Gutter Guards: What are they, and Does Montgomery Village approve them?

by Erika Hottinger
Fall is right around the corner and now is a perfect time to start considering gutter guards for your home. Clogged gutters can cause back up in your roof and ceiling, which can cause water damage, including mold and mildew to grow in places where water should not be accessing. If you’re considering gutter guards, they can save you a lot of time, money and hassle associated with water overflow, pest infestations, and leaf and other debris backup. There are generally three types of gutter guards acceptable in Montgomery Village.

Screen gutter guards are one of the most cost-effective and easy to install gutter guards on the market. They are also easy to remove and clean. They are typically made of perforated pieces of metal or plastic and slide directly under or over the top of existing gutters. The Architectural Review Board typically approves this type of gutter guard because it is hard to spot from the ground. However, this type of gutter guard is recommended to match the gutter color on the home to ensure harmony with the color scheme of the property.

Reverse-curve gutter helmets are another gutter guard product that can be used to prevent water damage and is generally regarded as one of the best gutter guard systems on the market for your home today. Unlike screen gutter guards, reverse-curve gutter guards are solid and allow water to flow and move along the top of the helmet, slipping into a narrow opening at the curve of the gutter helmet tip. This type of gutter guard also prevents leaves and other debris from sitting on top of the gutters, unlike screen gutter guards. However, this product can be seen from the ground, and so the Architectural Review Board typically approves this gutter guard type in the gutter color or roof color, depending on how it is integrated on the property.

Gutter guards integrated fully in gutter system replacements is the third type of gutter guard that is allowed in Montgomery Village. This gutter guard is pre-installed with gutter replacements and is similar to reverse-curve gutter guard helmets. However, this type of gutter guard is usually not integrated with the roof shingles at installment. The Architectural Review Board typically approves this type of gutter guard system to match the gutter and downspout color on the rest of the property to ensure harmony with the trim board color.

If you decide that you want to use a gutter guard product on your home, please make sure to submit a Property Improvement Request application for prior written approval from the Architectural Review Board. This type of request is easily approvable and is allowed Village-wide. If you need more information on the type of gutter guards that would be approved on your home, please contact the Architectural Standards Department Administrative Assistant at 240-243-2364 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..