Cost of Installing Gutter Guards
Last updated 21st February, 2024
Do you need gutter protection? Too many leaves?
This article discusses the main points about gutter covers. Whether you want plastic gutter guards, gutter mesh or want to know what the gutter guards installation fee would be. We've got you!
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How Much Do Gutter Guards Cost?
Clogged gutters are more than just a minor annoyance, overflowing waters can cause serious damage to your property and be very expensive to fix. If your home suffers from blocked gutters even with regular cleaning then it may be a good idea to fit gutter leaf guards to prevent debris from blocking the guttering system.
With leaf guards you don’t have to clean the gutters nearly as much and still will not suffer from overflows and blockages, as the design keeps out leaves, debris, birds etc so your gutters rarely need cleaning.
Are they easy to install?
Fitting leaf guards entails removing and cleaning the existing gutters thoroughly, then fixing the guards onto the gutter, then re-fixing the protected guttering back on the fascia boards.
Gutter guards are simple products, consisting of mesh or filters attached to the roof gutters which prevent leaves, twigs, moss and other debris from entering the guttering where they can cause blockages and overflows.
Do I need to do anything else?
As you will be removing the guttering from the fascia boards, this is a good time to check the condition of the guttering and downpipes, as well as the fascia and soffit boards.
If they are in need of replacement then you may as well get this done at the same time - it is pointless fitting leaf guards onto leaking, broken guttering, then fixing onto rotten fascia boards! This would also be a good time to inspect the roof tiles for damage or moss growth.
So, what size do I need?
There are a number of leaf guard systems on sale in the UK, most are designed for standard sized guttering which is 4.5 inches wide (112mm to 114mm), however some manufacturers do sell a domestic guttering which is only 100mm wide so you need to double check the leaf guard system will fit. Also most domestic leaf guard systems will be too small for industrial size 6 inch gutters found on some commercial properties.
How are they installed?
There is no planning permission required to fit leaf guards and they can be fitted by a competent DIY'er as long as they are confident working at height. The job involves dismantling the gutters to clean them and re-affixing them to allow sufficient gap for the guard to be fitted. However most prefer these systems to be professionally installed by experienced tradesman with all the right safety equipment and insurance!
Fitting the wrong type of leaf guard can mean little to no improvement, you have to choose the right system to keep out the type of debris causing problems. For example if the main problem is pine needles blocking the gutters, then fitting a guard which allows pine needles to get through while stopping larger leaves is useless!
Also care has to be taken when removing guttering from the fascia boards as you can often find on older guttering that leaks may start to appear as soon as the joints in the gutters are disturbed.
In addition if the fascia boards are not in good shape they may be damaged when removing the guttering brackets. In fact it may be a good idea to routinely replace guttering along with fascia and soffit boards when fitting leaf guards as a general rule.
Badly sloping fascia boards (caused by subsidence or sloppy tradesman) which run contrary to the run of the gutters can cause problems when fitting leaf guards and will often need replacing in any case.
Badly installed bottom tiles and valleys can also cause problems as can wrongly located down pipes, or not enough down pipes - all good reasons to get a professional roofer to inspect your property before fitting a leaf guard.
Gutter Guard Installation Prices
The average cost of having gutter leaf guards fitted is usually in the range of £200-£350 depending upon the ease of access to the gutters and the type of guard you choose.
A pair of roofline worker will usually charge around £250 per day and this type of job normally takes around half a day to complete. In some cases where the bottom few tiles need to be removed in order to install the leaf guards, it may take a full day to finish the job.
Here are a few average costs for having gutter leaf guards fitted:
| Guard Type | Scaffolding? | Avg. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hedgehog | No | £250 | 1/2 day |
| Mesh | No | £200 | 1/2 day |
| Hedgehog | Yes | £500 | 1 day |
| Mesh | Yes | £450 | 1 day |
Cost Breakdown
Individual costs to install hedgehog leaf guards on the guttering of a 2-storey semi-detached house with easy access - Total Cost: £250
Materials
£100
Tradesmen
£150
Scaffolding
£0
FAQ's
If you choose a system that requires the bottom rows of roof tiles to be removed and refitted, then this will greatly increase costs with additional labour and likely some replacement roof tiles too. There is a poly-net type leaf guard which is becoming more popular and is easy to install with no clips or fixings required, however this is not suitable for areas where pine needles or other smaller debris are the main culprits.
