How to fit gutter guards
The drop-in and clip-in types are a genuine DIY afternoon. The ones that tuck under the shingles are not, and fitting those wrong voids roof warranties.
- Doing it yourself
- $150–$600
- Typical contractor price
- $800–$2,500
This job puts you on a ladder
- Set the base one foot out for every four feet of height. Steeper than that and it slides out from under you; shallower and it tips backwards.
- Extend the ladder at least three rungs above the gutter and tie it off, or have someone foot it. Never rest a ladder on the gutter itself — aluminium will fold.
- Keep your hips between the rails. Reaching sideways past the rails is what puts people on the ground; move the ladder instead, however tedious that gets.
- Stay off it in wind, rain, or on wet grass. A ladder on soft ground sinks unevenly as you climb.
- Standing on the top two rungs is how most ladder falls happen. If you cannot reach from the third rung down, the ladder is too short.
Tools
- •Extension ladder
- •Tin snips
- •Cordless drill
- •Work gloves
- •Tape measure
Materials
- •Guards sized to your gutter width
- •Stainless screws if the guards screw down
Step by step
Measure the gutter, not the roof
Guards are sold for 5-inch and 6-inch gutters and the two are not interchangeable. Measure across the top opening, front lip to back.
Clean the gutters completely first
Anything left in the trough is sealed in for years. This is the last easy look you will get at the inside of that gutter.
Watch out: Fitting guards over a gutter that already leaks means taking them off again to find the leak.
Start at the end away from the downspout
Overlap each section toward the downspout, in the direction the water runs, so flow passes over the joins rather than catching on them.
Do not lift the shingles
If the guard is designed to slide under the first course, and yours are brittle or it is cold, stop. Cracked shingles let water under the roof edge, which is a far worse problem than leaves.
Watch out: Many roof warranties are void if anything is inserted under the shingles by someone who is not a licensed roofer. Check before you start.
Fix them down, and leave for expansion
Unsecured guards blow off in a storm or lift under snow load. Screw them as the maker specifies and leave the small expansion gap at each join.
Plan to check them anyway
No guard is maintenance-free. Once a year, look: shingle grit and pine needles build up on top of fine mesh and will run water straight over the front.
Stop and call someone if
- The guards tuck under the shingles and the roof is not new.
- Your roof is two storeys or has a steep pitch.
- You have a metal or tile roof — guard fixing is completely different, and mistakes leak.
Or read more about gutter guards.
Common questions
- Do gutter guards actually work?
- They reduce cleaning frequency substantially. They do not eliminate it, and anyone promising they do is selling something. Fine mesh handles pine needles best; cheap plastic screens handle large leaves and let everything smaller through.
- Will they stop ice dams?
- No. Ice dams are caused by heat escaping into the attic and melting snow that then refreezes at the cold eave. That is an insulation and ventilation problem, and guards can make the ice worse by holding it in place.
Last reviewed September 19, 2026. General guidance only — your house, your roof and your local building code are what actually govern the work.