How to Install Gutter Guard Nets

Keeping your gutters clear is easy with a ladder and a gutter guard package.

A gutter guard can protect your gutters from debris that can trap moisture, cause mold and water damage in the structure of your home and damage the insulation. Installing gutter nets or screens allows water to flow freely into the gutters and away from your home, while keeping leaves and other tree debris from clogging them. Installing gutter guards will save you hours of clearing out unprotected gutters several times a year. Nets are particularly advantageous because they allow the homeowner to see into the gutter and allow enough water for any debris that makes it through the screen to be cleared with a hose without having to be removed.

Things You'll Need

• Gutter guard nets
• Ladder
• Trowel (optional)
• Clips (often sold with gutter guard nets)

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Instructions

Preparation

1. Clear gutters of all debris using your hand or a trowel. Do not push debris into the down pipe.

2. Pull up any weeds growing in the gutters by the roots to make sure they won't return.

3. Flush cleared gutters with a hose, checking for any further blockages in gutters or down pipes as you work your way around the house.

4. Clear any blocked down pipes with a stiff wire or cane.

Installing Gutter Net

1. Clip the gutter guard net to the outside edge of the gutter--the side farthest from the roof.

2. Stretch the net over the gutter and lay the edge on top of the roof shingles.

3. Add another length of guard, overlapping it by 1/2 inch over the end of the previously installed gutter guard to prevent gaps that would allow debris into the gutter. Repeat until all gutters are covered.

4. Sweep away debris that accumulates on top of gutter guards every few months with your hand or a trowel.

Tips & Warnings

• Gutter guard nets work best if installed in line with the slope of a roof. This may involve lowering your gutters, a job best left to professionals.

• Gutter guard nets can be secured by laying them under shingles. This will keep them in place better, but can compromise the roof and introduce moisture.

References

• HGTV: Cover Your Gutters
• 411 Home Repair: Installing Gutter Guards
• Ask the Builder: Gutter Guard Test Results
• Investment International: Protecting Your Gutters