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.
Full review
Built for heavy rain
Bob Vila picked the Hoover Dam as its best gutter guard for downpours. Its angled ridges are designed to catch water running fast off the roof and redirect it into the gutter instead of over the top, and in Bob Vila's test the reviewer "observed no overflow, even during a late summer deluge."
This Old House, which scores the Amerimax mesh guard 3.9 out of 5, describes the same dam-like design and powder-coated alloy steel and calls it a good choice for homeowners who want durable metal guards for heavy rainfall.
Debris and cleaning
Bob Vila found it did an excellent job of keeping out leaves, twigs and most debris, but it is not micro-mesh, so asphalt shingle granules can still wash through and build up in the gutter over time. The same ridges that steer water also trap debris on top, which could eventually clog the mesh if left alone; Bob Vila found it easy to sweep off with a brush or blow off with a small cordless blower.
Installation and fit
One edge slides under the shingles and the other snaps onto the inner edge of the gutter, secured with self-tapping metal screws. Bob Vila found it easy to cut and install, but the guard is sized to also fit 6-inch gutters and was very wide on its 5-inch gutters, forcing it far under the shingles and leaving a noticeable bump, with the guard edge visible from the ground. This Old House adds that it needs power tools and tin snips, which can raise the cost if those must be bought or rented.
Build and warranty
Bob Vila notes the guards are made of a heavier-gauge alloy steel than the others it tested and are sealed with a powder coating; after a couple of weeks of testing they felt like they would hold up for years. This Old House lists a 15-year limited warranty covering materials and workmanship.
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
- −This Old House says it is harder to install than other slide-in guards and needs power tools and tin snips
How it compares
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.
Rating sources
“In terms of performance, the Hoover Dam does an excellent job of keeping leaves, twigs, and most debris out.”
Our 4.0 score is the average of the 1 scored review above; 1 more reviewed it without printing a score and is not in the average. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
