Gutter Guards

Report Overview

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This study analyzes US demand for gutter guards by product, market, material, and region. Historical data for 2010, 2015, and 2020 and forecasts for 2025 and 2030 are presented in dollars and in linear feet (excluding hardware and accessories).

Gutter guard demand is segmented into the following product categories:

• meshes and screens
• hood and covers
• plastic foams and bristles

For the purposes of this report, gutter guards that are part of one-piece gutter systems are counted as gutters and thus excluded.

The gutter guard market segments analyzed are:

• new residential
• residential improvement and repair
• new commercial
• commercial improvement and repair

Excluded from the definition of residential buildings are housing units located in a structure whose primary purpose is something other than habitation. Thus, a small living space contained in a larger retail facility would be classified as part of a retail building and not a residential building.

The gutter and downspout materials addressed in the study are:

• aluminum
• steel
• plastic
• copper, zinc, and other materials

Additionally, demand for gutter and downspout products is broken out for the following US geographic regions and subregions:

• Northeast (Middle Atlantic and New England)
• Midwest (East North Central and West North Central)
• South (South Atlantic, East South Central, and West South Central)
• West (Mountain and Pacific)

Demand by Market

Demand for gutter guards in value terms is expected to rise an average of 2.5% per year to $746 million in 2025. In linear feet, demand for gutter guards is projected to increase an average of 1.2% annually to 362.4 million in 2025. Growth will continue to outpace gains for gutters and downspouts overall as these products see increasing use – especially in the residential market – as consumers opt for these projects to greatly reduce the need for periodic gutter cleaning and maintenance. Additional opportunities for sales advances include:

• the aging US population – many older consumers will not want to get on ladders and clean gutters and will opt to add gutter guards as a more permanent solution to the problem
• increased demand in Western states like California and Colorado, where wildfire codes require dry leaves and other debris to be kept out of gutters, where they pose an ignition hazard
• owners of homes with basement foundations concerned about minimizing leaks and damage caused by flooded basements, who will install gutter guards to minimize the risk of leaks and water backups
• gutter guards installed in conjunction with rain harvesting equipment, which is growing in popularity in all regions of the country but especially in dry climates of the West and South

Demand for gutter guard products is concentrated in residential markets, particularly in improvement and repair applications, which accounted for 86% of the market in value terms in 2020. These products are marketed to homeowners as improvements to traditional gutter and downspout systems. Demand in commercial markets is limited by the widespread use of other rain removal systems.

Demand by Region

The South and the West – the two largest regional markets for gutter guards in 2020 – are also forecast to experience the fastest gains in demand through 2025, together totaling 69% of the market in value terms. Demand advances will be supported by:

• increases in the number of older people living in the southern half of the US – they will be more likely to install gutter guards as an alternative to gutter cleaning
• accelerating construction of residences with gutters on three and four sides of the house (thus creating a larger market for gutter guards)
• weather conditions of these regions that promote gutter guard installations
  • in the South, frequent precipitation and high winds, which can make leaves and other debris more likely to accumulate in gutters
  • in the West, less frequent precipitation, which will encourage homeowners to install rainwater collection systems – gutter guards are often used with these systems to keep debris out of water supplies

Demand for gutter guards in the Northeast and Midwest will be supported by the large improvement and repair segment. Most homes in these regions have gutter systems but a large number were not outfitted with gutter guards.

Pricing Trends

The pricing environment for gutter guards is characterized by the wide variety of materials utilized in these products and the different pricing pressures encountered by each material:

• Aluminum is the second least expensive metal available for gutter guard fabrication after steel.
• Plastic gutter guards are a slightly more expensive option, but are often preferred because they can be employed with gutters of any material.
• The most expensive products are fabricated from copper and zinc due to the higher base cost of these metals compared to aluminum and steel.

Cost competitiveness is a major factor affecting choice of material in the aluminum, steel, and plastic segments of the market:

• Long-term increases in the price of steel, which were further exacerbated by the tariffs levied on many imported Chinese products in 2017 and 2018, have put steel at a disadvantage compared to aluminum and will continue to do so going forward.
• Plastic products are sold in hardware stores and big-box retailers and are intended for DIY customers, so a low price is essential to counterbalance the better performance of metal products installed by contractors.

Demand by Product

Demand for gutter guards is forecast to rise 1.2% per year to 362.4 million linear feet in 2025, valued at $746 million. Screens and mesh will remain the leading product segment, though these products compete strongly with lower-cost hoods and covers, which hold nearly equal share of sales in linear feet terms.

Gutter guard products are available across a wide range of price points, from very inexpensive plastic foam or bristle products to full gutter covers sold at high price points. Even among gutter cover products (generally the most expensive group of gutter guard products), there are considerable variances in cost:

• Mid-range gutter covers often include holes or slots to let the water pass through and may admit small particles.
• The most expensive types use “liquid adhesion” technology, which takes advantage of water’s propensity to adhere to curved surfaces; water flows over the edge of the gutter guard and then curves back into the gutter, while leaves and other debris are swept away.

US demand for gutter guards is forecast to increase 2.5% annually to $746 million, equivalent to 362.4 million linear feet, in 2025. While expanding use of higher value products in the residential market – which represents the vast majority of sales – will boost gains in value terms, the large number of units installed in 2020 and 2021 amid the surging home renovation activity of the COVID-19 pandemic era will limit further installations going forward. Advances will be supported by:

• rising sales of new and existing homes, as gutter guards are often installed by new homeowners
• the replacement of older or worn gutter guards, often as part of gutter and downspout repair and replacement projects
• expanding use of gutter guards to prevent gutters from being clogged by fallen leaves, pine needles, and other debris – thus minimizing the need to periodically clean gutters, a time-consuming and potentially dangerous task
• growing interest in value-added gutter and downspout products and materials for their enhanced aesthetic appeal, such as copper hoods and covers

COVID-19 Pandemic Spurs Surge in Home Renovations, Boosting Near-Term Sales

The COVID-19 pandemic had a net positive impact on the US gutter guards market. Demand surged in 2020, driven largely by the surge in home renovation activity during the second half of the year. As gutter guards are most commonly purchased for residential improvement and repair applications – which accounted for 85% of demand in volume terms in 2020 – the spike in home improvements provided a healthy boost to gutter guard demand.

Low Cost & Versatile, Plastic Gutter Guards Are Increasingly Popular with DIYers

Through 2025, plastic gutter guards will post above average gains due to their low cost and light weight, which boosts their appeal with DIYers. Additionally, the variety of available plastic products (especially in terms of meshes and screens, and foams and bristles) will bolster growth. Plastic can be used with any gutter material, though it is less likely to be used with high-end gutter materials like copper.

Design & Construction Trends Expand Opportunities in the Residential Market

Not only is the share of US homes with gutters featuring gutter guards expanding, more homeowners are embracing construction projects that encompass these products:

• Homeowners looking to improve drainage around their residences will repair or place gutters, either as a standalone project or as part of more comprehensive roofing work, and specify gutter guards at the time of installation to eliminate the need for periodic gutter cleaning.
• Home design trends are leading to increased construction of homes with multiple gables, which both provide visual interest to a home and boost the amount of gutters required for proper drainage, as well as the length of gutter guard needed to protect them.