What we install and why
Stainless micro-mesh on an aluminum frame. The mesh openings are small enough to stop pine needles and shingle grit, and stainless doesn't rust or go brittle in UV the way the plastic guards from the 90s did.
It mounts to the front lip of the gutter and under the first course of shingles or on its own bracket, depending on the roof. We don't lift shingles on a roof that's near end of life — there's a bracket method for that.
What we won't sell you
Foam inserts. They fill the trough with a sponge that collects grit, holds moisture against the metal, and grows things. They're cheap and they're a mistake.
Wide-slot plastic screen. It stops leaves and passes everything smaller, which in this metro means maple seeds, oak tassels, and pine needles all get through.
Reverse-curve helmet systems. They work until the surface tension is beaten by a hard downpour, and then the water sails past the opening entirely. St. Louis gets those downpours several times a summer.
Existing gutters or new
We can fit guard to sound gutter you already have. If the gutter is sagging, holding water, or worn thin, guard on top of it is money on a system that's failing underneath.
Installed together with new seamless gutter, guard costs less than adding it on a separate trip later. If you're replacing anyway, do them together.
What guard doesn't do
It doesn't handle ice. Nothing stops an ice dam except attic insulation and ventilation — that's a roof problem, not a gutter one.
It doesn't mean never looking again. Mesh needs a rinse every few years, and roof valleys can pile debris on top of the guard where two planes meet.
Anyone promising you'll never clean your gutters again is selling, not explaining.
St. Louis trees and what they drop
The debris that clogs St. Louis gutters changes through the year. Oaks drop tassels in spring and acorns in fall. Maples drop helicopter seeds. Sweetgums drop spiky seed balls, and pin oaks hold their leaves into winter and shed them a few at a time. Pines drop needles all year, and older shingles shed granules. Each one beats a different kind of guard: coarse screens let seeds and needles through, and open-hood designs let leaves pile on top.
Why we lean toward micro-mesh
Micro-mesh stops fine debris like seeds, needles and shingle grit, and still lets rain through. It sits close to the roofline, so it doesn't stand out from the street the way bulky hood covers can. It isn't zero-maintenance. The surface needs an occasional brushing or rinse, most often after pollen and seed season. But that's a quick job compared with scooping out a packed trough. Our guard comparison covers the other types honestly.
Installation done right
A guard is only as good as the gutter under it. Before anything goes on, we clean and flush the gutter, check that it drains toward the outlets, re-fasten loose hangers and reseal leaking corners. Putting a guard over a sagging or leaking gutter just hides the problem. The guard is then secured so wind can't lift it and fitted at the roof edge without disturbing the shingles.
Gutter guards and St. Louis winters
Guards keep debris out. They don't prevent ice dams. Ice dams form when heat escaping through the attic melts snow on the roof, and the water refreezes at the colder edge. That's an insulation and ventilation issue, and no guard changes it. Snow can sit on top of mesh for a short time before it melts through, and that's normal. If you get leaks during freeze-thaw spells, our page on ice dams and gutters explains what's happening at the roof edge.
Are guards worth it for your house?
It comes down to three things: how many trees hang over the roof, how tall the house is, and how often you're paying for or doing cleanings now. A single-story home with one small tree may not need guards. A two-story house under mature oaks or pines, cleaned twice a year, usually comes out ahead within a few years. We'll give you an honest read either way. See are gutter guards worth it for the full breakdown.
What happens to your existing gutters
If your gutters are in good shape, guards can go right on them. We check the hangers, pitch and seams first, and fix anything that needs it, so the guard sits on a gutter that drains properly. If the gutters are undersized, sagging along whole runs or rusted through, putting guards on them just means paying twice. In that case we'll recommend replacing with seamless gutters and installing guards at the same visit, which is cheaper than two separate jobs.
Questions people ask
Do gutter guards actually work?
Good ones do. Stainless micro-mesh keeps the trough clear through a St. Louis leaf season. Foam and wide plastic screen mostly don't.
Will guards work with pine needles?
Micro-mesh will. Screen guard won't — needles slip through the slots and mat underneath, which is worse than no guard at all.
Can guards be installed on my existing gutters?
If the gutters are sound, yes. We check pitch, hangers and the condition of the trough first.
Do gutter guards stop ice dams?
No. Ice dams come from heat escaping into the attic and melting snow that refreezes at the eave. Guard doesn't change that.
How much do gutter guards cost in St. Louis?
It's priced per foot and depends on the guard and the height of the home. We'll measure and give you a real number rather than a phone estimate.
Do gutter guards need maintenance?
Some. Plan on an occasional brushing or rinse of the mesh, mostly after spring pollen and seed drop. It's far less work than cleaning an open gutter.
Will water shoot over the guards in a heavy storm?
Micro-mesh handles most downpours. Where a steep valley pours a lot of water into one corner, we may add a diverter or upsize the gutter at that spot.
Can you install guards on a two-story or steep roof?
Yes. Our crews work on two- and three-story homes and steep roofs, with the safety equipment that work needs.
Free estimate
We measure, we look at the fascia, and you get a number in writing.
Talk to a real St. Louis gutter company
Third generation, family-run since 1947. Somebody picks up, day or night.