MasterShield Gutter Guard Installation: Don't Make These 3 Mistakes!

[@gutterguardsdirect]

If you want to find out more about MasterShield, we go in-depth on what it can do on the Gutter Guards Direct Website: www.gutterguardsdirect.com/gutter-guards/micro-mesh/mastershield/

[@annviera5501]

Discussion of pitch, slope, installation expertise, matching best product to situation=invaluable, thank you!

[@rainman50]

Glad to see this video. I’m ready to replace all my gutters on the house. I will have a good talk with the installer about these issues you solved here. Thank you very much for making me aware of the problems that can happen during installation.

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Thanks for you comment. We’re glad the video was helpful!

[@scottydog10557]

Great video! Thanks for making it. You’ve empowered me to help others with their gutter issues. Subscribed! Scott Reese, Done-Right Roof and Gutters, Magnolua Texas

[@gutterguardsdirect]

That's fantastic, Scott. Thank you for sharing your comments. Please reach out if you ever have any questions. We're happy to help. --Johnathan

[@katarinajaeger3423]

Your videos are excellent and full of helpful information. Recently, I have had a dreadful experience with a new gutter installation. I only wish you were located in Connecticut

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Sadly, most gutter installers don't do a very good job. Part of the problem is training. They never learn the basics, which are quite easy to employ, but because it requires and extra step or two, most installers just slap up the gutters, collect their money, and run. Unfortunately, gutters are also mostly a commodity, so the only way some of these guys make money is volume. Spending too much time in one place is costly, and you'll likely get what you got. We'd love to be in Connecticut, too. It's a beautiful state!

[@creampuff1947]

Excellent info - to the point and done well

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Thanks for taking the time to watch the video, Mike. We're glad you found it helpful.

[@dietrichschaefer7506]

Need gutter guards on my gutters because any debris getting into the downspouts will clog my drainage system. Your tests on various gutter guards, has convinced me that the MasterShield is the one to go with. Excellent videos by you on the testing. I will be going to 6" gutters which should increase the surface area that the rain water is exposed to. Your presentation in this video regarding the proper pitch of the gutter guard got me to thinking about how far the outer edge of the gutter needs to be below the roof edge. My roof is a 7"/12" pitch. What is the maximum pitch on the gutter guard to ensure that the water from the roof runs into the gutter and not over it, using the MasterShield guard.? Thank you in advance for your answer.

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Thanks for your comments, Dietrich. The position of the gutter will be somewhat determined by the height of your fascia board and the amount of drop from high side to your downspouts. As long as you can get something close to a 1:1 ratio, you’ll be fine. For reference, the roof in the video is a 12/12 pitch.

[@owenblair2571]

Great info! And I have watched a lot of KZbin to say this.

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Thanks for your comments, Owen. We're glad you found this video helpful!

[@haug0099]

Best gutter video I've seen

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Thanks!

[@beckysartor]

Great video! Wish I'd seen it before going with leaf filter. That product is way overpriced unless you tell them no thanks then they keep lowering the price. We've had nothing but problems since installation. The salesman was a big time liar too. How sad. Thanks for helping others!

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Please share your experience in more detail. Homeowners would like to know!

[@spscorse]

Thank you that was well explained

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Glad you liked it. Thanks for sharing your comment!

[@rp-nn7qe]

I have never protected our 5in K channel gutters on a concrete tile roof for 20 years here north of Seattle, and as a result I have to clean out all the short pine needles and cones from the nearby 100ft Douglas firs. I want to buy gutter protection, but can't find a system that is expected to perform well over the near term, 3-10 years. I was optimistic about MasterShield after watching some of your videos, but two contractors told me that regardless of the type of metal screen or mesh, the upper surface, the filter, will become clogged in a few years. One contractor sells their own mesh product, and the other recommends Alu-Rex Double Pro with 6in K gutters for my house. They said never come back to us if you buy a mesh product and it fails, because we told you so! One said that his national company removed 80 million feet of filter/mesh/screen filter protection systems across the US last year alone because of poor performance (clogging of the screens), and installed non-screen protection instead. It looks like the Double Pro would require cleaning from the top side (roof or ladder) because the filter system slopes toward the roof to collect the water, and there is a 14mm high edge at the top of the face of the gutter that will prevent debris from being blown off the filter surface. Any system that is flat or has such a shallow slope will just act as a shelf for debris as you have said in your videos. The contractor agreed that maintenance would be required, but suggested wiping the filter surface clean with an extension pole from the ground. I can’t believe that would work well, especially as the pile of debris is pushed down the length of the gutter toward the end cap. The other contractor recommends Gutter Helmet, but this is very similar looking to LeafGuard, which has a very poor performance rating because debris and even birds can enter the system under the bull nose, and heavy rain will just spill off the cover onto the ground given that surface tension is not sufficient to carry large volumes of water around the nose into the gutter, especially after the surface of the cover has collected dirt over 2-3 years and has changed the properties of the surface. So I am not confident any system would work well in the near or long term. What do you suggest?

[@johnathanskardon]

I believe Leafless in Seattle sells MasterShield. They used to sell LeafFilter back in the day, so they have a lot of experience with two popular micro mesh gutter guards. The key to the success is forward pitch. If it is designed to sit flat in the gutter, then, logically, debris will accumulate on top of it. If it installs with a decent forward slope, such as MasterShield, that shouldn't be much of an issue. I wrote a blog story that compares perforated aluminum gutter guards to micro mesh gutter guards. The article's premise is that both gutter guards install relatively flat within the gutter. Here's a link: www.gutterguardsdirect.com/customer-case-studies/perforated-vs-micro-mesh-gutter-guards-which-is-better/. MasterShield is designed to install with a forward slope, so it remedies the problem of the "shelf-like" gutter guards. You can always have them install a few panels to see how it works before you make the leap, but if you or they follow what we talked about in this video, then you shouldn't have any problem. I'd take the pie-in-the-sky stories you hear from contractors with a grain of salt. We had heard from a manufacturer last year that that LeafFilter bought 1 million feet of their perforated gutter guards. It's possible that they were swapping out LeafFilter with an alternative. If true, the article above is all the more important. In terms of removing 80 million feet of product from houses, I've never heard that. It would take years to remove that much material and somebody would have reported on it. It doesn't seem plausible nor does it seem like something LeafFilter would do for its customers. After the sale customer service isn't their strong suit nor is admitting that their plastic gutter guard has a lot of warping issues (see this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l33Pn2qeadGmpZI) I'm leery of solid gutter covers in heavily wooded areas. If you have oaks and pine trees, it can be a real disaster. Buying a properly installed micro mesh gutter guard that installs at a good angle (25+ degrees) is the way to go.

[@ShellSellars-Smith]

I am dealing with this right now. I think I had bad installation. I am trying right now to get them back out. Bummer.

[@gutterguardsdirect]

MasterShield or another gutter guard?

[@happyjack6901]

The Leaf guard frontal opening was not adjusted correctly

[@LeatherVike]

Can you use thes on copper gutters?

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Yes. MasterShield gutter guards are available in copper and aluminum. Copper is stunning looking and offers fantastic anti microbial properties, but it’s pricey, just like your copper gutters were. You can use the aluminum version in a dark bronze color to achieve a similar look, but the installer would have to use a weather strip gasket between the aluminum and copper lip as well as stainless steel screws where the gutter guards secure to the gutter lip.

[@513Homes-p5c]

Having been impressed with Jonathan's tour and facts, I thought as a small builder this is someone I want to partner with. The Gutter Guards Direct gatekeeper apparently has only one way of doing things and I obviously didn't respond the way she wanted me to. Reminds me of Seinfeld "NO SOUP" except it's "No Gutter Guards" for me.

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Sorry about that! Feel free to submit your info request to www.gutterguardsdirect.com/free-estimate/ or call back and ask for me specifically. Thanks, Johnathan

[@brooklynbummer]

The guy is right, correct preparation is required to any system. Never assume that the builder did it right the first time. Also, time and use can and often does change the original pitch and hanging characteristics, so recheck and fix before installing a gutter guard system.

[@gutterguardsdirect]

This is a great point. New gutters, old gutters. It doesn't matter. Very few gutters are installed properly. If you own an older home where someone has used a ladder to access the roof over the years, it's common to find one or two places along a run of gutter where the ladder was placed against the gutter and the weight of the person or persons going up and down the ladder has caused the gutter to sag. The home featured in this video showed relatively new gutters that were installed incorrectly, without the proper pitch. They homeowners complained about the gutters not working properly even after they had paid to have the gutter guards removed. I believe I mentioned that we spent 1-day simply shoring up the gutters to ensure they flowed properly and stopped leaking at the corners.

[@diverdon184]

So what is the proper range of installation angles for this product. You mention a 1:1 ratio below. Do you mean as steep as 45 degrees (12/12)? What is the minimum angle to prevent debris buildup on the mesh?

[@gutterguardsdirect]

1:1 is optimal but not always realistic. It’s generally doable on a 6:12 to 8:12 pitch. That would give you a very generous slope and will coax most stuff off MasterShield’s surface. Our test environment is a 12:12 pitch. The good news is that Mastershield likes slope and still takes in the water. That is not true of several other systems that allowed water to spill over the screens surface.

[@DJiggerJim]

I MasterShield installed on my house and I have a high-pitched roof. During heavy rain events, the rain at the bottom of the valleys runs right over the gutters onto the ground. The original installer is no longer in business and another installer came to look at it and said the roof is too steep for the MasterShield product! I don't have any pine needles to deal with, only deciduous tree leaves. Any ideas for potential solutions? Thanks

[@oldarkie3880]

No guards, just large (3" x 4") downspouts and twice a year clean.

[@DJiggerJim]

@@oldarkie3880 Not the answer I wanted to hear, but thank you!

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Valleys will render any gutter guard useless, especially long valleys on steep pitched roofs. There is no great answer. However, I would recommend a more porous screen in the corner using a different gutter guard altogether. There's a system from DiamondBack that we typically use in the corners. It's an expanded metal screen -- like the black powder coated metal screen that you can buy at Home Depot -- but it has a finer mesh screen on top of the frame to keep out most problematic debris. It's not perfect, but it's better than keeping MasterShield in the corner. Mastershield and LeafSolution also sell valley pans for the inside corners. Think of a baseball home plate. It extends the corner out several inches at a 45 degree angle, but we've had mixed success with those.

[@phyllissmith7003]

do you replace the old gutters with new ones or do you just put gutter sheilds on the exsisting gutters

[@gutterguardsdirect]

We do both depending on the condition of the gutters. In this video, the homeowners had relatively new gutters that weren't installed properly. We simply had to pitch them properly for MasterShield and then they were in good shape with what they had. In other case, gutters can be undersized of past their prime. We believe that if you're going to invest a bunch of money into a good gutter guard system, the underlying gutters also need to be in good shape.

[@ted3020]

The things you corrected would make the gutters better.

[@gutterguardsdirect]

That's correct, Ted. Thanks for watching!

[@danborski85]

What is the best kind for 12/12 pitch?

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Our test area garage roof is a 12/12 pitch. MasterShield performed the best in our Ultimate Gutter Guard Challenge tests. It was installed at about a 32 degree angle. Not quite one-to-one, but about 3X greater slope than LeafFilter, which sat next to MasterShield on both sides of the garage.

[@debrag8717]

I had a rep come out to give me an estimate for Mastershield gutter covers. (I know it's the 3rd gen patented cover from the same guy.) The installer wanted me to go with KleanGutter from the start. I said no, I prefer Mastershield. We did the price-out, agreed on the work giving me the long weekend to think it over then he checked my shingles and said they were 'glued down' so I couldn't use Mastershield, I could only use a cover that doesn't go underneath the shingles. He said KleanGutter would get custom bent and installed to touch the drip edge under the shingle line. I'd had gutter glove come out and quote me before this and he did not mention there would be a problem with 'glued down' shingles. I'm 95% sure no 'glue' was used, it's just the sticky line on the bottom starter row that the actual exposed single is stuck to. Was this just a scam? Like, does KleanGutters cost a lot less than Mastershield? They said KG would cost at most $400 less but probably more like $200 less. He didn't do an immediate requote at the time and said when I called to confirm delivery, we'd discuss the new price. This really feels like a bait and switch to me both in product and pricing. Any helpful hints on what's fact, fiction or anything?

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Thanks for your comments, Deborah. I believe there are dealers who focus more on KleanGutter than Mastershield. I cannot speak to the performance differences, but KleanGutter is part of our 2022 test. We should know more about it early next year. In terms of this dealer’s preference, he probably sells KleanGutter as his exclusive product. There is not a big price difference between the 2 gutter guards. In terms of the rest of his story, Mastershield can be trimmed and bent if needed, so I think you’re right to be wary of his story. Feel free to reach out to Mastershield.com directly if you continue to get the runaround. Perhaps they can recommend another dealer better suited for your situation.

[@JT-rc7vx]

Where have I heard this b4🤔 All of these people need to put guarantee's in writing. As in we will fix it gratis if it quits working. And it will

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Most manufacturers of name brand gutter guards offer warranties as part of their service. However, I would agree that most warranties are so limited in scope that they’re worthless. In other words, the problem claimed by the homeowner isn’t covered under warranty, but the homeowner assumes it is and gets upset when it’s not. Another issue arises when manufacturers won’t compensate their dealers to do warranty work. This is especially troubling when a previous dealer installed the product and the new dealer is left cleaning up the former dealer’s mess. In that case, nobody wins because there’s no incentive for the new dealer to take care of the issue. What was your experience and what product(s) do you own?

[@jamesp57867]

Wonder how much that ended up costing them.

[@gutterguardsdirect]

If you're asking in aggregate, James, I imagine a good bit between multiple systems over multiple years. But, they came back to the well because it was a big enough issue that they needed to get it resolved. Not everybody is in a position to try and try again until they get it right, but it shows that when it's done right, it works. Unfortunately, more gutter guard dealers are interested in hawking products than fixing problems. If companies focused on the latter, homeowners would be more pleased overall with their purchases and they wouldn't have to endure this experience.

[@jamesgordon8867]

Proper installation

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Yes. It makes a difference, doesn't it?

[@geniousgeorge4973]

What about ice?

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Ice forms on any gutter guard. We have found that micro mesh gutter guards are less susceptible to large icicles than solid gutter covers. This is primarily because the screen that is present on micro mesh allows some of the water to pass through despite the presence of snow and ice on top of the screen. By contrast, water that rolls over solid gutter covers has to either go inside the channel across the front of the gutter. If the opening is frozen then water bypasses the opening and continues down the face of the gutter, causing larger icicles. There are a few gutter guards on the market that include built-in heating elements. I believe the GutterGlove Pro offers that option.

[@SurfingWithTheMartian]

The problem with videos like these and gutter guards in general is you base the video and the product solution on one day out of the year. It’s usually a nice calm day like in this video without any rain, wind, snow, ice, debris falling etc. How about a time lapse of debris falling during the different seasons and how the product performs under those conditions? How about video of how the product performs during a heavy rain? Is all of the rain draining through the gutter guard or is some falling over the edge of the gutter? How about video of the drainage coming out of the downspouts during a heavy rain? If you’re in a cold climate how about time lapse of snow and ice accumulating on the gutter guard then melting/draining/refreezing? How about a time lapse video as to whether the micromesh gets clogged by small debris which would restrict drainage? All you’re doing in this video is saying “we used this product and did work for two days and we promise you’ll be happy with the work and materials we provided.” Not helpful I need proof.

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Thanks for your comments and questions. Subscribe to our channel and you’ll get access to lots of testing videos where we showcase gutter guards over the course of a year during spring, summer, fall and winter. You’ll see everything that you’ve asked about in order to make an informed decision.

[@NorthlanderMN]

With the money they have they could’ve had a company come out 1-2 times a year to blow them out.

[@gutterguardsdirect]

To be willing to invest in gutter guards 3-times, it is clearly an ongoing issue. Paying someone to clean gutters once or twice a year wouldn't suffice in their case. It's generally a combination of frequency, difficulty and desire. With the types of trees they have, they would be gutter cleaning several times a year. The main part of the house is 2 stories high, with a sloping backyard, which makes it higher in some spots, so it's not the easiest of jobs. Add to it, the homeowners travel for extended periods, and they need some peace-of-mind that their gutters will continue to work while they're out of town. I know they wish they got it right the first time, but, as they say, the third time is the charm!

[@NorthlanderMN]

@@gutterguardsdirect your a very good guy. High ethic’s. Other don’t have any ethic’s I don’t know how they even sleep at night. You are correct.

[@waynevarrelman9363]

Best thing is just clean your gutters twice a yr spring and fall . Gutter guards dont work, especially if you a have trees above your house

[@laopang91362]

Time will tell.

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Bobby, time will tell, but it doesn't take much time to determine if a gutter guard is going to work properly or fail. This home has many trees, including oaks and pines. The homeowners already proved the point that the wrong gutter guard, or the right gutter guard not installed properly, will fail quickly and repeatedly. We installed MasterShield micro mesh gutter guards on this home a few years ago, and we haven't heard a peep from the customer. We have driven by the house in the interim, and the gutter guards look just like you saw in the video.

[@georgecote3393]

What he conveniently didn’t say: all gutter guards will have clogged holes eventually from debris and will need to be serviced. When not serviced, water will flow over your gutters onto your lawn or driveway.

[@HandiBoyz]

I agree all gutter guards need service. We tell the customer that gutter guards need to be brushed off twice a year and we provide a service for that.

[@scooterreviews]

This is a false statement. The MasterShield does not clog and does not need to be serviced. There are no overflow issues with MasterShield and anyone trying to sell you a service to clean this system is scamming the home owner by selling an unnecessary service. As you would expect, I am an estimator for a company in Seattle that sells the MasterShield product and my clients do not need to have their gutters cleaned to keep them from clogging. In fact, my own mother has MasterShield on her home, in a very challenging environment, and the system works brilliantly. It is the only zero maintenance system available and when professionally installed, guarantees satisfaction.

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Thanks for your comment, George. Curiously, what's your frame of reference for your comments? Do you have MasterShield installed on your home? Have you had a bad experience with it? If so, please share your experience with us. We always tell our customers that, "no gutter guard is 100% perfect." Some folks have the expectation that it should be 100% perfect. But what in life is perfect? The home featured in this video is a case-in-point that it took 3 attempts to get the situation right. Because we took the time to install MasterShield properly, this homeowner shouldn't have to touch their gutter guards for a decade or more. We have seen that over a period of 10-15 years, as the asphalt releases from the shingles, it can create a film on the gutter guard screen that causes water to lose its adhesion. Simply washing off the stainless steel micro mesh screen with a high pressure nozzle attached to a hose or a pressure washer will easily remove the residue. This will restore the gutter guards to like new condition and they'll be good for another 10-15 years. By the way, the above observation applies to solid gutter covers, too. Think of LeafGuard, GutterHelmet, and LeaFree. The nose at the front of these gutter guards will form organic matter and gunk on the metal surface, causing water to lose adhesion at the front edge of the guard. In this case, water will roll off the front edge (nose) onto the gutter face and to the ground below. It, too, is an easy fix using the same cleaning methods. In terms of leaves or debris clogging the holes in MasterShield's screen, that won't happen. The holes are too small and the debris cannot penetrate the screen openings. In fact, the screen is so fine that is has very little friction and, when installed properly, debris readily falls, washes and blows off the screen surface.

[@gutterguardsdirect]

@@HandiBoyz It's good that you offer that service. Curiously, what gutter guards do you install and what percentage of your customers use your cleaning service after you've installed a gutter guard?

[@BartlettTFD]

Master Shield👎👎 WHY❓This product unfortunately uses very fine micro filter technology to keep the bad stuff out while allowing the rainwater to flow into the gutter. What could possibly go wrong with that❓ Well plenty! What do we do with ANY kind of filter? We either replace it periodically, think automotive oil filter, engine air filter, or cabin filter, furnace filters, OR clean filters designed to be cleaned. The finer the filtering material requires even more frequent cleaning. The customer is left with 2 options, just continue to clean out the gutters periodically OR pay to have Master Shield or say Leaf Filter installed. THEN you’re stuck with having to spend hours CLEANING the gutter guard filter so the rainwater flows into the gutters instead of OVER them and onto to the driveway, yard, or walkway. THEIR solution is both EXPENSIVE + it doesn’t solve any problems‼️

[@gutterguardsdirect]

Are you speaking from experience? If so, please share... The stainless steel filters/screens on MasterShield and LeafFilter are nothing like what you've described. Any oil filter or cabin filter I have ever seen is made from pleated paper, contained in an encapsulated box/container/device that is designed to trap debris so that it doesn't travel places you don't want it to go. An exposed gutter guard is (or should be) designed to deflect leaves and debris, helped by gravity and wind. The finer the screen, the less likely it is to embed leaves and debris in the screen, and the less likely it is to clog. The issue isn't the screen clogging as many people claim or think; it's the ability of the gutter guards to shed leaves, pine needles and other small debris. For all of it's warts, the screen on LeafFilter has never clogged in any of our tests. However, since it's designed to install within the gutter, it is more likely to trap debris on its surface, which creates another set of potential overflow issues. Same is true with MasterShield that has the added benefit of a better slope to more easily shed leaves and debris and shingle granules (when installed properly). With that said, it's quite possible that enough residue from an asphalt shingle roof could clog the pores of finer screens over time -- say 10-15 years -- that it would require spraying off the gutter screen with a good nozzle on a hose or a pressure washer. We've seen it and done it, and it brings the gutter screens back to new, quickly, for another 10-15 years of service.

[@BartlettTFD]

@ You can argue YOUR point until you’re “blue in the face” and it WILL NOT change reality‼️You’re pushing a flawed scam product‼️ A L L of these so-called “filter” type gutter guards, LEAF FILTER, LEAF GUARD, etc are marketed to senior citizens as once this product is installed, at fraudulent prices, by the way, “my husband “Bob” or “Bill” or whatever the hell his name is, won’t EVER have to get up on that dangerous ladder again‼️ It’s a “crock” of sh..❗️You know it but unfortunately unsuspecting seniors are suckered into the scam. ALL FILTERS MUST BE CLEANED OR REPLACED otherwise they fill up with whatever material they’re designed to catch. I would strongly suggest that you read up on “filter” technology or talk to ANY engineer NOT ASSOCIATED with ANY of these bogus companies pushing this crap‼️ Have a wonderful “filtering” day😂