Are leaf guards worth it? Pros and cons
A gutter guard prevents blockages, but it isn't the best choice for every situation.
A leaf guard keeps leaves and coarse debris out of the gutter while rainwater flows through. With trees close to the house it can halve the cleaning frequency.
Costs run € 8 to € 15 per metre including installation. On a terraced house a guard pays for itself in 2-3 years of saved cleaning visits.
There are downsides: fine debris (needles, moss, seeds) still gets through, and the guard itself needs periodic sweeping. A guard doesn't replace maintenance: it reduces its frequency. Get advice on which type (brush, mesh or solid cover) suits your gutter and surroundings.