Top 5 Micro

Jun 25, 2023

Mike Miller is a writer with a decade of experience producing product and service content to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions. Mike has a bachelor’s degree in creative advertising. In his spare time, Mike enjoys riding and fixing motorcycles, reading a good book and spending time with his wife and two cats.

Rebekah Young is an editor with a decade of experience in educational content and editing. Before joining the Guides Home Team to focus on home services content, she guided content strategy and edited in the insurance, venture capital, financial and health care fields. Rebekah has a bachelor’s degree in communication and English.

If you no longer want to spend money or risk injury cleaning out clogged gutters, you can reduce gutter maintenance with micro-mesh gutter guards. Defined by a mesh screen that blocks even the smallest debris from entering your gutter system, they are our top pick for homeowners who deal with the likes of pine needles, shingle grit or pollen.

We at the Guides Home Team rounded up our top gutter guards and have selected those with micro-mesh screens to help you decide which one is right for you. After extensive research, we graded them on effectiveness, installation, customer satisfaction and more.

These are our favorite options for micro-mesh gutter guards:

LeafFilter’s micro-mesh gutter guard features a high-quality, three-piece design that prevents debris buildup and improves durability. Its 275-micron micro-mesh layer is harnessed by a durable uPVC frame that securely fastens to your gutters via internal hidden hangers. The stainless steel mesh is fine enough to block even small debris, such as shingle grit, and LeafFilter claims the plastic frame will never warp or deteriorate.

After visually assessing your property and providing a free estimate, LeafFilter will professionally install its gutter guards. During installation, it will realign and repair your existing gutters or install new ones if necessary.

To learn more: LeafFilter Review

LeafFilter adheres to a simple three-step installation process that the company advertises you can complete in as little as six hours. The steps are:

LeafFilter is accredited by the BBB and holds an A+* rating with the organization. We reviewed the most recent 100 reviews on the company’s profile and found that many reviewers were pleased with its professionalism and service quality. However, not all reviews were positive. Some consumers mentioned difficulties with the system under heavy downpours and poor communication with LeafFilter to resolve disputes.

*BBB ratings are accurate as of July 2023.

Get your quote: Fill out LeafFilter’s online form.

To learn more: LeafFilter review

*BBB ratings are current as of July 2023

Homecraft offers a premium micro-mesh gutter guard that fits almost any existing gutter setup. Because it doesn’t rely on hangers beneath the mesh, it’s bendable to most gutter-to-roof designs. Additionally, it’s made of all-metal materials, meaning it will last a lifetime against typical wear and tear.

The stainless steel mesh layer uses an embossed design, allowing wind to blow off stuck-on debris and providing water with additional channels to flow into your gutters and away from your home. Like LeafFilter, HomeCraft backs its micro-mesh gutter guards with a transferable lifetime warranty.

To learn more: HomeCraft Review

Once you sign up for a home inspection online or over the phone and get your quote, you can decide whether to go through with purchasing the product and having Homecraft professionally install it on your roof. The process resembles LeafFilter’s:

HomeCraft is not accredited by the BBB and has a B rating with the site. After analyzing the 91 customer reviews on the site, we saw that happy customers point to knowledgeable salespeople and the quality of the product itself. Unhappy reviewers commonly mention poor installations and resistance when contacting HomeCraft with issues.

Get your quote: Fill out HomeCraft’s online form.

To learn more: HomeCraft review

*Data as of July 2023

If you’re looking for an effective micro-mesh gutter guard at an affordable price, All American is worth looking into. The company consistently offers a variety of discounts. Current offers include $300 or 20% off and discounts for seniors and military members.

The product itself features an aluminum body and stainless steel screen, so it won’t bulge, crack or corrode over time. The company also offers a suite of gutter services, including installing and repairing rain gutters and downspouts.

All American Gutter Protection has representatives on standby to answer product questions and help you move forward with the estimate you receive after your home inspection. The company will forward your request to the manager of installations in your local area, and you can expect a call back within one to two weeks. Once the installation team gets in touch with you, the installation itself can take one to three days, depending on the complexity.

When you contract with Gutter Guards America, the workers on your roof are fully insured and bonded employees of the provider.

All American Gutter Protection has an A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB, signaling a strong rapport with customers. Of the 66 reviews, satisfied commenters enjoyed the company’s effective product and courteous sales representatives. Negative reviews touched on poor scheduling and difficulty contacting the company with warranty claims.

Get your quote: Fill out All American’s online quote form.

When it comes to quality gutter guard construction, it’s hard to beat the micro-mesh offering by Gutter Guards America. As a vendor of Valor Gutter Guards, it offers a sturdy product made in the United States. Specifically, its louvered aluminum frame supports a corrosion-resistant stainless steel mesh screen for optimal performance and durability. Louvers are angled slats that offer structural rigidity to the gutter guard.

Gutter Guards America will clean, seal and reinforce your rain gutters during its professional gutter guard installation. It also sells seamless aluminum gutters if yours are beyond repair. Plus, discounts and financing options are available if you need financial assistance.

While Gutter Guards America is accredited by the BBB and holds an A+ rating, there is only one customer review on the platform. Our team analyzed 100 reviews on Trustpilot instead. The vast majority are positive reviews, commonly referencing efficient and knowledgeable installation and honest sales experiences. Several negative reviews touched on issues with scheduling and initially high cost estimates that quickly dropped after negotiation.

Get your quote: Fill out Gutter Guards America’s online form.

*Data as of July 2023

In contrast to the other options on this list that offer professional installation only, Amerimax Home Products’ Snap-In Filter Gutter Guard is a great choice for homeowners looking to save money by installing gutter guards themselves. The mesh screen is designed to filter fine debris, and the PVC frame snaps into the lip of your gutter without requiring any tools or fasteners.

This gutter guard comes in kits with 25 sections of 3 linear feet (75 feet total) and fits 4-, 5- or 6-inch K-style gutters. You can find it at retailers such as Amazon, Lowe’s and Home Depot.

The Snap-In Filter Gutter Guard doesn’t include any warranty coverage.

You install the Amerimax Lock-In gutter guard by pushing it up under your roof’s first row of shingles and securing the front side to the lip of your gutter. Installation doesn’t require any tools or hardware, but it’s important to make sure it won’t void your roof’s warranty before getting started.

Since Amerimax isn’t a service provider, it isn’t rated by the BBB. Instead, we studied Amazon reviews to determine customer satisfaction. Positive reviews commended these gutter guards for their affordability and easy installation. Some customers struggled with fit issues and performance during heavy precipitation.

While micro-mesh gutter guards are united in using a fine mesh screen to repel small debris, not every product is created equal. Here are some top considerations to keep in mind while shopping.

Some full-service companies, such as LeafFilter or HomeCraft, offer gutter guards that fit many sizes and styles of gutters and even repair or replace gutters on your home.

The titular feature of micro-mesh gutter guards is the mesh layer that draws in water using surface tension and rejects nearly all types of pests and debris, including fine pollen and shingle grit (the asphalt granules that fall off your shingles over time). Mesh with large holes will allow more water and debris to come through, while mesh with small holes will ward off fine debris yet restrict flow more.

What works for you depends on the debris you deal with, local weather conditions, and even the specific area of your home. You may opt for finer mesh on long gutter runs and coarser mesh for high-flow areas, such as corners and roof valleys.

Micro-mesh gutter guards tend to be high-end products that are meant to last a long time. To ensure the longevity of your micro-mesh gutter guards, look for durable construction. Metal options, such as aluminum or stainless steel, are the strongest for heavy rain and harsh temperature changes. PVC vinyl is more affordable and commonly found in DIY options, but won’t last as long as its metal counterparts.

Think about how the guard attaches to your rain gutters, too. Mechanical connections also fare better over time than adhesive connections, as some caulks and glues can harden and crack under pressure from sharp temperature changes. If the guard slides underneath your roof shingles, check to make sure it doesn’t void your roof warranty.

Micro-mesh gutter guards block debris from entering the gutter, which reduces the time and effort you have to spend cleaning out your gutters. However, no gutter guard is entirely maintenance-free, despite any marketing language that tries to convince you otherwise. The maintenance is simply easier and less frequent than if you don’t have gutter guards installed.

Although all gutters share the same key objective — to divert water away from your home’s foundation — each individual installation has its own set of factors to contend with. The best micro-mesh gutter guard for you depends on your individual needs, such as your roof shape, local climate and even your preferred installation method.

That said, our team chose LeafFilter as the best micro-mesh gutter guard due to the product’s efficiency and construction quality and LeafFilter’s excellent installation process. It uses certified installers who clean, repair, realign and seal your existing gutter system, ensuring they have the best canvas to install LeafFilter. Because the installation process is so thorough, LeafFilter backs up its workmanship with a transferable lifetime warranty.

We recommend that you get estimates from at least three providers before making your choice. Most full-service providers will perform in-person estimates for free. Some companies also offer binding quotes for up to one year, allowing you time to get multiple quotes and compare options.

Yes, mesh gutter guard systems are worth it. They effectively keep pests and debris of all sizes out of your gutters to divert water away from your home as intended. Although they are not a zero-maintenance solution, they save you money, time and effort when it comes to gutter cleaning.

As a high-end product, you can expect mesh gutter guards to last long. Many professionally installed options are permanent installations that last for the life of your home, while DIY options may need to be replaced every few decades.

After conducting in-depth research, our team believes LeafFilter is the best choice for micro-mesh gutter covers. It offers an effective stainless steel micro-mesh gutter guard and top-notch installation that will provide you with gutter protection for life. Plus, if you need new gutters, they can help with that, too.

Yes, many micro-mesh gutter guard systems include warranties that guarantee their effectiveness within limits. Most professionally installed systems include lifetime warranties that may even be transferable to the next person to own your home. Most DIY options have shorter warranty periods as they are not designed to be permanently installed.

Our team created a comprehensive ratings system to rank gutter guard companies and products. We researched gutter guards’ functionality, specifications, installation process and more, as well as read customer reviews to understand the customer experience and longevity of the products.After researching, we scored gutter guard providers in these categories: gutter guard materials and product options, installation options, payment options, communication, additional benefits and reputation.The BBB ratings included in this guide are accurate as of May 2023.