Gutter Guards That Go Under Shingles and the Ones That Do Not

Do gutter guards go under shingles? Some do, but many do not. Certain screen and mesh styles slide under the first row of shingles, while others clip to the gutter lip, mount on the fascia or sit inside the trough. The attachment method decides whether your shingles are lifted or pierced, and that can affect your roof warranty.

Do gutter guards go under shingles? It depends on the style

There is no single rule, because guards attach to a house in several ways. Only some of those ways involve the roof. Here is how the main types compare.

Within one product type, makers differ. Some micro-mesh, screen and reverse-curve designs offer more than one mounting option, so you cannot tell the attachment from the style name alone. Ask the installer to show you how the specific product attaches at the roof edge. Our gutter guard types compared and micro-mesh versus reverse-curve guide cover the designs themselves.

How an under-shingle installation works, and what can go wrong

An installer lifts the lower edge of the first row of shingles, slides the back edge of the guard beneath it, sets the front onto the gutter and lets the shingles down on top. Done well, the guard sits flat and the shingle tabs lie as they did before. Done poorly, several things can go wrong.

• Broken seals. Shingles are bonded to the course below by a factory adhesive strip. Lifting a tab can break that bond, and the tab may then be loose in strong wind.
• Cracked or torn shingles. Cold shingles are stiff and old shingles are brittle, and either can crack when bent. In Ontario this is a real issue from late fall to early spring, so an under-shingle install belongs in mild weather.
• A raised edge. A thick or badly seated guard pushes the shingle edge up. Wind-driven rain and meltwater can then run back under the shingles.
• Gaps. A guard that does not sit tight to the roof leaves a slot where seeds, needles and leaf litter can slide under it.
• Holes. Screws through the shingles are small holes in the roof covering, and each must stay watertight.

A careful installer follows the shingle maker's guidance on resealing lifted tabs and fastening, and avoids the work on cold or brittle roofs. If the guard needs the shingles bent sharply, that is a sign the product does not suit your roof.

Gutter guards and your roof warranty

Three warranties may be in play: the shingle maker's, the guard maker's and the installer's. They do not always agree.

Shingle warranties differ by maker and product. Some limit coverage where the damage comes from work done by someone else on the roof, and lifting or piercing shingles to fit a guard can raise the question of who caused a later leak or blow-off. Some guard makers say that their design is accepted by roofing manufacturers, but a sales claim is not the same as a letter. Treat any assurance as unverified until you see it in writing.

Before you agree to a design that touches the roof:

1. Read the warranty that came with your shingles, or ask your roofer for a copy.
2. Ask the guard maker or installer whether the design is approved by your shingle maker, and ask for that in writing.
3. Ask who pays if a shingle is cracked or a leak appears later.
4. Check what the guard maker's own warranty requires. Some require professional installation. See our DIY versus professional install guide for the checks that protect both warranties.
5. Take dated photos of the roof edge before and after the work.

If you want to avoid the question altogether, pick a design that does not touch the roof. A gutter-lip clip, hanger mount or fascia mount leaves the shingles alone.

Can you put gutter guards on a metal roof?

Yes, but the choice is narrower. Metal panels cannot be lifted like shingles, and drilling through them risks leaks and can affect the panel's warranty. So the guard has to attach to the gutter or the fascia, and not to the roof. Check the following when choosing guards for a metal roof.

• Attachment. Look for a design that fastens only to the gutter or fascia. Ask the installer to confirm in writing that nothing is fastened through the panels.
• Snow and ice. Metal roofs shed snow quickly, often in sheets, and that load can crush or tear off guards and gutters. Ask your roofer about snow retention above the eave, because the guard alone will not stop it.
• Fast water. Water runs off smooth metal faster than off shingles, and in heavy rain it can overshoot some designs. Match the guard to your roof pitch and test with a hose after install.
• Matching metals. Two dissimilar metals that touch can corrode. Ask the maker which fasteners and guard metals are compatible with your roof and gutters.
• Panel profile. Ribbed panels can leave gaps at the eave, so ask how the guard closes them.

The right answer for metal roofs is a guard that fits your roof profile and pitch, not a brand name. A hose test and a close look at the eave edge tell you more than any ranking.

Gutter guards when your roof is near replacement age

Shingles late in their life curl, lose granules and turn brittle. Lifting them to slide a guard underneath is the move most likely to crack them. That makes an old roof a poor candidate for an under-shingle guard.

If you expect to reroof in the next few years, you have three sensible options.

1. Wait. Have the roof done first and the guards fitted afterwards, with the roofer and guard installer agreeing how the roof edge will be finished.
2. Choose a no-contact design now. A lip clip or fascia mount can stay in place or be removed and refitted by the roofer without cutting into the shingles.
3. Plan for removal. If guards already sit under the shingles, tell the roofer. They must come out before the old shingles do, and they may need replacing, so ask for that cost in the reroofing quote.

Either way, ask the roofer whether a new drip edge is planned, because the guard has to fit with it. For related edge problems, see what to check when shingle overhang blocks eavestrough flow.

Questions to ask before anyone installs guards

• How does this product attach at the roof edge, and does any part go under or through the shingles?
• What is the condition of my shingles, and will they survive being lifted?
• Is the work done in weather mild enough for the shingles?
• Will you put in writing that the install should not affect my roof warranty, and who pays for any damage?
• Is my fascia sound enough to hold fasteners? Soft or rotten wood needs repair first.
• Does the design suit my roof pitch and material, and will you test it with water?
• What does the guard maker's warranty require, and what do you provide for workmanship?

The single-storey DIY guard guide tells owners to skip any product that must tuck under the shingles unless its instructions clearly cover their roof type. That is sound advice for anyone.

Gutter guard installation in Kitchener-Waterloo

D&D Home Services installs gutter guards in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph, starting from $450 for typical homes, with a free written quote confirmed before work begins. Crew members are Working at Heights trained. Tell the estimator your roof type and age up front, and ask which attachment method applies to your house, so you know before the quote is signed whether anything touches the shingles.

Gutter guards and shingles questions

Can you put gutter guards under shingles?

Yes, some guard styles are designed to slide under the first row of shingles. It requires lifting the shingles, which can break their seals or crack old or cold ones. Many guards avoid this by clipping to the gutter lip or mounting to the fascia. Check how your chosen product attaches before you buy.

Do gutter guards void a shingle warranty?

They can, depending on the shingle maker, the guard and how it is attached. Designs that lift or pierce shingles carry more risk, because some warranties limit coverage for damage caused by others working on the roof. Read your warranty, ask the maker or roofer, and get any assurance in writing.

How do you install gutter guards under shingles?

The installer lifts the first row of shingles, slides the guard's back edge underneath, sets the front on the gutter and lowers the shingles over it. It should be done in mild weather so shingles do not crack, and lifted tabs should be resealed following the shingle maker's guidance. Many homeowners hire this out.

What are the best gutter guards for metal roofs?

Choose by fit, not brand. Look for a design that attaches only to the gutter or fascia, suits your roof pitch and panel profile, and uses compatible metals. Ask your roofer about snow retention, since sliding snow can tear off guards, and test the install with a hose to confirm water does not overshoot.

Devon Moore, Operations Lead Co-Founder & Operations Lead, D&D Home Services

Devon Moore is the co-founder and Operations Lead at D&D Home Services, with hands-on experience cleaning hundreds of homes across Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph.