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Head-to-head · Best Gutter Guards

Amerimax Hoover Dam Metal Mesh Gutter Guard vs Waterlock Micromesh 5-Inch Gutter Guard

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Waterlock Micromesh 5-Inch Gutter Guard comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.4 vs 4.0). Waterlock Micromesh 5-Inch Gutter Guard is best for: DIY installers who want micro-mesh filtration of fine debris and will pay more per foot for it. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Amerimax Hoover Dam Metal Mesh Gutter Guard
Ranked #4 in Best Gutter Guards
Amerimax Hoover Dam Metal Mesh Gutter Guard
1 sourceall derived

The Amerimax Hoover Dam is a powder-coated steel mesh guard sold in 3-foot pieces, with raised ridges meant to catch fast water and turn it into the gutter. Bob Vila named it best for downpours after seeing no overflow during a late-summer deluge, and This Old House scores the Amerimax mesh guard 3.9 out of 5 for its durable alloy steel. It is not micro-mesh, so shingle grit gets through, and its ridges hold debris that needs sweeping off.

Strengths
  • — No overflow during a late-summer downpour in Bob Vila's testing, thanks to ridges that catch running water
  • — This Old House notes a 15-year limited warranty
  • — Debris swept or blew off easily with a brush or small blower, per Bob Vila
Watch-outs
  • — Not micro-mesh, so shingle granules pass through, per Bob Vila
  • — The ridges trap debris that must be cleared periodically, per Bob Vila
  • — Its 7-inch width sat far under the shingles on 5-inch gutters and left a visible bump in Bob Vila's install
Buy at homedepot.comFull review →
Waterlock Micromesh 5-Inch Gutter Guard
Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Gutter Guards
Waterlock Micromesh 5-Inch Gutter Guard
1 source$166.25as of Oct 11

Waterlock is a micro-mesh guard on an aluminum frame that tucks under the shingles and fastens to the front of the gutter. This Old House reports that it blocked the most debris of all the DIY brands it tested and did not bend or warp on its mock gutter. Bob Vila found that the mesh stopped everything from leaves and twigs to asphalt granules over two weeks of testing. Both outlets flag the price as the drawback.

Strengths
  • — Blocked the most debris of all the DIY brands This Old House tested
  • — Micro-mesh stopped leaves, twigs and asphalt granules in Bob Vila's two-week test
  • — Needs only four or five screws per section, per Bob Vila
Watch-outs
  • — Costs more than other DIY brands, per This Old House; Bob Vila says it costs twice as much as other guards
  • — Not compatible with half-round gutters, per This Old House
  • — The lip and back of the guard are visible from below, per Bob Vila
$166.25 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Amerimax Hoover Dam Metal Mesh Gutter Guard

Unlike the Raptor and Waterlock micro-mesh guards, the Hoover Dam is a coarser steel mesh, and Bob Vila notes it will not stop asphalt shingle granules. It is metal like the A-M aluminum guard, but uses raised ridges to steer heavy runoff into the gutter. It needs screws and tools to fit, where the GutterBrush simply slides into the gutter.

Waterlock Micromesh 5-Inch Gutter Guard

The Waterlock Micromesh 5-Inch Gutter Guard is a micro-mesh guard like the Raptor Gutter Guard Stainless Steel Micro-Mesh, where the A-M Gutter Guard 5-Inch Aluminum is a perforated panel and the GutterBrush 5-Inch Gutter Guard is a bristle insert. This Old House found Waterlock blocked the most debris of the DIY brands it tested and noted that its cost per linear foot is higher than Raptor's. Its lip and back edge are visible from below, while the A-M guard cannot be seen from the ground.

Specs side-by-side

SpecAmerimax Hoover Dam Metal Mesh Gutter GuardWaterlock Micromesh 5-Inch Gutter Guard
TypeMetal mesh cover with raised ridges—
MaterialPowder-coated alloy steel—
Piece Size7 in wide x 3 ft long—
Fits5- and 6-inch gutters (per Bob Vila); 4- to 6-inch (per This Old House)—
MountingSlides under shingles, snaps to gutter edge, self-tapping screws—
Warranty15-year limited (per This Old House)Lifetime material and performance
Style—Micro-mesh
Mesh—Stainless steel
Frame—Aluminum
Gutter Compatibility—5-inch K-style and box gutters (6-inch version sold separately)
Length—25 feet (linked listing)
Color—White (linked listing)
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