How much does it cost to install gutter guards?

The average home has roughly 200 feet of gutters. These need frequent cleanings throughout the year, with an average of three cleanings as the absolute minimum. The standard cost for a professional to clean them is around $75 per cleaning, which means maintenance is $225 per year.

The average DIY home or property owner can easily install gutter guards and also tackle the annual cleanings quite a bit easier too. For the purpose of this discussion we will look at the price and requirements to install gutter guards in 200 feet of pre-existing gutters.

Cost breakdown

For the gutter guard installation, the typical costs include:

• Materials - costs on gutter guards of all kinds range quite widely with some being as little as $3 for a three foot section and some climbing as high as $18 to $20 per single foot. The variations are due to the materials and efficiency of the particular system. New designs appear quite often, and as time passes the designs have begun to work better and better. It will take a bit of comparison shopping and exploration to see which are currently considered the best. Regardless of which system is selected, it will require the basic materials and the time to install. Costs for complete cover systems will range from $200 to a hefty $3600!;
• Labor - if a homeowner decides to have the job done by a professional, they will need to also consider the pricing of this part of the work. A good carpenter or "handyman" can easily tackle a gutter guard installation in a very short period of time and this should take roughly 6 hours and come at a cost of roughly $255 in labor; and
• Gutter Company - there are also gutter guard companies that specialize in their own custom designs and systems. The costs for such installations can be exorbitant with prices starting $6 a linear foot. The average cost for a full installation tends to be around $1500 (according to AskTheBuilder.com).

Enhancement and improvement costs

• Cleaning - it is important to note that there are no gutter guard systems that can eliminate the need for gutter cleanings. Though most will be able to easily prevent larger debris and leaves from clogging the gutters, the smaller particulates will always accumulate. This means that at least once a year the homeowner (or their handyman - for $75) can run a hose through the top of the gutter to rinse out any accumulations of debris;
• Downspout Screens - in addition to using gutter guards, the homeowner may want to inquire about a downspout screen. This redirects any floating debris away from the downspout opening and allows water to head into the drain immediately; and
• Heat Tape - there are many heating elements that are impervious to the effects of water and they can help to prevent ice from developing on top of, or inside a gutter, and while the installation of gutter guards is occurring it is a good idea to consider installing heating elements wherever ice tends to be a problem.