Should I install gutter guards myself or hire a company?

Do the job yourself if every gutter is on a single storey, the gutters are in good shape, and the guard you buy screws to the gutter or fascia rather than sliding under the shingles. Hire a licensed company when any of those is not true: a second storey, gutters that need repair first, a guard that only installs under the roofing, or an eave you cannot reach without coming near the service wire.

What the job involves

Installing store-bought guards is mostly preparation and patience. You clean and flush the gutters, fix any leaks or sags, cut sections to length on the ground, then fasten them along the gutter one ladder position at a time, with extra care at corners and ends.

Gutterglove says most home installations of its store-bought guards can be completed in a day,^[1] with a standard kit: tin snips, a drill with a hex driver for the self-tapping screws, gloves and safety glasses for cut stainless steel edges, a tape measure, and an extension ladder suited to your roof height, which it puts at 16 to 24 feet for most homes.^[1] Its point is that the product itself needs no special skills, just safe access to the gutter line.^[1] That is the whole decision. The work is easy; getting to it safely is not always.

When doing it yourself makes sense

The eaves are one storey up. You can reach every run from a ladder on firm, level ground, set against the wall on a standoff rather than leaning on the gutter. Virginia Commonwealth University's ladder program has you pull the base out until its distance from the wall is one-fourth of the height to the point of support,^[5] reminds users that the top two rungs of a straight or extension ladder are not for standing on,^[5] and says to keep three points of contact while you climb.^[5]

The gutters are sound. A guard protects a working gutter; it does not fix a failing one. Peak's instructions say to ensure all existing joints and corners are well sealed and not leaking,^[4] and Gutterglove's say to complete any repairs to the gutters and downspouts first.^[3] If yours sag or drip at the seams, that is a repair visit before it is a guard job.

The guard stays below the roofline. Many guards are designed to tuck under the first course of shingles. Gutterglove's own install guide warns: do not pry up your shingles or tear your underlayment.^[2] The alternative it describes is to bend the back of the mesh up or down and screw it to the gutter, drip edge or fascia,^[2] which keeps you off the roof entirely. Buy a product whose instructions include that method.

You will keep up with it. Every guard needs an occasional brush-off. If you are comfortable doing the install, the upkeep is usually easy too. See how to install gutter guards for the full process, and which guard handles pine needles if pines overhang the roof.

When to hire a company

Two storeys or more. The product steps are the same, but the safety setup is not. Gutterglove recommends an adequate safety harness above single-storey height, and scaffolding or a boom lift where ladder work is not safe for the structure.^[1] Peak's warning is shorter: "When working above ground level use an appropriate safety harness."^[4] Most homeowners do not own that gear. The manufacturer itself says, "If two-story ladder work isn't comfortable, hiring a handyman for the install is a reasonable option."^[1]

Overhead wires. Virginia law bars work that puts a person, tool or ladder within 10 feet of an overhead high voltage line.^[6] If the service drop crosses the eave you need to reach, leave that run to someone equipped for it.

A guard that has to go under the roofing. Lifting sealed or brittle shingles can damage them and may matter for a roof warranty. A company that installs guards regularly will know which fastening suits your roof.

Ice. If you also want heated cable to fight ice, that is electrical work. Use a licensed electrical contractor for any heated gutter or roof cable.^[2]

The warranty you want. A do-it-yourself guard carries the maker's product warranty. Gutterglove's 25-year warranty on its Atlas guard covers parts only and does not include the cost of labour to reinstall,^[3] and for professional installation it points buyers to a separate installer line.^[1] An installer can add a labour warranty of its own, so ask what it covers and for how long. For what quotes usually include, read what gutter guards cost in Virginia.

How to hire well in Virginia

Check the licence. Under Va. Code § 54.1-1103, "No person shall engage in, or offer to engage in, contracting work in the Commonwealth unless he has been licensed",^[8] and under § 54.1-1100 a Class C licence covers construction, removal, repair or improvement jobs with a single contract over $1,000 and under $30,000.^[7] The Board for Contractors cautions that "A license number in an advertisement or on a business card does not necessarily mean the contractor's license is valid,"^[9] so look the number up yourself.

Compare like with like. The board advises you to get at least three written bids using identical plans and specifications.^[9] For guards, that means the same product, the same footage, and gutter cleaning and repairs priced as separate lines.

Get it in writing. The board's guide notes that Virginia law requires all licensed contractors to provide a written contract for residential work.^[9] It suggests an initial deposit of no more than 10% of the total price or $1,000, whichever is less,^[9] and says do not pay 100% of the bill until the work is 100% complete.^[9]

Watch the door-to-door sale. Under the Virginia Home Solicitation Sales Act, if the sale was solicited at your home, you may cancel until midnight of the third business day after the day you sign.^[10]

Ask about permits. Pittsylvania County's building department lists gutters among the work that does not need a building permit, while noting that setbacks and other zoning requirements may still apply.^[11] Your own county or city keeps its own list, and the contract should say who is responsible if one is needed.

If you are still weighing whether guards are worth it at all, read whether gutter guards are worth the money.

Stop and call a pro if

• Any gutter you need to reach is above the first storey.
• A ladder position would bring you within reach of the service wire or another overhead line.
• The guard you have can only be installed by lifting shingles, or the shingles are sealed, brittle or already lifting.
• The gutters sag, leak at the seams, or pull away from soft or rotten fascia.
• You want heated cable added for ice.

For more seasonal jobs, read the snow and seasonal answers, browse gutter guard installers, or look up snow and seasonal businesses around Blacksburg. When you are ready, describe the gutter guard job once and licensed local businesses quote it.