Gutter Leaf Protection That Fits Your Trees

Are gutter guards worth it in Northern Virginia?

Under real tree cover, yes. The oak and poplar canopy over much of Northern Virginia fills open gutters every fall, and a good guard ends the twice-a-year cleaning cycle. With only a few trees near the house, guards are optional, and we will tell you so at the estimate.

No guard is maintenance-free. E-Z Gutter’s own product sheet says its screen needs the top brushed off from time to time, depending on the debris. What a guard changes is where the debris ends up: on top, where it can be brushed or hosed off, instead of packed into the trough and the downspout.

Which gutter guard do you need?

Match the guard to what falls on your roof. Pine needles and small twigs call for Englert MicroGuard, whose perforations are much smaller than the openings in a steel screen. For a medium debris load, E-Z Lock screen is the other option we install. At the estimate we look at your trees and your gutters and recommend one.

Englert MicroGuard

MicroGuard is a micro-filtration guard made of heavy-gauge .032 aluminum, with more than 48 micro-perforations per square inch that let water in and keep small twigs and pine needles out, according to Englert’s product page and brochure. It fits almost any 5-inch or 6-inch gutter, it does not get nailed through your shingles, and from the street it is hard to see. It can cover every run or only the runs under the trees.

More on our Englert MicroGuard page and on Englert’s MicroGuard product page.

E-Z Lock Premium Screen

E-Z Lock is a powder-coated screen made of .028 expanded galvanized steel, built for medium debris loads. It snaps into the gutter on spring tension without disturbing the shingles, and it snaps back out when you want to clean underneath. For pine needles and other small debris, MicroGuard’s smaller openings are the better choice.

Can gutter guards go on the gutters you have now?

Yes, if those gutters are sound. On one Fairfax Station gutter guard job, we added MicroGuard to the existing house and garage gutters. If your gutters leak at the seams, sag or pull away from the fascia, replace them first, because a guard on a failing gutter only hides the problem.

The cheapest time to add guards is while new gutters go up, since the crew and the ladders are already there. MicroGuard on new gutters with 3×4 downspouts is also the combination that qualifies for our 10-year clog-free warranty.

What warranty comes with gutter guards?

MicroGuard carries a lifetime warranty. When it goes on with new gutters and 3×4 downspouts, the system also carries our 10-year clog-free warranty, and the gutters and downspouts carry a 20-year material warranty. Both of those guard warranties come with MicroGuard. The details are on our gutter warranties page.

Do you clean or repair gutter guards?

No. Sunshine Contracting is a replacement company, so we do not take gutter cleaning, guard repair or re-hanging calls. The one exception is warranty service on gutters or guards we installed.

What do gutter guards cost in Northern Virginia?

Guards cost the least when they go on with a new gutter system. For reference, most whole-house seamless gutter replacements here run $2,000 to $6,000 installed, and leaf protection is priced separately on top of that.

Which guard you choose, how many feet of gutter get covered, one story or two, and whether the guards go on with new gutters move the number. That is a planning range, not a quote, and there are other options, so reach out if your house does not fit it neatly. Our gutter replacement cost guide breaks it down, our guide to whether gutter guards are worth it compares guard types, financing is available with approved credit, and the price does not change at the kitchen table. You can also compare seamless K-style gutters, read about downspout sizing and placement, or see all of our gutter services.

Gutter guard questions homeowners ask us

Are gutter guards worth the money?

Under real tree cover, yes. They end the twice-a-year cleaning cycle and keep the downspouts flowing. With few trees nearby, they are optional. No guard is maintenance-free, but the debris sits on top, where it can be brushed or hosed off, instead of packing into the gutter.

What is the best gutter guard for pine needles?

A micro-perforated guard such as Englert MicroGuard. Its openings are much smaller than a steel screen’s, so pine needles and small twigs stay out while the water goes through. For medium debris loads, E-Z Lock steel screen is the other option we install. We look at your trees at the free estimate and recommend one.

Can you put gutter guards on my existing gutters?

Yes, if the gutters are sound. If they leak at the seams, sag or pull away from the fascia, replace them first. The best time to add guards is with new gutters, and MicroGuard installed with new gutters and 3×4 downspouts is what qualifies for our 10-year clog-free warranty.

Request a free gutter guard estimate or call (703) 499-8654.