LeafGuard Review | Expert Reviewed (2023)

Gutter maintenance is a vital yet frustrating part of homeownership. Having to climb a ladder, pull out any clogs, and repeat the process over and over again is not only tiring but also dangerous at times. Gutter guards can cut down on this chore, helping to keep debris out of your gutters and direct water away from your home.

To help homeowners determine which products best match their needs, the This Old House Reviews Team has analyzed the best gutter guard companies in the United States. We encourage you to use this detailed LeafGuard review to determine if the company is right for you.

LeafGuard has been in the gutter guard industry since 1993 when it introduced a unique, one-piece reverse curve gutter guard for residential gutter protection. The company continues to offer its signature gutter guard in addition to a lifetime, clog-free guarantee. LeafGuard’s gutter guards are also backed by the Good Housekeeping Institute, and the company custom-fits all of its gutter guards to each home.

LeafGuard offers a one-piece reverse curve gutter guard with a thorough installation process. The gutter cover’s design works to block and pull debris out of your rain gutters while directing rainwater through your downspouts and away from your home’s foundation.

Product Details

• Aluminum one-piece design: Unlike other gutter guards that might feature two components joined together, LeafGuard offers a sturdy, aluminum, one-piece gutter guard with a reverse curve design. This allows the guard to handle up to 32 inches of rain per hour, and it pushes leaves, pine needles, fir needles, and more from your gutters with ease.
• Custom-fit: Because LeafGuard designs each of its guards according to each home, you receive a custom-fitted gutter guard. LeafGuard’s gutter guards are also supported every two feet. In addition to its guards fitting any roof pitch or material, LeafGuard’s gutter guards are mounted away from your roof shingles. This ensures no chance of roof damage that might void your roof warranty.
• ScratchGuard paint finish: LeafGuard finishes all of its gutter guards with a ScratchGuard paint. This reduces the chance of your gutter system chipping, peeling, cracking, rotting, or rusting.

How LeafGuard Gutter Guards Work

LeafGuard’s gutter guards use liquid adhesion to keep your gutters clean. The guard’s design allows rainwater to travel around a hood and into the gutter while deflecting leaves and other debris from clogging it.

Transferable Lifetime Finish Warranty

LeafGuard includes a lifetime warranty for its aluminum LeafGuard with Scratchguard gutter and rain-carrying accessories. The warranty covers repairs and cleaning. LeafGuard claims the gutter system ​​will not blister, flake, chip, crack, peel, split, rot, red rust, or structurally deteriorate unless there’s a manufacturing defect. If any of this does occur, it must be under ordinary wear conditions and with the gutter guard installed to LeafGuard’s specifications to be covered by the warranty. Additionally, you must have cleaned the gutters according to the methods described in the warranty to receive coverage.

The warranty is transferable to new homeowners, which increases your home’s value.

LeafGuard’s installation process starts with a gutter installer visiting your home to evaluate your existing gutter system. This licensed gutter installer conducts a walkaround to pinpoint any gutter problems and provide an honest assessment of your current gutters. Once completed, the installer demonstrates how the LeafGuard gutter system works, takes measurements, and provides a detailed written quote.

If you decide to move forward with LeafGuard, you will work with the company to schedule an installation day. The installation team can finish most of the process in one day. First, they disassemble your old gutters and dispose of them properly. Then, the team custom forms your gutter guards on-site using a roll-forming machine.

Once the gutter guards are formed, the team inserts LeafGuard’s patented hangers two feet apart for maximum stability, and the gutter system is connected to your existing fascia board. The installers then measure each gutter’s pitch to ensure an efficient water flow and attach downspouts. Once everything is installed correctly, the installation team removes all equipment and debris from your property.

LeafGuard does not provide any cost information online. This is because the amount you pay for a LeafGuard system depends on the size of your home and whether or not you need repairs or new gutters installed. During the in-home inspection of your gutters, a LeafGuard installer will provide you with a personalized quote.

LeafGuard has locations in 37 states across the U.S. However, the company’s service options change based on ZIP code, so we encourage you to check with the company to see if it services your home’s address.

LeafGuard offers services in the following states:

LeafGuard holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and accreditation from the website.* Critical reviews mention the installation team leaving a mess behind, while positive customer reviews praise the professionalism of LeafGuard’s sales reps and the effectiveness of its gutter guard.

Read what some LeafGuard customers had to say about their experiences below.

“I cannot say enough good things about this company. We had a LeafGuard system installed in 2007 and 14 years later it is still doing great. We have never had to clean out our gutters since that day. But I especially want to talk about the customer service. We had a roofer who told us we would have to remove the guttering to repair our roof. I called LeafGuard about it (again I had not been in touch with them for 14 years), and … [they] went our of [their] way to try and work with the roofer.” – James H. via BBB

“The serviceman who came to examine our gutters was professional and customer-oriented. We explained the situation to him[,] and he saw the cause immediately. With a few minor adjustments, the guttering was back to functioning as expected. We have had several downpours and drenching storms since his visit[,] and the gutters have performed as expected.” – Julia C. via BBB

“Completely unresponsive, no one picks up the phone. They pushed the install date twice already. Sent a crew that left the job undone….” – Felipe C. via BBB

“Workers left construction debris not only in my yard, but in my neighbor’s yard. [F]inally cleaned up their mess after three tries, and after I had already cleaned up the trash in my neighbor’s yard..I’ve contacted them a total of four times over three months, regarding leaks in their system. They came back out once, and I still have leaks.” – Weldon J. via BBB

*Better Business Bureau (BBB) information accurate as of April 2023. 

We also received feedback directly from a LeafGuard customer. The reader noted that the product performed as advertised but stated that the finish did not hold up over time:

“We installed 160 feet of LeafGuard gutters on our house just over 5 years ago. We experienced some slight damage during Hurricane Ian and had a representative from LeafGuard come over to look at the damage. While he was here, we asked him to address the finish that was ‘washing off’ the tops. He stated he had never seen this before and came up with some excuses. Needless to say, they informed us they will not warranty the finish and we are on our own despite their warranty paperwork. The gutter tops are literally turning to bare metal and the silver shows as the sun shines on them. It is disappointing that such an expensive product does not hold up at all, and they do not stand by their product.” – Frank G.

Other readers told us they had a much more positive experience with the company:

“The salesperson was great. He explained everything and answered all questions. It took them two days to complete the job. They arrived early morning. The first day, they worked until dark. They completed the job on the second day, cleaned up the debris, and took it with them. They did a great job. We love the look of the gutters on the house. It rained last night, and the gutters did their job.” – Paul and Sandra

LeafGuard is a good choice for gutter guards if you are interested in a reverse curve gutter system backed by plenty of guarantees and warranties over performance and workmanship. The company is also a solid option if you want an entirely professional gutter system installation, because it requires one of its certified and licensed installation teams to install the system.

However, other gutter guards may better meet other needs you have. For example, LeafFilter offers a micro-mesh gutter guard ideal for heavy rainfall and smaller debris. If you live in a snowy or icy region, LeafGuard may not be the best choice compared to a gutter guard like HomeCraft, which claims its design helps prevent ice dams and heavy snow buildup.

LeafGuard and LeafFilter both offer quality gutter guard systems, but they each offer unique benefits. You can compare them by visiting our LeafFilter vs. LeafGuard review.

• Company name: Englert LeafGuard
• Company type: Private
• CEO: Rob Lowe
• Year founded: 1993
• Headquarters: 1 Tower Center Blvd, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
• State availability: 36 and Washington D.C.
• BBB rating: A+

Our Rating Methodology

The This Old House Reviews Team backs up our gutter guard recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each gutter guard product and provider. We conduct research by reviewing product specifications and provider website information, speaking with customer representatives, and analyzing customer reviews. We then score each provider against our review standards for specifications, services, reputation, warranties and discounts, payment options, and customer service to arrive at a final score out of 100.  

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.