What are the best inexpensive DIY gutter guards, and how do you put them in?
Short answer. The cheapest DIY guards are snap-in metal screens, plastic screens, foam inserts and brush inserts, and of those, rigid metal screens or budget metal mesh give the best results for the money. On a one-story house, most can be installed in an afternoon with a ladder, tin snips and a drill.
The budget options compared
- Metal screens. Perforated aluminum or expanded steel. Stiff, long-lasting, good with large leaves. The best general budget pick.
- Budget metal mesh. Finer openings that handle needles and seeds better than screens. Costs more than screens but less than professional micro-mesh.
- Plastic screens. The cheapest, but they warp and turn brittle in sun.
- Brush inserts. Easy to drop in, but needles and seeds tangle in the bristles, and they must be pulled out to clean.
- Foam inserts. Easy to install, but they clog with grit, sprout seeds and break down in a few years.
Quick installation
- Clean and flush the gutters and confirm each downspout drains.
- Start at one end. Seat the back of the guard at the fascia or drip edge face and the front on the gutter lip, without lifting shingles.
- Overlap sections as directed and fasten the front edge with short screws.
- Cut miters at corners with tin snips so there are no gaps.
- Run a hose along the roof edge to check that water goes in, not over.
When to skip DIY
Two-story houses, steep lots, and gutters that sag or leak. On a ladder at that height, a mistake costs more than the guards. If the DIY prep reveals soft fascia or a missing drip edge, fix that before adding anything. See gutter sizing, seamless gutters and guards and the Georgia roof maintenance checklist.