Gutter protection tested: the best products

Foliage, needles, seeds, moss: only a complete covering of the gutter prevents stubborn dirt. There are different ways to protect the gutter from clogging. The offer ranges from stable metal grids to loose gutter caterpillars. We present the best methods and products for clogging gutters with their advantages and disadvantages.

Table of contents Table of contents gutter protection: The best products against leaves and blockages

• Tips for effective gutter protection
• Gutter protection against leaves: an overview of proven systems
• Gutter protection grille in the test
• Best protection against leaves and birds: gutter brushes in the test
• Favorable protection against leaves: gutter nets in the test
• Inexpensive alternative to the complete gutter cover: leaf strainer, downpipe strainer, leaf guard

Table of contents Table of contents gutter protection: The best products against leaves and blockages

• Tips for effective gutter protection
• Gutter protection against leaves: an overview of proven systems
• Gutter protection grille in the test
• Best protection against leaves and birds: gutter brushes in the test
• Favorable protection against leaves: gutter nets in the test
• Inexpensive alternative to the complete gutter cover: leaf strainer, downpipe strainer, leaf guard

Tips for effective gutter protection

Anyone who deals with gutter protection and gutter cleaning will quickly lose patience. There are different solutions, shapes and sizes. This is mainly due to the fact that both roofs and gutters differ in their properties. The pollution also depends on the slope of the gutter. If the water is flushed through it regularly, less dirt gets stuck. The requirements for the protection of the rain gutter vary depending on the extent of the leaf fall and pollen count on site. You should ask yourself these questions when choosing the right gutter protection:

What kind of roof do you have?

In the case of a pitched roof with an incline of more than 50 degrees, the tiles usually protrude into the gutter, so that semicircular protective grilles that arch upwards are out of the question. The leaf grids must therefore be attached flat under the roof tiles. Since the catch also runs below the upper gutter edge in this variant, branches and leaves can easily get caught. Only a very precise attachment of the leaf guard can prevent this.

What type of gutter is there?

If you want to protect a semicircular gutter, you are on the safe side. This shape enables flexible attachment of either semicircular grids, nets or gutters. Semicircular grids and caterpillars are not an option for box gutters.

Tip: In gutters with eaves gutter, this covers the rear edge of the gutter. Some models for gutter protection are then out of the question due to the limited attachment options. Pay attention to manufacturer information, customer reviews or ask the manufacturer.

How big is the gutter?

There are various standard sizes of gutters that are crucial for choosing an efficient leaf stop. The sizes of garden houses can deviate from the norm. So pay special attention to a suitable gutter protection.

Tip: If an eaves panel is attached, the width a is reduced by about one centimeter.

Gutter size	a	b	c	Nominal size
50 cm	25 cm	13.6 cm	2.2 cm	4 parts
40 cm	19.2 cm	10.7 cm	2.2 cm	5 pieces
33.3 cm	15.3 cm	8.7 cm	2.0 cm	6 pieces
28 cm	12.7 cm	7.3 cm	1.8 cm	7 pieces
25 cm	10.5 cm	6.2 cm	1.8 cm	8 pieces
20 cm	8 cm	4.8 cm	1.6 cm	10 pieces

Gutter size	a	b	c	Nominal size
50 cm	20.0 cm	11.0 cm	2.2 cm	4 parts
40 cm	15.0 cm	90.7 cm	2.2 cm	5 pieces
33.3 cm	12.0 cm	7.5 cm	2 cm	6 pieces
28 cm	10.2 cm	6.2 cm	1.8 cm	7 pieces

What material is the gutter made of?

If you have a gutter made of plastic, you do not have to worry about the material compatibility of the gutter protection. Panels made of high-density polyethylene (PE-HD) are particularly popular. With metal or stainless steel materials, on the other hand, it is advisable to adapt the material of the leaf trap to the material of the gutter. The reason for this is that certain materials are not compatible with each other. Examples of this are iron in combination with copper and copper with zinc.

What shape and size must the holes be in order to avoid blockages?

The holes in the gutter protection must not be too small, otherwise leaf particles and sludge will easily seal the system. Understandably, the hole size must not be too large for leaves, seeds and needles to stay outside. In the test, foliage protection strips with a hole diameter of 6 millimeters have proven to be effective. In terms of shape, hexagonal perforations in particular achieved the best results in the test.

Tip: If you want to protect your gutter not only from leaves, but from bird nests and martens, gutter brushes or caterpillars have proven to be effective.

Gutter protection against leaves: an overview of proven systems

We present the best leaf stop measures in three categories. In addition to the products presented, the manufacturers in the test usually also offer gutter protection solutions in other sizes and materials. Always pay attention to the fit and compatibility with your installed gutter.

	Gutter protective grille	Gutter protective brush	Gutter protection network
benefits	Different shapes for all gutters sizes Round protective grids for round need gutters no attachment	Easy cleaning by easy removal Easy installation Protection from birds and martens	Cheapest gutter protection Flexible in length For all gutter materials
disadvantage	Gutter protection should Have gutter material or be made of plastic Foliage can be flat surface cover and cause water to build up	Leaves can caught in the brush Diameter has to fit exactly The wire should go with that Gutter material must be compatible	Tricky attachment More complex cleaning
protection against leaves	Yes	Yes	Yes
protection against Mader / birds	No	Yes	No
protection against Needles	Yes	No	Yes
With eaves sheet usable	Dependent of model	Yes	Yes
For box gutter suitable	Dependent of model	No	Yes
Price	about 3 to 4 euros per meter	about 3 to 4 euros per meter	about 1 euro per meter

Gutter protection grille in the test

Fixed grids made of metal or plastic turned out to be the best form of gutter protection against clogging of the drainage by leaves in the test. The grilles are permanently installed, so it is important that they are attached precisely, which closes well on both sides of the gutter. Gutter protection grilles are available in semicircular and flat form, so that there is a suitable model for every type and size of gutter.

1. HaGa gutter protection

Suitable for: round gutters from 10 cm to 12.5 cm

Installation: insert into the gutter

Material: PE-HD

Test: 4.4 out of 5 stars

2. "PRO" leaf trap

Suitable for: All plastic and metal gutters with a width between 10-15cm

Installation: clip on outside, slide inside under the roof tile

Material: PE-HD

Price: approx. 3 euros / m

Test: 4.6 out of 5 stars

3. Gutter protection DARI FIX

Suitable for: 7 to 6-part zinc gutters (10cm –12cm)

Installation: clip on outside, slide inside under the roof tile

Material: polypropylene

Price: approx. 3 euros / m

Test: 4.4 out of 5 stars

Best protection against leaves and birds: gutter brushes in the test

If you are looking for gutter protection that not only works against leaves, but also against birds, nests and martens, you can use a simple gutter brush (also known as the gutter caterpillar). It is simply placed in the gutter. Protection against seeds and needles is not optimal. In addition, the brush must be cleared of leaves in between to ensure the drainage.

The correct diameter of the gutter caterpillar is crucial: too large and the brush is pushed out of the gutter, too small and it is carried away by the wind. Therefore, pay attention to the manufacturer's instructions. Although the brush is made of plastic and is compatible with all channel materials, you should pay attention to the material of the wire. Again, it should be compatible with your gutter so that it is not attacked.

1. Workshop need gutter brush (12cm)

Suitable for: Half-round gutters made of zinc or PVC with a diameter of 12 cm

Attachment: insert, clips for storm protection, hooks for connecting

Material: UV-resistant plastic, galvanized wire

Price: approx. 3 euros / meter

2. Badstübner technology brushes roof brush (12 cm)

Suitable for: Half-round gutters made of zinc or PVC with a diameter of 12 cm

Attachment: Simply insert, holds without clips, because of the thick trim

Material: UV resistant plastic, galvanized wire

Price: 5 euros / m

3. Workshop need gutter brush (15cm)

Suitable for: semicircular gutter made of copper or PVC with 15cm diameter

Attachment: insert, clips for storm protection, hooks for connecting

Material: UV resistant plastic, copper wire

Price: 6.25 euros / m

Favorable protection against leaves: gutter nets in the test

The cheapest form of foliage protection is the plastic net with click technology. Pay attention to good quality so that the construction remains stable over a long period of time. The gutter net is flexibly attached to the gutter with elastic clips, however, as with the gutter grille, precise work is required to avoid "dirty corners" in the gutter. In the test, the installation is therefore trickier than with the other two variants in a gutter protection comparison.

1. Spark leaf guard

Size: All gutters with a width of 6 cm

Attachment: fastening clips

Price: approx. 2 euros / m

2. Deuba gutter protection grille

Suitable for: All gutters up to 15.5 cm wide

Attachment: fastening clips

Price: approx.1.25 euros / m

3. Lifetime gutter protection grille

Suitable for: All gutters up to 15.5 cm wide

Attachment: fastening clips

Price: approx. 1 euro / m

Inexpensive alternative to the complete gutter cover: leaf strainer, downpipe strainer, leaf guard

It sounds tempting to protect the gutter from clogging with a cheap downpipe strainer. This is basically a simple solution if you are dealing with only a few leaves falling. The leaf sieve is inserted in the hook-in socket and prevents contamination in the downpipe. Of course, the leaf guard does not provide any protection for the gutter itself. The gutter must be cleaned as needed, just like the leaf sieve itself. This means that solutions that run over the entire gutter are definitely the better alternative in comparison.