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:
Closeup of the MasterShield Gutter Guards on the garage:
The MasterShield Gutter Guard outside corner ridge is covered by an aluminum cap to seal the edges:
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.
6 Inch Gutters & Hidden Gutter Hangers
The new 6 inch seamless gutters are prepared on the ground before 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.
The hidden gutter hanger fastened to the fascia board. The gutter ends are sealed with Geocel 2320 Tripolymer Gutter and Narrow Seam Sealant.
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.
MasterShield Gutter Guard outside corners and roof slope match such that debris washes over the gutter guard.
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:
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.
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.
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!
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.
The new MasterShield Gutter Guard and 6 inch gutters. The trees are watching!
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
