Purchasing gutter guards is a great option to consider for your home’s gutter systems. But if you’re like most people in Charlottesville and the surrounding area, you can easily get overwhelmed by all the options out there. In this article, I will give you cold hard facts about the different types of gutter guards, different brands and companies selling them, and insights on how to self-determine the best gutter guards for your home. Let’s get started.
Different Types and Styles of Gutter Guard Protection
GUTTER BRUSH – These are unconventional gutter guards because they’re not flat; they look like spikey caterpillars! The idea is that they fill the gutter which doesn’t leave any more for debris but water can flow freely. These are a common DIY option for homeowners to buy online.
GUTTERFOAM – These are the same concept as the Gutter Brush but they’re a different shape and material. Very common among Do-it-Yourselfers.
VINYL MESH – These are a popular inexpensive option among professional installers. They’re very inexpensive and a good choice if your home has very few or no trees. They aren’t strong but they’re very easy to install and pretty light on the budget. They tend to gunk up with spring pollen (Charlottesville is notorious for awful, thick pollen) and then their water flow / debris ratio is low.
GUTTER HELMET – Gutter helmets are unique because they essentially close off the entire gutter system. They act as a lid so they basically keep 100% debris from entering the gutter, which is great! They slide up underneath the shingles. They work based on surface tension: the water flows from the roof onto the lid and then it curves down right before the lip of the gutter which takes the water into the gutter. But the opening is only about 1” so debris has a hard time entering. These are common to see on older Charlottesville homes.
PERFORATED – Gutter guards that are perforated usually sit flat on the gutter and the water flows through a bunch of little holes. The holes are a little smaller than a standard paper hole punch and a pencil eraser. These are a common option among professionals in a budget-friendly category. Like vinyl mesh, these are usually good options if you have minimal tree coverage.
AMERIMAX – You can find these at Lowe’s (and Home Depot – coming soon Fall 2025!) and they’re made out of galvanized steel. These do not do well under heavy foliage but they are the best option for water flow. In other words, nothing lets more water through than this one! Its permeability level is 100%, 5/5 score. As long as this is used in the right setting, it can be a great inexpensive option.
K-GUARD – K-Guard is a great gutter guard system. I call it a system because with K-Guard, you purchase the entire system, not just the gutter guard or screen. Theirs is a fully integrated system, with the gutter, guard, hangers, and downspouts. If you’re building a new house (new construction) and you have the opportunity to install K-Guard, it’s a very viable option for you. It’s not cheap, but it’s a good product. You can choose any color. These are common in neighborhoods like Dunlora and Forest Lakes. At the time of this article, the closest branches are in Richmond and Lynchburg but they serve Charlottesville.
LEAF FILTER – Leaf Filter is one the largest contractors in America with thousands of independent contractors all over the country and Virginia. They have a proprietary product that is very good and they have thousands of happy customers. Leaf Filter is very similar to a lot of high end micro mesh screens on the market. With Leaf Filter, most of their customers choose them for the strong brand recognition and solid product. The focus of their customer complaints isn’t usually price, it’s the experience they had with the sales person.
MICROMESH – Micromesh is the most common guard in 2025. If gutter guards were automobiles, the micromesh version would be the sedan. You can choose from different sedan manufacturers (Honda, Toyota, Hyundai) but they’re all pretty good at the end of the day with different bells and whistles. Some micromesh gutter screens have a second layer under the mesh to reinforce it and make it extra strong.
EASY ON (COSTCO) – These are a light micromesh screen. They are a great value, they’re almost always available at the Charlottesville Costco, and if they’re installed correctly they can be a great option. They’re not quite as strong as other micromesh options but they’re close.
Below is a table showing the different scores for each screen mentioned above. The final score is a weighted score with the first two columns weighted at .40 and the last two columns weighted each at .10. The reason for that is water permeability and keeping debris out is the most important factor, while cost and lifespan are less important when considering strictly performance.
| Gutter Guard Type | Permeability | Keep Debris Out | Life Span | Price | Final Score |
| Leaf Filter | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4.60 |
| Micromesh | 4.2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4.58 |
| K-Guard | 3.9 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4.56 |
| Costco Easy On | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4 | 3 | 4.15 |
| Gutter Helmet | 3.2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3.28 |
| Amerimax | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3.20 |
| Perforated | 2.5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2.50 |
| Vinyl Mesh | 2.25 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2.00 |
| GutterFoam | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2.00 |
| Gutter Brush | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2.00 |
I hope this is helpful! Every home is a little different and has different needs. Not only that, but humans are different too! Every individual has different wants and preferences so it’s up to you to choose the best option for you. I hope this article has helped you determine the best gutter protection for you.
Contact us at (434) 422-4700 to schedule your gutter guard installation or request a quote here. You may also check out our financing option for flexible payment term.
