, they bang out the job quickly, and you call them in a couple of years for extensive repairs. To us, success means we install gutter guards that you forget about, because they just work, and you don’t need us again any time soon unless you buy another house.
If that describes your view on gutter guards, then we’re similar. The only difference is that I and my crew have installed gutter guards here in Ohio since 1996, and know what’s needed to meet just about any gutter goal you’ve got. I got into the gutter guards industry all those years ago after meeting a patent attorney who invented a gutter guard. After installing his leaf guards on my first home, I was so impressed by how well the gutter covers worked on my home that I decided to help other homeowners solve the same problems. I learned that the right gutter guards can add years to your home’s life expectancy (and maybe yours).
We install the finest gutter guards in Central Ohio, including in Columbus, Dublin, Hilliard, Upper Arlington, Clintonville, Grandview, Worthington, Powell, Lewis Center, Westerville, Blacklick, Gahanna, New Albany, Pataskala, Granville, Newark, Pickerington, Grove City, Plain City, Delaware, Galloway, Choctaw Lake, London, West Jefferson, Marysville, Apple Valley Lake, Sunbury, Galena, Reynoldsburg, Groveport, Canal Winchester, and Obetz.
Our selection of gutter guards and gutter systems includes everything you’ll need to keep the water away and put the ladder away. Yes, that means (for one thing) that we also install and repair gutters. If there are underlying problems with your gutter system, especially those that make it tough to install the right gutter guards, we can install or repair your gutter system as needed.
You can dig around on our site to find out more about why our gutter guards are the best in Ohio (or anywhere). Or you can go ahead and contact us for a free estimate at your Columbus-area home.
Gutter guards are designed to keep leaves and debris out of your gutters. Many of this issues featured on this list can easily be solved by installing the correct type of leaf guards.
However, with so many leaf filters on the market, it’s important for you and us to understand your particular environment and situation.
What works well for your friend, relative, and neighbor may not work well for you because of the different types of trees in your yard, the size and configuration of your gutters, and the style of your home.
Gutter Guards Direct specializes in helping you pick the best gutter guards for your home. We offer several types of leaf guard systems at different price points, including Gutter Rx, LeaFree, LeafLock and MasterShield micro mesh gutter covers.
Picking the best gutter guard for your environment is often the difference between keeping you off the ladder and prolonging a seasonal chore.
Give us a call at 614-356-8164 if you are interested in fixing your gutter and water problems once-and-for-all.
Gutter Guards Direct offers 5-inch, 6-inch and 7-inch gutters installation, gutter repairs and tune-ups in conjunction with our gutter guards installation services.
Poorly functioning gutters commonly stem from age, being too small, and gutter installation issues.
If your gutters are old, they may leak, they may have pulled away from your house, or they may have sustained storm and hail damage.
Your gutters may be nearly new and still not function properly. Unfortunately, this is a common problem. Improperly installed gutters, which we estimate occurs up to 90% of the time, is a leading cause of basement flooding and drainage issues.
Gutter cleaning is critical to maintaining a healthy home. Clogged gutters are a leading cause of foundation damage, wood rot, water in basements and crawl spaces.
Clogged gutters occur when leaves, twigs, and tree seeds enter the gutters. Rainwater pushes the leaves and debris towards the downspout openings.
A few large leaves may be all it takes to clog downspouts. Oak tassels, maple seeds and pine needles can also easily clog gutters and downspouts. In either event, water will quickly accumulate inside gutters and overflow to the ground below.
We offer free gutter cleaning and a gutter tune-up with every gutter guard installation purchase.
Poor foundation drainage is generally easy to fix.
In most cases, it’s simply a matter of adding downspout extensions to move water farther away from the foundation wall. This is a quick, economical, and effective way to fix the problem.
In more extreme situations, it may require sloping the ground away from the foundation wall. This can be accomplished by adding soil, landscaping materials and waterproof membranes to prevent water from seeping into the ground around your home.
Water in basements often occurs when gutters are not functioning properly. Two common reasons why you may have water in your basement are because you have clogged gutters and your gutters were installed improperly.
When water cannot exit the downspout, it can take just a few minutes it to overflow the gutters and land on the ground. When the ground becomes saturated due to excessive water, rainwater seeps through your foundation walls and enters your basement.
Basement flooding also occurs due to poorly planned and implemented gutter installations and when gutters have pulled away from your house. In either scenario, water cascades over the gutters, in between the fascia board and gutters, and lands on the ground below.
Before hiring an expensive basement waterproofing company, call us at 614-356-8164 for a free gutter inspection. It will potentially save you thousands of dollars and can be an easy and effective way to dry out your basement.
While we don’t offer basement waterproofing, we’d recommend that you have your gutters inspected by a professional prior to hiring a basement waterproofing company.
Water in your basement is often caused by clogged gutters, shoddy gutter installation and repairs, and improperly sized gutters.
Fixing your gutters often also fixes basement flooding and costs a lot less than basement waterproofing.
We do not offer foundation repair services; however, we can help move water away from your home’s foundation in order to minimize the chances of water seeping into your basement and crawl space.
While foundation cracks may occur because of water, it is more likely a result of the foundation settling. Foundation crack repair can seal the cracks to prevent water infiltration, but simply moving water away from your foundation may have a similar benefit at a fraction of the cost.
Water can easily discolor and damage brick, stucco, cement and wood siding. This often occurs when gutters are clogged and not functioning properly.
In some cases, the gutters are not entirely at fault. You may also require metal kick-out flashings that can help divert water away from the sidewall and direct it into the gutter.
Have your gutters checked, fixed or replaced prior to fixing damaged brick, stucco and siding.
Excessive moisture and water cascading down your home’s exterior walls can lead to the buildup of moss and mildew on walls, brick facades, and siding. Potentially harmful black mold can easily form in interior spaces such as basements and behind drywall due to excessive humidity and poor ventilation.
Inspecting your gutters and making sure they are functioning properly can help remediate these issues.
We offer wood rot repair when replacing gutters and installing gutter guards.
Excessive moisture is often to blame for wood rot, termites and carpenter ants. We typically see wood rot that is caused by leaking gutters and roof shingles that were not installed properly.
If left unchecked, excessive moisture will cause wood rot. Furthermore, wet wood attracts termites and carpenter ants, which will bore through, nest in and destroy fascia boards, sub fascia and rafter tails.
Mosquitoes nest, breed and multiply in standing water. Clogged gutters are a breeding ground for mosquitoes. You must remove standing water in order to solve the breeding problem.
Regular gutter cleaning or investing in a good gutter guard installation is the best way to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your gutters.
Bees and wasps often look for places to nest in sheltered areas behind open gutters. For instance, if there are small cracks and openings behind the gutters into your attic space, bees will often nest in those areas. In some cases, they build massive hives above soffits and inside attics without the homeowner’s knowledge. It is also common to find bees and wasps nests on the underside of solid leaf guards.
Squirrels forage for food inside open gutters. They also use gutters as a highway to access interior spaces. Squirrels will return to the same spaces throughout their lifetime. They will chew through wood and metal to access interior spaces. Installing gutter guards is an effective way to permanently lock squirrels out of your gutters and home.
Birds nest in open gutters, but they’re more likely to nest inside gutters that have a solid gutter cover already installed. If birds can find openings into gutters — generally at the end caps and in small openings at the front of the gutter — they will build nests inside and above the gutter floor. Rainwater flows under the nests while birds lay and hatch eggs. Once birds leave their nests, the nesting will break down and clog downspouts, causing headaches for homeowners.
We thoroughly clean your gutters and downspouts and replace gutters when we’ve determined they’re beyond their useful life.
We use levels to make sure gutters are sloping correctly towards the downspouts. Did you know that gutters are installed incorrectly about 90% of the time?
In order to stop the drip, drip, drip that often occurs when sealant breaks down, we reseal all the end caps and miters to ensure a drip-free experience.
Installing new gutter guards with the proper forward slope, in order to effectively shed debris, is the final step in the process.
What I really liked the most about Gutter Guards Direct was that Johnathan wasn’t trying to sell me one solution; he was upfront with pricing and did not use any high pressure sales tactics. He simply gave me the quote and told me to contact him if I decided to go forward with anything.
The job was done in a timely manner. I’m not qualified to evaluate the quality of work done because it’s far from my expertise, but he warranties his work and I am confident that my gutters will stand the test of time!
Jason K. | Dublin, Ohio
I previously used Gutter Guards Direct for installation of a new gutter system in 2019. During the original quote, I asked Johnathan to quote me for gutter guards along with the gutters, so I knew how much I would be looking at in the future, if I chose his services again.
Johnathan did not pressure me into bundling services and that lack of pressure was what got the initial sale. After seeing the quality of work done on my gutters, I knew that I would be a repeat customer once I saved up. Even after 6 months in between services, Johnathan honored the original contract price for gutter guards. I also needed pressure washing services because I had some mold growing on my siding; I contacted Johnathan and he said he also provided this service. The cost for pressure washing was within my budget, so I decided to go ahead and bundle this with my gutter guard install.
His crew did and amazing job and I will no doubt hire Gutter Guards Direct in the even[t] that I need gutter repair / house washing in the future.
Jason K. | Dublin, Ohio
Entire process was pleasant. Owner and crew were professional, knowledgeable and experienced. Great communication. Highly recommend!
Dotty K. | Grove City, Ohio
Johnathan Skardon (the owner) worked hard with me to design appropriate solutions, and he spent a lot of time making sure everything was right before work began. He and his small crew are well-experienced, and care about doing quality work.
Daniel B. | Westerville, Ohio
They installed [LeafLock] gutter guards on my house. They cleaned out the gutters before installation and completed the installation quickly. The guards are working very well.
Karl P. | Grove City, Ohio
The range of solutions and honest and direct nature were the tipping point for me. Installation was completed in a day and was done well.
Matt H. | Westerville, Ohio
From the quote experience through job completion, Gutter Guards Direct was most professional and did everything they were hired to do, and then some. We are totally pleased with everything they helped us with, and will hire them again with pleasure.
John M. | Columbus, Ohio
Gutter Guards Direct provided a fair estimate without the “high pressure” sales tactics employed by the other companies we contacted. Their product was the best fit for our project. The installation performed exactly as expected. I recommend Gutter Guards Direct.
Scott M. | Columbus, Ohio
I felt very comfortable working with the company the work they did on my house. I felt my house was in good hands giving me piece of mind. Their presentation of the product to be used and the installation process was very thorough. I highly recommend this company.
Robert P. | Dublin, Ohio
Very professional and do extremely good work. They treat the customer with a lot of dignity and respect. They solved our basement water problem!
Vallie C. | Columbus, Ohio
We service homeowners throughout Central Ohio, including near you in Columbus, Dublin, Hilliard, Upper Arlington, Clintonville, Grandview, Worthington, Powell, Lewis Center, Westerville, Blacklick, Gahanna, New Albany, Pataskala, Granville, Newark, Pickerington, Grove City, Plain City, Delaware, Galloway, Choctaw Lake, London, West Jefferson, Marysville, Apple Valley Lake, Sunbury, Galena, Reynoldsburg, Groveport, Canal Winchester, and Obetz, Ohio.
Yes.
If you plan to live in your home for 3-years or more years; if you are regularly cleaning or paying someone to clean your gutters, then installing gutter guards is a good investment.
First and foremost, gutter guards are designed to keep your gutters flowing. Effectively moving water away from your home’s foundation is critical for its overall health.
Poor water management can damage landscaping, cause soil erosion, and lead to water in basements. Basement flooding and excessive moisture causes mold, ruins carpets, drywall, trim, furniture and personal items. Basement flooding is disruptive and costly to remediate.
According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, more than 164,000 ladder fall emergency room treated injuries are reported in the U.S. annually. A hospital stay, after a ladder fall, will be more painful and costly to your health and wallet than installing gutter guards.
Gutter guards — in conjunction with properly functioning gutters and drainage systems — are a cost-effective way to ensure the overall health of your home and personal well-being.
Yes.
That’s a qualified yes. Tree types, gutter sizes, and home design are factors we use to determine the best gutter guards for your home.
If you live in the woods or you have pine trees nearby, that will require a solution such as a micro mesh gutter guards.
If trees are some distance from your house and leaves occasionally blow into your gutters, then a basic perforated aluminum panel may suffice.
The key is understanding your environment and picking the best gutter guard for the job, which is why we analyze several factors prior to recommending gutter guards for your home.
We focus on fixing water problems not selling products. We offer a variety of products and services that allows us to customize a solution for your particular need.
Leaf Filter, Leaf Guard and Gutter Helmet are solely focused on selling a product, and they use price as their leverage. In other words, they’re product pushers not problem solvers.
By contrast, we offer a 7-step assessment to help determine the best gutters and gutter guards to resolve your issues, and we make recommendations that will fix your gutter and water problems once-and-for-all.
Properly functioning gutters with a correctly specified gutter guard is the first step to keeping water out of your basement and interior living spaces.
Water in basements, wall and ceiling leaks are often caused by gutters that are not working properly. We can likely fix water leaks altogether by correcting common gutter problems and installing gutter guards that will work best in that environment.
As we say, start high and work your way down. Odds are that fixing your gutter issues will also solve your water leaks. Correcting gutter problems is more effective and less expensive than hiring a basement waterproofing service.
That’s a good question that has a nuanced answer.
Gutter guards are designed to improve water management around your home. By keeping your gutters free-flowing, you will minimize the chances of damage.
Typical damage from clogged gutters includes wood rot, damaged and discolored gutters, siding, wood, foundation cracks and water in basements. These issues are expensive to fix and could have been avoided altogether with a gutter guard equipped to handle the trees in your yard.
Good gutter guards systems that keep you off the ladder will also keep future homeowners off the ladder. Not only will you get the benefit of clean, low maintenance gutters while you live there, but you can advertise the fact that you have gutter guards when you sell your house. This will be more appealing to future homeowners because it is one less chore to contend with.
We have met few homeowners who enjoy gutter cleaning. We have also met some homeowners who have suffered serious, life-changing injuries by falls from ladders.
It’ll translate into more money in your pocket because you will have more free time to work, enjoy hobbies and travel. Plus, it will provide peace-of-mind and protect your well-being.
With so many gutter guards on the market, it is important to pick the right gutter guard for your environment. Gutter guards are made from plastic, PVC and aluminum. They are available from retailers, gutter contractors, and gutter guard dealers like ourselves.
Gutter guards are available in different styles, including perforated aluminum panels, solid gutter covers and micro mesh screens.
Knowing what is the best gutter guard for your home’s environment is the difference between success and failure. Our 7-step analysis will help you pick the best gutter guard for your home.
Gutter Guards Direct installs several types of gutter guards, including Gutter Rx perforated aluminum gutter covers, LeaFree solid leaf guards, and LeafLock and MasterShield micro mesh leaf filters.
We’ve had the benefit of installing many gutter guard brands over the years, including LeafFilter.
Our current lineup includes the top-rated micro mesh gutter guard MasterShield, a budget-friendly micro mesh gutter screen called LeafLock, the popular solid gutter cover LeaFree, and Gutter Rx, one of the top performing perforated aluminum gutter guards.
Each gutter guard is made from aluminum and/or 316 stainless steel. MasterShield also has algae and moss resistant copper woven into its screen.
All of Gutter Guards Direct’s gutter protection systems were designed and are Made in USA.
Yes.
No.
Here’s the deal. There are gutter guards designed to install within the gutter and gutter guards designed to slide under or over the first course of shingles.
In a highly competitive environment, companies that sell gutter guards which only install within the gutter have created a somewhat effective scare tactic that installing gutter guards under your shingles will void your shingle warranty, absent any proof of the claim.
Installing gutter guards under your shingles will not void your roof shingles warranty no matter what a company tells you.
You may run into roof shingle warranty issues if you start hammering nails and driving screws through the shingles into the roof decking. However, gutter guards that install under shingles are held in place by the weight of the shingles themselves, so no mechanical penetrations are necessary.
Installing gutter guards under shingles provides several benefits:
Columbus and Central Ohio weather is all over the map. We enjoy 4-seasons: spring, summer, winter and fall.
The two most challenging times for gutters and gutter guards are during spring and fall.
Flowers, seeds and leaves that shed from trees in May and early-June can quickly cause gutters to fill and clog. Certain gutter guards will fail to perform properly because they were not designed to prevent clogs from the types of trees in the yards where they are located.
It goes without saying the spring weather is generally wet. Rain begins as soon as temperatures rise, and it can stay wet throughout June. Lots of rainfall in short periods of time can challenge the best performing gutter system.
Summer is a good time to catch up on gutter cleaning and making sure your gutter guards are ready for fall.
Depending on the summer heat and amount of precipitation we receive in Columbus and Central Ohio, most leaves begin dropping in late-September through early-November. Some trees, such as pine and birch trees drop its needles and leaves throughout the year. Oak trees tend to hold onto many of its leaves well into winter and early spring.
Winter is another situation altogether. Greater Columbus sometimes has mild winters with little snow and other years it brings bitterly cold temperatures with lots of snow. Gutters and gutter guards will perform differently depending on the weather.
If your gutters are full of leaves and debris, this, combined with ice and snow, will add tremendous weight to your gutters. Every foot of gutter filled with ice and snow, adds 8-10 pounds of weight. On a 40-foot gutter run, that adds up to 400 lbs weighing your gutters down. This is often why you see gutters that have pulled away from homes and collapsed during winter months.
The proper type of leaf guard on your home will prevent snow and ice from building up inside your gutters and will keep them free-flowing throughout the winter.
One thing is for certain, if we have a good amount of snow, you are more likely to see icicles forming from the edges of your gutters and gutter guards. While some people think icicles are dangerous, we think they’re pretty!
We offer whole home and partial replacement gutters with the purchase of gutter guards. Since our focus is gutter guards, and gutters are a critical part of an effective water management system, we install 5-inch, 6 inch and 7-inch gutters when installed with gutter guards.
We can repair gutters when we are installing gutter guards.
We also provide free gutter tune-ups with the purchase of gutter guards. We will clean your gutters and downspouts, reseal end caps and miters, and reset gutters so they drain properly.
We currently do not offer standalone gutter repair services.
No.
Ices dams are caused when attics are not properly insulated. The heat from interior living spaces travels into the attic cavity, warming the roof and melting snow that is present on the roof. As snow melts, water flows towards the gutters. As water collects inside the gutters, it refreezes.
If there is enough snow and ice inside the gutter to overfill the gutter, then water can backup under shingles, get behind fascia boards and travel across soffits to get inside the home, causing wall and ceiling water damage.
Because leaf guards sit on top of the gutters, they actually may help prevent ice dams because snow and ice is less likely to build-up inside the gutters. Snow that sits on top of the gutter guards surface will melt more quickly because the sun can easily shine on it.
The trick with getting maintenance-free gutter guards is to pick a leaf guard that will work best for your particular environment.
Most of our customers no longer want to clean their gutters. This means that they either can no longer climb a ladder, they have no interest in getting on a ladder and their roof, or they are tired of paying gutter cleaners who may or may not do a good job.
It is possible to get out of the gutter cleaning business by installing a gutter guard that is virtually maintenance-free. In our testing, MasterShield is the best performing gutter guard, of all gutter guards currently on the market, for challenging environments.
If you purchase a gutter guard that is inappropriate for your tree situation, you will likely have issues and will have to maintain the gutter and gutter guards on a regular basis.
The key to eliminating seasonal gutter cleaning is picking the right gutter guard for the job.
Yes!
If you’re looking for reliable, experienced, and quality focused gutters and gutter guards installers near you, we’re pleased to be able to assist.
Gutter Guards Direct is near you, and we service all of Central Ohio. We offer the best gutter guards on the market at a fair price.
To setup a free, no obligation estimate, call or text us at 614-356-8164 or complete the form below.
When inviting a gutter contractor into your home, it’s natural to ask: How long has your company been in business? Are you a member of
Believe it or not, I have fielded this question many times over the years. It’s tempting and seems like it would be a cheaper alternative
When water rolls off a roof by the buckets-full and cascades over the top of your gutters, down the exterior walls, to the ground below,
Servicing areas near you in Central Ohio, including Columbus, Dublin, Hilliard, Upper Arlington, Clintonville, Grandview, Worthington, Powell, Lewis Center, Westerville, Blacklick, Gahanna, New Albany, Pataskala, Granville, Newark, Pickerington, Grove City, Groveport, Plain City, Delaware, Galloway, Choctaw Lake, London, West Jefferson, Marysville, Apple Valley Lake, Sunbury, Galena, Reynoldsburg, Canal Winchester, and Obetz, Ohio.
Gutter Guards Direct • 6400 Emerald Pkwy, Ste 3521 • Dublin, Ohio 43016 • 614-356-8164