Should Gutter Guards Be Installed Under Shingles?

A gutter system is an important exterior feature on your home that functions by collecting rainwater and diverting it away from your property. However, if you have open faced gutters, they can become prone to clogging due to fallen leaves, twigs, and other debris that gets caught in the horizontal channels. When this happens, your home is at risk of various water related damages that can end up costing you a lot of money in repairs.

However, to counteract this problem, many homeowners opt to install gutter guards as a solution. And while many homeowners choose to hire a professional gutter company, others may choose to tackle this home renovation project on their own. This can evidently lead to several common questions, including: “should gutter guards be installed under shingles?” Therefore, if you are a homeowner who has chosen to install gutter guards on your own, we’re going to be answering this frequently asked question. Therefore, for more information on whether gutter guards should be installed above or under your shingles, keep reading.  

Should gutter guards be installed under shingles?

In most cases, you don’t want to install your gutter guards underneath the shingles on your roof. Why? The shingles are there to protect your roof and help prevent water from entering into your home when it rains. Therefore, if you adjust the position of these shingles by installing gutter guards and exposing parts of your roof, you may run the risk of your roof having water damage. 

How do you slide gutter guards under shingles?

Now that you know installing gutter guards underneath your shingles might lead to potential damage, here are some tips for installing them without disrupting your roof's water barrier to prevent water damage from occurring. Generally speaking, most gutter guard additions require you to install it by laying the piece down flat, on top of the gutter itself.

However, depending on the type of gutter guards you purchase, there may not be any way around installing them without moving your shingles to properly secure them to your home. Here is a list of some common types of gutter guards and how to install them:

1. Screen Gutter Guards

These types of gutter guards are typically made of a wire or plastic mesh strips. And while they are typically an inexpensive option, they may cause more harm to your home than good. This is because in order to install them, you may need to lift up the first layer of shingles and slip the screen underneath it to secure it in place. Therefore, if you can, it may be best to avoid this type of gutter guard.

2. Brush Gutter Guards

Brush gutter guards are made with a stiff, bristle-like feature that fits directly into your open faced gutter system to help keep fallen leaves and other debris out of the bottom of your gutter system while allowing water to drain. Accordingly, because the brush gutter guards slip right into your gutter system, you will not need to attach them underneath your shingles to secure them in place. However, these types of gutter guards can still allow smaller debris to collect, which may clog your gutter system.

3. Foam Gutter Guards

Foam gutter guards are very similar to brush gutter guards as they sit directly into your gutter system without needing to be attached underneath your shingles. Again, these are designed to prevent fallen leaves and other debris from clogging up your gutter system while allowing water to collect and drain. However, they may allow smaller pieces of debris to get stuck and potentially clog your gutter system if not maintained.

4. Gutter Guard Covers & Gutter Guard Hoods

Another type of gutter guard that you can install onto your open-faced gutters are covers or hoods. Depending on the company you choose, you will either be allowed to install these covers directly onto the gutter system by snapping it in place or having to install and secure it under your first row of shingles.

When it comes to installing and maintaining your gutters, tasks can get tricky pretty quick. Therefore, if you have never dealt with your gutters before, it may be best to hire a professional company to install your gutter guards for you. This way, you can rest assured knowing that they have been installed correctly, without causing damage to your home.

An Alternative to Installing Gutter Guards Under Your Shingles 

While gutter guards can provide some protection against water related damage to your home caused by clogging throughout your gutter system, there are other options available to homeowners who are looking to update the gutter system on their home.

LeafGuard® gutters are a type of gutter system that has a strategic design. Unlike other gutter systems and gutter guards, it utilizes a one-piece system. This innovative system not only averts debris from falling into your gutter when it rains but it also doesn’t require you to disrupt the water barrier of your roof.

Moreover, LeafGuard® gutter systems use a scientific and innovative liquid adhesion process. This process makes any fallen rainwater that drains from your roof adhere onto the top of the gutter system before it easily collects into the gutter channel below in a smooth, controlled way. This stops rainwater from dripping over the edges of your gutter system when it rains, and you don’t have to worry about your gutter system clogging as its design prevents debris from falling into your gutters. This again, will help protect your home from water damage that is caused by clogging. Some of the other benefits of installing LeafGuard® gutters onto your home, as opposed to traditional gutter guards include:

Saving Money in the Long Run

Investing in a high-quality gutter system now, especially if you live in an area where heavy rain and snowfall is common, may save you time, money, and the hassle of dealing with inconvenient repairs in the future.

Investing in a Heavy-Duty System

Furthermore, unlike other gutter systems and gutter guards, LeafGuard® gutters are made with a durable paint coating that will not peel, rot, crack, or rust. As a result, because LeafGuard® gutter systems are built with durability in mind they will last you a long time. 

In addition, LeafGuard® gutter systems are made using a heavy aluminum that is 20% thicker than industry standard and its downspouts are 30% larger than other companies in the market.

Customizing Gutters to Your Home

LeafGuard® gutters provide homeowners with the choice of selecting between different colors for their gutter system. This allows you to match them to your exterior design.

A Clog-Free Guarantee

LeafGuard® gutter systems also come with a clog-free guarantee, which is beneficial for homeowners that live in areas of the United States with severe weather conditions such as heavy rains and snowfall.

Less Maintenance

Furthermore, LeafGuard® gutter systems require less maintenance throughout the year. On top of this, you will no longer have to worry about removing fallen debris from your gutters as well.

Easy Installation Process 

Lastly, LeafGuard® gutters are fully customizable to fit your home and ensure a seamless installation process. As a result, you can expect that the installation process will be completed within a day. That way, you can get back to your normal routine quickly without any hassle.

Final Thoughts on Gutter Guard Installation Under Your Shingles 

As you can see, gutter guard installation is a difficult task that can cause more troubles for your home in the long run, if not installed properly. Therefore, rather than installing them yourself, it may be worth seeking the help of a professional company.

Alternatively, homeowners can benefit from LeafGuard® gutters as well. So, if you are ready to update the gutter system on your home, book a free consultation with the professional team at Local Home Pro and our trusted gutter contractors today and have the peace of mind knowing that your home is in good hands.