If you live in Southeast Michigan, you already know what your house goes through: heavy spring rain, summer storms, fall leaf piles, and winter freeze-thaw cycles that love to punish weak gutter systems.
And here’s the problem: a lot of homeowners buy gutter guards expecting a “set it and forget it” miracle… then they’re shocked when water still overflows, corners still leak, and maintenance still shows up on the calendar.
This blog is based on a recent Hire It Done episode featuring Jacob Vanvliet of J&A Exterior LLC, a 22-year-old entrepreneur and one of Metro Detroit’s fastest-growing gutter contractors. J&A Exterior specializes in gutter installation, gutter cleaning, gutter guards, pressure washing, leaf removal, fascia repair, and more.
Jacob and Adam covered a lot of practical homeowner stuff in this conversation.
- The biggest gutter guard misconception: “You’ll never clean your gutters again.”
- When gutter guards actually make sense (and when they don’t).
- Seamed vs seamless gutters: why seams fail and what pros install instead.
- 5-inch vs 6-inch gutters: how to choose the right system for your home and budget.
- How a quality contractor prevents surprises: walkaround videos, documentation, and what to ask before you sign.
The Truth: Gutter Guards Do NOT Mean “Never Clean Your Gutters Again”
Let’s rip the band-aid off.
Jacob said it plainly: “Don’t let people or other companies tell you that you never have to clean them again.”
He even called out what a lot of homeowners hear from big marketing-heavy companies:
“You’ll never have to clean your gutters again… leak free gutters for thirty years.”
And Adam’s response was even more blunt:
“It’s all BS.”
Here’s why this matters for you: if you buy guards believing the “never clean again” pitch, you stop paying attention.
Then debris builds up where you can’t see it. Then water goes where it shouldn’t. And now you’re dealing with foundation splashing, fascia rot, landscaping washout, and sometimes interior leaks.
Why Debris Still Builds Up, Even With “The Best” Gutter Guard
Jacob explained it in the simplest way possible:
If there’s metal on top of your gutter, debris will eventually sit on that metal. It doesn’t matter if it’s mesh, aluminum, or a fancy design that claims leaves will magically slide away.
Over time, you get a layer of:
- wet leaves that turn into sludge
- tiny shingle grit
- pine needles that weave into screens
- roof debris from normal wear
- seed pods and helicopters (hello, Michigan maples)
So what changes with gutter guards?
Not whether debris exists. Where it collects and how often you need to deal with it.
That’s the real truth you should plan around.
So… Do You Need Gutter Guards In Metro Detroit?
Sometimes yes. Sometimes no.
Jacob’s rule of thumb is refreshingly practical:
The main reason to install gutter guards is if you have a lot of trees around your home.
That’s a big deal in SE Michigan, because plenty of neighborhoods in:
- Birmingham
- Royal Oak
- Troy
- Grosse Pointe
- Macomb Township
- Shelby Township
- Rochester / Rochester Hills
- older, tree-heavy subdivisions across Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties
…get hammered by fall debris.
If your roofline sits under mature trees, gutter guards can reduce your cleanings from 2–3 times per year to around once per year (depending on your conditions).
If your house has minimal tree coverage? Guards may not be worth it. You might be better off paying for periodic cleaning and putting your money into a better gutter system, better downspout routing, or correcting pitch and leaks.
The Smart Way To Think About Gutter Guards: Maintenance Math
Jacob framed gutter guards as an investment decision, not a hype purchase:
- If you pay a few hundred dollars per cleaning
- and you do that multiple times per year
- you can hit hundreds of dollars annually pretty fast
- then guards can pay for themselves over a few years, especially if they reduce how often you clean
The key is you buy them for the right reason:
✅ Less maintenance ❌ No maintenance
If a contractor promises “never again,” that’s not a feature. That’s a red flag.
What You Should Ask Before You Buy Gutter Guards
If you want to hire a trusted pro (and avoid getting sold a fairy tale), ask these questions:
1) “Where will debris collect with this guard?”
A good contractor will tell you the truth: debris often collects on top, and you’ll need periodic clearing.
2) “What maintenance schedule do you recommend for my property?”
If you’ve got trees, ask for a realistic plan based on your roofline and foliage. You’re looking for honesty, not bravado.
3) “If water overshoots in heavy rain, what’s the fix?”
Some guard styles handle heavy flow better than others. You want the contractor to talk performance, not just product names.
4) “Will you inspect corners, pitch, and downspout placement too?”
Because guards don’t solve bad design.
Don’t Let Gutter Problems Turn Into Fascia Rot (Or Bigger Repairs)
This part hits homeowners hard because it’s so common: you think you have a gutter problem, but what you actually have is water damage that’s been building for years.
Adam asked Jacob what happens when they start a job and find rotted fascia. Jacob explained they try to spot it during the walkaround, but nobody has x-ray vision.
What matters is how the contractor handles it.
Jacob’s approach is what you want in SE Michigan:
- They flag the possibility upfront in the quote.
- If they find rot, they tell you before doing the extra work.
- They won’t install over rotted wood, because they can’t warranty the gutter if the hangers won’t hold properly.
That’s homeowner-first behavior.
And it prevents the nightmare scenario where you get a surprise invoice after the fact.
The Contractor “Process” That Protects You (And Why It Matters)
Here’s a detail most homeowners don’t expect, but it’s gold if you care about accountability.
Jacob explained that J&A Exterior takes a job walkaround video no matter what, so the installers know exactly what to expect before they get on the ladder.
That video covers:
- the layout
- tricky spots
- what changes you approved
- your concern areas
Then they can even send a customer-friendly version so you can review it and correct anything before install day.
Why you should care: it reduces “surprise conversations later.” And it’s one of the simplest ways a contractor can prove they’re organized, professional, and serious about getting it right the first time.
Quick Gut Check: What “Quality” Looks Like In 2026
Gutters aren’t glamorous. But they protect your biggest investment.
As Adam put it: your roof sheds water into the gutters, and if the gutters don’t do their job, you can damage siding, landscaping, and even your foundation.
So when you’re comparing quotes in Metro Detroit, keep this in mind:
- Cheap installs often cut corners on pitch, sealing, corners, fastening, and cleanup.
- “Never clean again” sales pitches often replace real education.
- A real pro will explain tradeoffs, show you the process, and document the job.
That’s how you avoid paying twice.
Take The Next Step If You’re Not Sure What You Need
If you’re dealing with overflowing gutters, leaks at corners, water dumping near your foundation, or constant clogging every fall, you don’t need a sales pitch. You need clarity.
Start with a simple goal: figure out whether you need cleaning, repair, new gutters, or guards.
And remember Jacob’s point: sometimes homeowners call thinking they need new gutters, but they really just need a repair.
That’s why a straightforward estimate from a trusted contractor matters.
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