Let’s face it: There are a LOT of choices when it comes to gutter protection. Here at America Home Crafters Remodeling, we have taken it upon ourselves to evaluate three of the most popular gutter filters in states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania: mesh screens, single – drop gutter protection, and Gutter Shell. All three are extremely popular gutter protection systems, but we’ll break down each’s price, performance, and durability to show you which one is worth your money.
Let’s get started…
Price
Mesh screen:
In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and the surrounding areas, mesh screen is one of the cheapest quality gutter protection systems. It’s a simple mesh screen (like a window screen), so it is not quite dependable. As it tends to break down the quickest out of the three gutter covers because of its lower – quality parts, the bang – for – buck is not sweet with this product.
Single – drop gutter protection:
On the other end of the price spectrum is the single – drop gutter protection. Homeowners in NJ, PA, and surrounding areas don’t expect a great value, since it’s all one big piece — gutter cover, downspouts, and eaves troughs – the cost will outweigh its benefits. This makes a single – drop gutter protection not a price – friendly gutter cover.
Gutter Shell:
Gutter Shell is in the cream of the crop when it comes to the best value. It’s built with better quality parts than a mesh screen, so its cost is very much worth it (it lasts MUCH longer). Plus, it’s a cover-only system, meaning you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on a complete system.
Performance
Mesh screen:
Out of the three gutter covers, the mesh screen is the weakest link in terms of performance. Mesh screen ‘slays flat on your gutters, so leaves and debris can (and will) build up on it. This blocks water from entering your gutters, which can cause spillage and water damage to your home. Some mesh screen customers also mention that the holes in the system’s mesh screen are so small that heavy rains bounce right off it.
Single-drop gutter protection:
Single-drop gutter protection is sloped and relies surface tension to force water around its curved nose and into the gutters. It provides good protection against some debris, and it handles normal rainfall well; however, Single-drop gutter protection’s system (which means there’s just one opening for water to enter) allows water to fly over the system in heavy storms. Also, as seen in the image below, the single-drop gutter is prone to build up within the gutter. With just a single drop, there is no way for debris to exit.
Gutter Shell:
Gutter Shell is sloped like single-drop gutter protection, so that leaves, debris, and snow roll right off. The key difference is that Gutter Shell is a double-drop system, so water has TWO openings in which to enter. Therefore, Gutter Shell performs much better than a single-drop gutter protection during particularly bad rainstorms.
Upkeep
Mesh screen:
New Jersey – area homeowners better get their ladders ready if they go with the mesh screen. Mesh screen’s flat installation is prone to debris build up (as shown in the picture below), the exact thing you’re trying to avoid in buying gutter protection the first place.
Single-drop gutter protection:
A strong, sturdy design means single-drop gutter protection lasts homeowners a long time. But, due to the single opening in the design, the single-drop gutter protection is prone to clogging. Unlike the Gutter Shell, there is no double opening that allows for self-cleaning. Also be warned: since a single-drop gutter protection is one big piece, you may have to replace the entire system (including downspouts and eaves troughs) if something breaks. That’s a heavy burden on your wallet.
Gutter Shell:
Gutter Shell comes with a No-Clog Guarantee. With its double-sloped protection, the gutter self-cleans, so there’s no need to climb a ladder to clean it. Gutter Shell is maintenance free for life.
The Winner: Gutter Shell
The bottom line: mesh screens don’t stand up to the harsh weather and requires a lot of cleaning; Single-drop gutter protection is impractical and unnecessarily expensive for most people. Gutter Shell, however, is the perfect gutter cover in terms of price, performance, and upkeep. It’s absolutely the best gutter cover for those looking to prevent their gutters from clogging.
