Head-to-head · Best Gutter Guards

GutterBrush 5-Inch 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 is the only one of the two with a published score (4.4); GutterBrush 5-Inch Gutter Guard has none, so this is not a close call so much as an unmeasured one. 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.

Ranked #5 in Best Gutter Guards

GutterBrush 5-Inch Gutter Guard

Unrated3 sources$29.95as of Oct 11

GutterBrush is a cylindrical bristle insert that sits inside a standard 5-inch gutter with no screws or tools. This Old House says it has the easiest installation of the guards in its under-$1,000 guide and traps large debris well, but does not block shingle grit or pine needles as effectively as other brands and costs the most per foot. Bob Vila found it the most universal guard it tested and warns that it is not maintenance-free.

Strengths

— No tools, screws or fasteners needed, per This Old House
— Works with fascia-mounted and shingle-mounted brackets; the most universal guard Bob Vila tested
— Allows ample water flow, per Bob Vila

Watch-outs

— Does not block small debris such as shingle grit or pine needles as effectively as other brands, per This Old House
— Prone to clogging with larger debris and not maintenance-free, per Bob Vila
— The most expensive system in This Old House's under-$1,000 guide

$29.95 · Buy at gutterbrush.com Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Gutter Guards

Waterlock Micromesh 5-Inch Gutter Guard

4.4

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 Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

GutterBrush 5-Inch Gutter Guard

The GutterBrush 5-Inch Gutter Guard is a bristle insert that needs no fasteners, where the A-M Gutter Guard 5-Inch Aluminum is screwed to the gutter lip and the Raptor Gutter Guard Stainless Steel Micro-Mesh and Waterlock Micromesh 5-Inch Gutter Guard are micro-mesh covers. This Old House says GutterBrush does not block small debris such as shingle grit as effectively as other brands; Bob Vila found the Waterlock mesh stopped asphalt granules.

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

Spec	GutterBrush 5-Inch Gutter Guard	Waterlock Micromesh 5-Inch Gutter Guard
Style	Brush insert	Micro-mesh
Brush Diameter	4.25 inches	—
Gutter Compatibility	Standard 5-inch K-style gutters	5-inch K-style and box gutters (6-inch version sold separately)
Bristles	UV-protected polypropylene	—
Core	Galvanized steel	—
Length	6 feet (trial pack, four 18-inch pieces)	25 feet (linked listing)
Installation Method	Slides into the gutter, no fasteners	—
Warranty	10-year material warranty	Lifetime material and performance
Mesh	—	Stainless steel
Frame	—	Aluminum
Color	—	White (linked listing)

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