This MasterShield Gutter Guard review is continued from MasterShield Gutter Guard Review – Part 1.
New 6 Inch Gutter Installation
The new 6 inch wide gutters being installed by MasterShield Atlanta – KTL Home Improvement along the garage:
New 6 Inch Gutter Installation
Closeup of the MasterShield Gutter Guards on the garage:
MasterShield Gutter Guard on the Garage
The MasterShield Gutter Guard outside corner ridge is covered by an aluminum cap to seal the edges:
MasterShield Gutter Guard Outside Corner
The MasterShield Gutter Guard has a low profile when viewed from the street and blends with the gutters. The new 6 inch gutters cover most of the fascia board which means protection from the weather and less painting.
MasterShield Gutter Guard
6 Inch Gutters & Hidden Gutter Hangers
The new 6 inch seamless gutters are prepared on the ground before installation:
New 6 Inch Wide Gutters Ready for Installation
The hidden gutter hangers are an upgrade from the old gutter spike and ferrule system. The hidden gutter hangers can’t be seen from the ground and are fastened with pre-installed screws that won’t back out over time.
Hidden Gutter Hanger
The hidden gutter hanger fastened to the fascia board. The gutter ends are sealed with Geocel 2320 Tripolymer Gutter and Narrow Seam Sealant.
Hidden Gutter Hanger Attachment
Big Mouth Valley Block
A challenge for gutter guards are handling high water flows on inside corners at the bottom of roof valleys. MasterShield Atlanta – KTL Home Improvement installed the patented Big Mouth Valley Block by Guilford’s to solve the problem. The Big Mouth Valley Block provides a large screened area to capture the high volume of rain water.
Big Mouth Valley Block by Guilford LLC
MasterShield Gutter Guard outside corners and roof slope match such that debris washes over the gutter guard.
MasterShield Gutter Guard Outside Corner Detail
Gutter Downspout Improvement
The old gutter downspouts were positioned on the sides of the house for the longest possible distance for the water to travel. KTL Home Improvement recommended moving the downspouts to the front corners with the new 6 inch gutters, with tie-ins the gutters on the 1st story as shown:
Gutter Downspout Piped to Lower Gutter
I requested the new 6 inch gutters stop short of the roof valley on the back of house to allow the huge amount leaves and debris to fall past. This side of the house faces the backyard so appearance aren’t critical.
New Gutter Installed Short of the Roof Slope
The old downspouts emptied onto the roof corresponding the inset of the above photo. Oak tree catkins, helicopter seeds and leaves are funneled to this roof valley. At times, I’ve observed a mound of debris much much larger than this hanging over the gutter. This photo was taken a couple of years ago before the roof was replaced.
Old 5 Inch Gutter and Flip-Up Wire Screen
MasterShield Gutter Guard Drip Edge
The MasterShield Gutter Guard features a drip edge that extends beyond the front of the gutter to shed water and avoid rain streaks on the gutter. The ends of the gutter are covered with aluminum plates to keep out squirrels, birds and other critters. The workmanship by MasterShield Atlanta – KTL Home Improvement is excellent!
MasterShield Gutter Guard and Downspout Tie-In
The MasterShield slides underneath the first row of shingles, but over the shingle starter strip, drip edge flashing and roofing felt. This follows the recommended practice in the GAF Technical Advisory Bulletin for Gutter Covers.
MasterShield Gutter Guard Under the Shingles
The new MasterShield Gutter Guard and 6 inch gutters. The trees are watching!
MasterShield Gutter Guard Protection
How Well Do MasterShield Gutter Guards Perform?
Only time will tell. The new MasterShield Gutter Guards have been on the roof for only one week as of this writing. I’ll be posting updates here showing the MasterShield product performance under a variety of conditions:
- Normal rain
- Heavy rain, thunderstorms and downpours
- Spring when the trees drop catkins, flower petals and seeds
- Fall when leaves, nuts and twigs drop
MasterShield Atlanta – KTL Home Improvement said if there’s are heavy flows overshooting the gutter guards, give them a call and they’ll correct the issue under warranty.
MasterShield Gutter Guards: Heavy Rain
After 1 month on the house, the MasterShield Gutter Guards have performed exceptionally well during late winter heavy rain storms. The rain water soaks through within the 1st inch of micro-mesh with no overruns. The Big Mouth Valley Blocks easily handles large water flows at the roof valleys.
Fix Those Downspouts
Zip Hinge™ is a downspout hinge to flip-up the downspouts for mowing and landscaping.
MasterShield Performance Update
I’ve since published an update describing how the MasterShield Gutter Guards performed during the Springtime when the trees shed huge quantities of catkins, pollen and seeds.
Hope this helps,
Bob Jackson
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I am considering mastershield after reading a great review by Tim Carter, a long time contractor who has an advice and how-to web site. How long has you Master shield system been in and how’s it working?
As of this writing the MasterShield gutter guards have been installed for over 2 years and working fine.
Who carries this product in Winston Salem, North Carolina? I would like to see it. Thanks
Go to MasterShield.com and either call the toll free number or click on “Get Estimate”. An authorized dealer in your area will contact you.
There is a new distributor in the Piedmont Triad. It is Mastershield of Central North Carolina. http://www.mastershieldofcentralnc.com. Mr. Jackson is also correct. If you go to the Mastershield website, they will put you in direct contact with Mastershield of Central NC.
I had the MasterShield Gutter Guards installed 7 years ago (cost $9600). (My house is very tall and is on a wooded lot.) Within a few years the guards turned black and became clogged (probably mildew); when it rained the water cascaded over the gutters as if we had no gutters. The dealer never returned my calls (later learned he had gone out of business.) I contacted MasterShield headquarters. Turns out the gutter guards are not self cleaning and the company’s “no clog” guarantee does not pertain to their gutter guards – it only guarantees that there will not any debris in the gutters. (Now the gutters are sealed so that nothing can get in – not even water!) The rep told me he had the same problem with his gutter guards and had to spray them with a bleach mixture to get rid of the mildew and unclog them.he suggested I do the same. Since my house is on a slope and the gutters are 30 feet high in places, I cannot spray them. Would not recommend this product false advertising and worthless “lifetime warranty”.
Hi Randolph,
That’s right – the “no clog” warranty means the gutters won’t clog and overflow; it does not state the micro-mesh covers will never clog nor need periodic maintenance.
> Within a few years the guards turned black and became clogged (probably mildew)
You may have a legitimate gripe with representations made the by now defunct local dealer, however MasterShield’s website information and warranty terms are upfront about problems such as yours. I think it unreasonable to expect black algae (mildew) would not grow on the gutter covers and clog the micro-mesh screens in a damp and heavily shaded area. Compared to other gutter guard products on the market I believe the micro-mesh products do the best job.
The MasterShield Warranty states at the top of page 2 (bold emphasis added in the following quotes):
I have both MasterShield and Rhino Gutter Guards on my home and in my experience the micro-mesh products may clog and the respective warranties have similar exclusions. On my home spot cleaning is needed to remove tar and pollen accumulation below the high-flow roof valleys.
> Since my house is on a slope and the gutters are 30 feet high in places, I cannot spray them.
Most likely the gutter guards will need to be sprayed with bleach & water to kill the mildew/algae, brushed and rinsed. Have you looked into hiring someone with a 40 ft ladder to do the job? A different MasterShield dealer would be sympathetic to your situation and skilled to do the work. Whoever you hire, be particular that they use a ladder standoff to prevent damage to the MasterShield and gutters. Never lean a ladder against the gutter.
If you have the MasterShield gutter guards cleaned, consider installing zinc strips on the roof to kill and prevent future algae, moss and mildew growth.
Please post an update if you have the gutter guards cleaned and/or go with the zinc strips.
Thanks,
Bob