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LeafGuard Reviews | Expert Verified (2024)

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Default Author Icon Written by Mike Miller + 1 other Reviewer Icon Reviewed by Kyle Shirley Updated 04/26/2024

LeafGuard is a popular gutter guard provider with more than 50 locations in the United States and more than 30 years of industry experience. After reading customer reviews and researching the product, we recommend LeafGuard as an effective gutter guard product. Its all-in-one system could be a good fit for your home if you need replacement gutters in addition to gutter guards. However, it comes with a high price tag. In this LeafGuard review, we’ll take a look at how LeafGuard works, what its warranty covers, and who will benefit the most from a LeafGuard installation.

LeafGuard
4
75% Off Installation
  • Materials: Aluminum
  • Design: Reverse-curve
  • Multiple color options: Yes; 12 colors
  • Financing available: Yes
  • Warranty: Lifetime finish warranty, transferable

We recommend LeafGuard for homeowners who want custom, long-lasting gutter guards because of its unique and efficient design that uses liquid adhesion to filter out debris and self-clean. Its single-piece system is one of the most durable and secure gutter guards on the market. Professional installers custom-fit the product to each home during installation.

LeafGuard is available in 36 states. It is not available in Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, West Virginia, or Wyoming.


What Did We Rate LeafGuard?

We rated LeafGuard against our objective review standards in key categories that homeowners consider when purchasing gutter guards. LeafGuard earned 4 out of 5 stars. Here’s how we broke it down in each category:

Design
We consider a gutter guard’s materials, construction, aesthetics, and functionality when assessing its design. A well-designed gutter guard will have durable, long-lasting, and corrosion-resistant materials and efficient, easy-to-clean, unobtrusive filters.
3.8 / 5
3.8 / 5
Customer Support
We assess customer support based on warranty terms and customer communication. Gutter guard companies with long-lasting, flexible warranties and multiple communication methods, such as email and online chat, earn more points in this category.
4.6 / 5
4.6 / 5
Quote Process
We award points for a customer-friendly quote process that includes free inspections, nonpredatory financing options, quotes that are good for one year, and discounts.
5.0 / 5
5.0 / 5
Services
Gutter guard companies that offer additional services earn more points than those that only install gutter guards. Common additional services include gutter repair, replacement, and cleaning and downspout installation.
3.1 / 5
3.1 / 5
Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are one of the best quality indicators for any home improvement company. We averaged customer review scores from independent review sites, including the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, and Google.
3.0 / 5
3.0 / 5
  • Design: LeafGuard earned points in this category due to its durable one-piece system and self-cleaning reverse-curve guard design. However, this type of guard performs less well than micro-mesh screens and thus won fewer points overall.
  • Customer support: LeafGuard scored well in this category due to its lifetime warranty on its scratch-guard coating.
  • Quote process: We gave LeafGuard full points in this category because of its comprehensive quote process, financing options, and discounts.  
  • Services: LeafGuard earned points for its reliable system installations but lost points due to its lack of additional services.
  • Customer reviews: LeafGuard received points in this category for an average customer review score across third-party review sites such as BBB and Trustpilot.

What Do We Think of LeafGuard Gutter Guards?

After reading hundreds of customer reviews, analyzing its products, surveying 243 LeafGuard customers, and combing through its generous warranty, we believe its gutter guard is effective for most homes. Its reverse-curve system prevents debris from entering gutter systems by pushing aside leaves, pine needles, and other materials. Even negative reviews note that LeafGuard keeps debris out of their gutters.

However, many customers indicate overflow issues with steeply pitched roofs. LeafGuard’s system is also expensive because it involves replacing your entire gutter system.

Pros

Installs a highly durable reverse-curve gutter guard
Offers a transferable lifetime warranty
Provides a no-clog guarantee

Cons

May experience overspilling in roof valleys and ice dams in winter
Charges higher-than-average prices

What We Think Sets LeafGuard Apart

What Are the Downsides of LeafGuard?

LeafGuard succeeds thanks to its self-cleaning and filtration system. Unlike many other guards that feature a flat filter that blocks debris from entering your gutters, LeafGuard uses a curved design to force debris off onto the ground. It uses the scientific principles of liquid adhesion and surface tension to self-clean, making it one of the most efficient gutter guards for preventing material buildup.
LeafGuard’s ability to filter debris is impressive. Its system uses a small opening along the front of the guard that admits water but is too small for sizable plant matter to penetrate. Responses indicate that LeafGuard is effective in blocking most debris, including leaves, pine needles, twigs, and seedpods.
After researching LeafGuard’s system, we suspect that it experiences issues with heavy water flow along parts of the roofline. We read multiple reviews that mention this; for example, Lili’s review notes that their system overflows in roof valleys where water collects during heavy rainfall.
We reached out to LeafGuard to ask it about its system’s ability to handle large amounts of water. It stated that its guards are built to withstand heavy rainfall and are guaranteed not to overflow. Positive customer responses corroborate this.
We concluded that LeafGuard’s system can likely handle rainfall in most regions, but homes in rainy areas or homes with overly steep roof valleys may experience overflows.

How Much Do LeafGuard Gutter Guards Cost?

Estimating the cost of a professional gutter guard system is difficult because numerous factors, such as your home’s size, roof slope, total length of guttering, and surrounding landscape, impact the cost of gutter guard installation

LeafGuard, like most home improvement companies, doesn’t provide quotes without an at-home inspection. To estimate how much you can expect to pay for a LeafGuard system, we conducted a survey of 243 LeafGuard customers and the results showed an average cost of $5,200 for a 200 linear foot LeafGuard system. The average cost by linear foot is $26.50 with a range of $20-$45 per linear foot. Based on these findings and the higher prices reported in customer reviews, we estimate that the typical cost range for a LeafGuard system will be between $4,000 and $10,000. LeafGuard’s financing page supports this, as customers must purchase a system valued at $7,883 to qualify for financing.

The price of LeafGuard may seem high, especially when compared to other gutter guard brands. However, note that LeafGuard is a one-piece system that includes new gutters in the installation. Accounting for the installation of a new gutter system brings LeafGuard more in line with the industry standard for professionally installed gutter guard products such as LeafFilter. We recommend requesting a free quote from LeafGuard for an accurate price for gutter guard installation at your home.


What Are Customers Saying About LeafGuard?

LeafGuard holds an A+ rating and accreditation with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). LeafGuard’s reviews are mixed across independent review sites. Its BBB page has more than 150 customer reviews with an average rating of 1.5 out of 5 stars. Its Trustpilot page features 41 reviews with a rating of 2.1 out of 5 stars. This sentiment isn’t reflected by our survey respondents: 75% of LeafGuard customers were satisfied or very satisfied with the performance of their gutter guards.

Across both BBB and Trustpilot, positive reviews praise the professionalism of LeafGuard’s staff and the performance of its guards. This review we read from Larry highlights the courteousness of LeafGuard’s staff and praises the thorough cleanup of the installation team. Many reviews also note that LeafGuard’s technicians get the job done promptly. 

The most common themes across negative reviews include expensive costs and high-pressure sales tactics. For example, this review from Steve expresses dissatisfaction with how LeafGuard presents its product and the products of its competitors. Other reviews claim that LeafGuard’s performance doesn’t merit the higher-than-average price of the system.

BBB
Trustpilot

Positive Reviews

Installers were extremely professional
[The] installers were extremely professional and did a great job on our house. They answered all of [the] questions through the installation process. We are pleased with our gutters. Thank you.
— Yvonne C., February 24, 2024, on BBB
Pleased with service
We recently had Leafguard installed on our house. I had to get on top of a ladder [to] clean out gutters out before leafguard. Now I don’t need to because of their no clog guarantee. It actually made the house look better, and the employees were all very nice and very professional. They made sure we were pleased with everything and cleaned up behind themselves. I really can’t say enough about them other than they are excellent.
— Diane G., November 17, 2023, on Trustpilot
Installers were pleasant and prompt
[The installers] were the most pleasant and professional contractors. [The installer] had answers to all of my questions. He also gave me his opinion on a issue that I needed and it was solved. Very clean, I didn’t see any debris left and also arranged patio furniture back to original. Very prompt, [called] ahead to give eta and was on time.
— Toni M., October 31, 2023, on BBB

Negative Reviews

Not effective on steep roof
The gutter design does not effectively collect water from roofs with steep pitch or any roof valleys–even in light rain. Water gushes over the top of my gutters like no gutter at all in spots near roof valleys…it probably works ok for ranch style houses (single gable) with shallow roofs.
— David G., October 26, 2023, on Trustpilot
End caps leaking after 24 years
Our LeafGuard gutters are 30 years old and overall have worked well. About 10 years ago gutters on the south (windward) side clogged with fir needles, and after contacting the ‘local’ (65 miles away) company, they came and flushed all of them. However, about 6 years ago, one of the end caps started leaking – which is not covered by the warranty. Now several are leaking – three onto decks – the others leak onto the ground, so no big problem with them.
— Chuck N., January 23, 2024, on BBB
Have not received a response
I had LeafGuard gutters and downspouts installed because they have a lifetime no clog warranty. I have a clog in a gutter that is too high for me to safely reach so I requested warranty service. Requests were sent to LeafGuard Holdings and I have not received any response. I would like the guarantee to be honored and have the gutter cleaned.
— Hal S, October 10, 2024, on BBB

How Does LeafGuard Compare to Other Gutter Protection Systems?

LeafGuard stands out thanks to its unique design. Its reverse-curve design is more durable than many other gutter guard systems and features superior self-cleaning. However, micro-mesh gutter guards are better equipped to filter water and block small particles such as shingle grit. Review the table below to compare LeafGuard to LeafFilter as well as to our other top-recommended gutter guards.

Star Rating Product Image Gutter Guard Type Average Cost Link
LeafFilter
LeafFilter LeafFilter Micro-mesh $5,528 Visit Site
LeafGuard
LeafGuard LeafGuard Reverse-curve $5,242 Visit Site
Gutter Guards America
Gutter Guards America Gutter Guards America Micro-mesh $5,270 Visit Site
HomeCraft
HomeCraft HomeCraft Micro-mesh $6,338 Visit Site
All American Gutter Protection
All American Gutter Protection All American Gutter Protection Micro-mesh $5,630 Visit Site
LeafFilter
Star Rating
Logo LeafFilter
Product Image LeafFilter
Gutter Guard Type Micro-mesh
Average Cost $5,528
Visit Site
LeafGuard
Star Rating
Logo LeafGuard
Product Image LeafGuard
Gutter Guard Type Reverse-curve
Average Cost $5,242
Visit Site
Gutter Guards America
Star Rating
Logo Gutter Guards America
Product Image Gutter Guards America
Gutter Guard Type Micro-mesh
Average Cost $5,270
Visit Site
HomeCraft
Star Rating
Logo HomeCraft
Product Image HomeCraft
Gutter Guard Type Micro-mesh
Average Cost $6,338
Visit Site
All American Gutter Protection
Star Rating
Logo All American Gutter Protection
Product Image All American Gutter Protection
Gutter Guard Type Micro-mesh
Average Cost $5,630
Visit Site
Company
Star Rating
BBB Rating
Best For
A+
Best Filtration
A+
Best for Large Debris
A+
Best Customer Responses
B
Best Additional Services
A
Best Deals and Discounts

How LeafGuard Compares to DIY Alternatives

As part of our review process, we installed and tested a dozen DIY gutter guards. Our testing yielded mixed results. Some DIY brands performed well. For example, the Raptor micro-mesh gutter guard was easy to install and filtered out large and small debris. Other DIY products performed poorly.

Because LeafGuard is professionally installed, we believe it’s of higher quality than DIY guards. Its reverse-curve design, thick aluminum gutters, and scratch-proof coating offer a long-lasting solution. LeafGuard provides a better warranty than any DIY guard thanks to its clog-free guarantee and a lifetime warranty on its coating.


How Does LeafGuard Work?

LeafGuard uses a patented one-piece gutter guard system composed of seamless aluminum rain gutters, structurally reinforced hidden hangers, and a durable gutter helmet. LeafGuard’s system is custom-fitted to your home by trained service technicians, with extra wide downspouts positioned every ten feet.

The LeafGuard gutter protection system is covered in a scratch guard coating, which extends the lifetime of the materials and provides another layer of protection. This scratch-proof paint finish is designed to prevent scratching, chipping, and other damage.

LeafGuard gutter guards are designed to handle more than 32 inches of rain per hour, which is nearly three times the record for most rainfall in a one-hour period. LeafGuard’s system uses the scientific principles of liquid adhesion and surface tension to self-clean. As water is pulled over the front of the guard and funneled through the small opening, it adheres to the guard’s surface. As the water carries debris from your roof shingles down and over the guard, the small gap prevents it from entering your gutters and pushes it off to the ground.

Quick Tip
LeafGuard is an all-in-one system, so you’ll need to replace your current gutters if you want to have it installed. This makes it a great fit for homeowners with old gutters at the end of their lifespan. You get gutter replacement included in your gutter guard purchase.

What Does LeafGuard’s Warranty Cover?

LeafGuard includes two forms of financial protection for its customers: a no-clog guarantee and a lifetime transferable warranty on its coating. The no-clog guarantee promises that if your system ever clogs, LeafGuard will clean it for free.

LeafGuard’s warranty covers the performance and longevity of its scratch guard coating. The warranty states that LeafGuard’s finish will never: “blister, flake, chip, crack, peel, split, rot, red rust, or structurally deteriorate as a direct result of manufacturing defects, under ordinary wear conditions, if installed to Englert specifications and provided that the cleaning methods as described on the other side of the Warranty have been fully followed.”

If the scratch guard coating is damaged and the damage falls within the above warranty conditions, LeafGuard promises to “pay 100% of the cost of repainting, repairing, or otherwise replacing the defective aluminum LeafGuard® with Scratchguard® gutters or gutter accessories.”

Unlike many other gutter guard companies, LeafGuard hosts its warranty terms and conditions on its website. As with most warranties, its conditions are numerous and complex. We read the warranty in detail and noted that your warranty will be void in the following circumstances:

  • The damage is caused by forces or conditions that go beyond standard wear and tear, such as faulty or improper installation, normal weathering, oxidation, exposure to corrosive atmospheric conditions such as “sea air,” mold and mildew, unreasonable use, crazing or cracking of the paint surface due to field forming in cold temperatures, misuse, physical abuse, accidental damage, vandalism, use of incompatible accessories, fire, flood, earthquake, lightning, radiation, ice or windstorms, hail or other acts of God, wind-borne objects, building settlement, structural failures, or the use of harmful cleaning compounds and pesticides.
  • The damage is the result of a lack of proper owner maintenance and cleaning, especially in environments that cause materials to corrode more quickly. 
  • You don’t report the defect within 45 days of discovering it.

How Easy Is LeafGuard To Clean?

Many gutter guard companies claim you’ll never need to clean your guards post-installation, but this isn’t true. No gutter guard can completely replace the need for regular gutter cleaning. That said, LeafGuard’s reverse-curve system requires little cleaning due to its ability to push debris onto the ground.

LeafGuard provides detailed instructions on how to clean its system on its warranty page. According to LeafGuard, you should use a garden hose and soft bristle brush with a solution of one-third cup of detergent per one gallon of water to remove dirt, leaves, and debris.

If your home is located in a climate that experiences corrosive conditions (such as soot or sea spray), LeafGuard recommends using a solution of one-third cup of detergent (such as Tide), two-thirds cup of Soilax, one quart of liquid bleach (such as Clorox), and three quarts of water. This solution allows you to remove grime without harming the scratch guard coating.

LeafGuard’s one-piece gutter system can only be installed by a trained technician, and LeafGuard schedules an at-home inspection before providing pricing information. You can expect the following quote and installation process:

Contact LeafGuard by calling or filling out an online form on its website. You’ll talk to a customer service representative who will schedule an inspection for a free quote.

On the day of your inspection, a sales representative will arrive at your home to assess your existing gutter system. They’ll inspect your gutters, roof, and home, looking for anything that could impact the cost of your gutter guard installation. Once completed, your sales representative will generate a quote, explain how the LeafGuard gutter system works, and answer any questions.

If you agree to the price, the representative will schedule an installation date. On that day, a professional crew of technicians will arrive at your home. They’ll disassemble your old gutters and dispose of them. Then, they’ll measure, cut, and install your new gutters with an on-site roll-forming machine. These gutters come with the guards already attached as a one-piece system.

Once the gutters are rolled, the team inserts LeafGuard’s patented hangers two feet apart for maximum stability, and the system is connected to your fascia board. The installers measure each gutter’s pitch to ensure efficient water flow and attach downspouts.

After your gutter and guard system is installed, the team removes all equipment and debris from your property, shows you photos of the completed job, and answers any questions you may have before departing.


Is LeafGuard Worth the Cost?

We believe that LeafGuard is an excellent option for homeowners who need to replace their gutters and want long-lasting protection from debris buildup. LeafGuard is also recommended for homeowners that are constantly dealing with large debris clogging their gutters and who want to avoid frequent gutter cleaning. However, if you have a strict budget, LeafGuard may not be the best fit for you.


FAQ About LeafGuard Gutter Guards

Can you install LeafGuard on existing gutters?

No, you can’t install LeafGuard on existing gutters. LeafGuard’s one-piece system replaces your existing gutter system.

Can LeafGuard handle heavy rain?

LeafGuard claims that it’s rated to handle heavy rainfall of up to 32 inches of rain per hour. However, customer reviews indicate that homes with steep roof valleys may experience overflows.

What is the downside of LeafGuard?

The main downside of LeafGuard is that it’s an expensive system that can overflow in certain conditions. Some customer reviews indicate occasional issues with freezing and ice dams. However, these issues are common across most gutter guard brands in cold climates.


Our Rating Methodology

The This Old House Reviews Team backs up our gutter guard recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each gutter guard product and provider. We conduct research by reviewing product specifications and provider website information, speaking with customer representatives, and analyzing customer reviews. We reinforce this research with thorough firsthand product testing, assessing each gutter guard’s durability, quality, filtration, and cleanability. To date, we’ve tested more than a dozen professionally installed and DIY gutter guard products. We then score each provider against our review standards for gutter guard design, customer support, the quote process, services, and reviews to arrive at a final score on a 5-point rating scale.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.