LeafFilter vs Leaf Solution: Which Micro-Mesh Gutter Guard Fits a Placer County Home?
Verdict: Both are stainless micro-mesh gutter guards, but you buy them in completely different ways. LeafFilter is one system (275-micron mesh in a uPVC frame) that LeafFilter itself measures, prices, and installs, backed by a lifetime, transferable warranty. Leaf Solution is a Virginia manufacturer whose guards are sold only through independent dealers, so your price, your installer, and your labor coverage depend on the contractor you hire. Pick LeafFilter if you want one company accountable for everything; pick a Leaf Solution micro-mesh line (not New Wave) if you would rather buy through a local contractor and compare bids.
Comparing either quote with a local install? See gutter guard installation in Rocklin or gutter guard installation in Roseville.
“Leaf Solution vs Leaf Filter” is a fair question because the names sound like the same product. They are not. One is a national installer that sells its own guard; the other is a manufacturer that never deals with homeowners directly. That difference drives almost everything that matters to you: who quotes the job, what the warranty pays for, and how much room you have to negotiate.
Weighing LeafGuard or Gutter Helmet too? Our LeafFilter vs Gutter Helmet vs LeafGuard comparison covers the reverse-curve and one-piece systems.
A perforated aluminum guard on a K-style gutter. Leaf Solution's New Wave line is punched aluminum like this; LeafFilter and Leaf Solution's two mesh lines put stainless micro-mesh over the opening instead.
LeafFilter vs Leaf Solution at a Glance
Every cell below comes from the manufacturer's own published material or a dated third-party review. The bracketed numbers link to the source list at the end of the article.
| Feature | LeafFilter | Leaf Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Company | LeafFilter North, LLC[1]; founded 2005[13] | Leaf Solution, LLC (a GPI company); manufacturing in Rochelle, Virginia since 2002[6] |
| Products | One system[13] | Leaf Solution Gutter Guard and Xtreme (stainless micro-mesh); New Wave (punched aluminum)[6] |
| Mesh | 275-micron surgical-grade stainless steel[1] | 440-micron surgical-grade stainless (Leaf Solution Gutter Guard)[7]; Xtreme: standard or high-flow mesh, micron size not published[8]; New Wave: no mesh, .019-gauge aluminum[9] |
| Frame and attachment | uPVC frame with built-in pitch; internal hidden hangers fastened into the fascia[1] | Aluminum body with patented hemmed mesh; under-shingle or fascia-mount[7] |
| Gutter sizes | Not listed on its product page[1] | 5 and 6 inch (Leaf Solution, New Wave); 5, 6 and 7 inch (Xtreme)[8] |
| Water rating | No gallons-per-minute figure on its product page[1] | Up to 60 GPM (both mesh lines), 40 GPM (New Wave), per the manufacturer[7][9] |
| Who installs it | LeafFilter's own installers after an at-home estimate[3][13] | Authorized dealers and certified installers only; no direct sales[5] |
| Published price | None; in-home estimate required, quote held for one year[3] | None; “pricing is not published online”[5] |
| Reported cost per foot | $16.31 (2025 survey)[13] to $41.72 (2026 survey)[14], both This Old House | No public figure found; set by each dealer[13][15] |
| Warranty | Lifetime, transferable; repair or refund of material price if it clogs and overflows[2] | Lifetime No-Clog (mesh lines), 20-year (New Wave); material cost only, no labor[10][11] |
| Pine needles | Listed as blocked[1] | Listed as blocked by both mesh lines[7][8]; New Wave is for large debris, not fine needles[12] |
| Pollen and oak tassels | “Pollen” listed as blocked[1] | “Pollen tassels” listed for all three lines[7][9] |
Water ratings and debris lists are manufacturer claims, not independent test results.
What Is Leaf Solution? (And Why Reviews Disagree on Its Warranty)
Leaf Solution, LLC builds gutter guards in its own plant in Rochelle, Virginia, and has been doing it since 2002[6]. Its micro-mesh guard is also marketed as Evelyn's Leaf Solution. The company makes three lines:
- Leaf Solution Gutter Guard: 440-micron surgical-grade stainless mesh with “triple-dip” capillary dips meant to pull water down through the mesh, hemmed into an aluminum body. Sold for 5- and 6-inch gutters, under-shingle (six finishes) or fascia-mount (three finishes), and rated by the manufacturer at up to 60 gallons per minute[7].
- Xtreme: a flat stainless micro-mesh guard with the same hemmed construction, offered with a standard mesh for fine debris or a high-flow mesh with enlarged openings, for 5-, 6- and 7-inch gutters, also rated at 60 gallons per minute[8].
- New Wave: .019-gauge punched aluminum with teardrop openings, bronze only, rated at 40 gallons per minute[9]. Leaf Solution itself calls it the entry-level line for properties where the debris is mostly leaves and sticks rather than fine needles and seeds[12].
The company does not sell to homeowners. Its own FAQ says the guards are “sold exclusively through our network of authorized dealers and certified installers” and that “pricing is not published online”[5]. That makes Leaf Solution closer to a brand of material than a service: your dealer sets the price, does the installation, and decides what labor warranty to offer.
The 20-year vs lifetime confusion
This Old House and Today's Homeowner both list Leaf Solution with a 20-year warranty[13][15]. The manufacturer's current documents are more specific: the Leaf Solution and Xtreme mesh lines carry a Lifetime No-Clog Warranty, and only New Wave carries a 20-year term[10][11]. If a quote just says “20-year warranty,” ask which product is on it.
Read the fine print either way. The lifetime document covers defects and promises the gutters will not clog and overflow from leaves, twigs, needles, and seeds when the product is installed to Leaf Solution's spec. It also caps the manufacturer's obligation at the material cost of the defective product, excludes labor to remove or reinstall it, and excludes failure to perform routine maintenance, mesh clogged by tree sap, roof oils, droppings or other buildup, improper installation, and mixing in non-Leaf Solution parts, and either side can take a dispute to binding arbitration conducted in Rochelle, Virginia[10]. The document does not mention transfer to a new owner, so get transfer terms and the dealer's own labor warranty in writing.
What Is LeafFilter?
LeafFilter sells one gutter guard system and installs it with its own crews. The guard is a 275-micron surgical-grade stainless mesh in a uPVC frame with a built-in pitch, held by internal hidden hangers screwed into the fascia, and LeafFilter lists dirt, pollen, shingle grit, and pine needles among the debris it keeps out[1]. The company says installation includes gutter cleaning, sealing, realignment, and reinforcement, and it markets the system as leaving the roof undisturbed instead of sliding under shingles[4].
You cannot get a per-foot price from LeafFilter. It requires an at-home estimate, guarantees the quoted price for one year, and advertises 12 months of special financing plus a 10% discount for seniors and military personnel[3]. Its warranty is lifetime and transferable to the next owner: if the system lets the gutters clog and overflow, or interior water damage results, LeafFilter says it will repair the problem or refund 100% of the material purchase price, with full terms from your representative[2].
Whoever installs your guards in California needs a contractor's license. LeafFilter publishes California license #1035795 on its site[1]; you can check any license number, LeafFilter's or a Leaf Solution dealer's, on the CSLB website. Our guide to choosing a gutter company in Rocklin walks through that check.
LeafFilter vs Leaf Solution Cost Per Foot: What the Public Numbers Say
Neither company publishes a price, so every number you see online is a survey or a reported quote. For LeafFilter, the same publication has produced two very different averages. This Old House's comparison page reports $16.31 per linear foot, or $3,262 for 200 feet, from a 2025 survey of 150 LeafFilter customers[13]. Its LeafFilter cost page reports $41.72 per foot, or $8,344 for 200 feet, from a 2026 survey of 1,000 homeowners, and says about 89% of LeafFilter buyers in that survey spent $4,000 to $8,000[14]. This Old House also notes customers who were first quoted $8,000–$10,000 or more and saw the price come down in negotiation[13].
For Leaf Solution, we found no public per-foot figure at all. The manufacturer does not publish one[5], and the reviews that cover the brand say the same[13][15]. Your cost is whatever the dealer quotes, which is exactly why getting two or three dealer bids matters more here than with a single-company brand.
Survey averages are national. Your quote depends on footage, stories, roof type, and the condition of the gutters underneath.
Oak Tassels and Pine Needles: How Each Handles Placer County Debris
Rocklin roofs see two kinds of debris that break cheap guards: fine oak catkins (tassels) in late winter and spring, and pine needles that thread through screens. Our best gutter guards for oak trees guide recommends micro-mesh at 275 microns or finer for that mix, and our pine needle gutter guard guide explains why open screens fail under pines.
Pine needles
Both companies list pine needles among the debris their mesh blocks[1][7]. The published mesh sizes differ: 275 microns for LeafFilter and 440 microns (0.44 mm) for the Leaf Solution Gutter Guard. A smaller opening stops smaller particles such as shingle grit and pollen, so on paper LeafFilter's mesh is the one that meets the 275-micron line in our oak guide. Xtreme does not publish a micron size, and its high-flow option uses enlarged openings[8]; under heavy pine, ask the dealer for the standard mesh and the micron rating in writing. New Wave is the wrong product under pines by the manufacturer's own description[12], and This Old House notes it does not stop pine needles[13].
Oak tassels
LeafFilter lists pollen and Leaf Solution lists “pollen tassels” as blocked[1][7]. Blocking them is half the job; the other half is what happens when wet tassels mat on top of the mesh. Leaf Solution's warranty says wet or compressed debris may need stronger wind to shed, recommends occasionally washing the mesh with a garden hose and a soft brush, and excludes mesh clogged by organic buildup and skipped routine maintenance[10]. LeafFilter's published warranty summary is written around clogs that cause the gutter to overflow[2]. Before you sign either contract, ask in writing whether a spring tassel mat that makes water overshoot the gutter is a covered claim. Our oak tree gutter solutions guide has the month-by-month oak debris calendar.
Mounting and roof type
Leaf Solution guards can go under the first course of shingles or fasten to the fascia[7]; LeafFilter markets an install that leaves the roof undisturbed[4]. On tile or metal roofs the mount matters more than the brand, which our gutter guards for tile roofs guide covers.
When LeafFilter Wins, and When Leaf Solution Wins
Choose LeafFilter if you want…
- • One company that quotes, installs, and handles every warranty claim
- • The finer published mesh (275 microns) for pine needles and catkins
- • A warranty that says in writing it transfers to the next owner[2]
- • Gutter cleaning, sealing, realignment, and reinforcement bundled into the install[4]
- • A guard that does not go under your shingles[4]
Choose Leaf Solution if you want…
- • To pick your own local installer and compare bids on the same product[5]
- • A guard for 7-inch gutters (Xtreme)[8]
- • An aluminum body rather than a uPVC frame[7]
- • Finish choices, with six under-shingle colors on the Leaf Solution guard[7]
- • A capillary-dip design the maker pitches for valleys and high-flow runs[7]
Neither choice fixes bad gutters underneath. If seams already drip or a run holds standing water, repair that first; our gutter leak repair guide shows which leaks are a sealant job and which are not. And if your gutters are still sound, a brand name is not the only way to get stainless micro-mesh; our gutter screens vs micro-mesh guide explains what to look for in any mesh product.
What a Local Installer Charges in Rocklin
Our own prices are published, so here they are for comparison. Rocklin Gutter Guard's 2026 cost guide puts it plainly: most homes land between $12 and $20 per foot installed, and we confirm the exact price after measuring[16]. A 150-foot home comes to about $1,800–$3,000 and a 200-foot home about $2,400–$4,000. Our typical installation is LeafBlaster Pro, Gutterglove's contractor-only stainless micro-mesh line, which Gutterglove backs with a 40-year limited parts warranty that covers parts but not labor[17][18]; on some jobs we install a standard micro-mesh guard instead. The price includes cleaning the existing gutters before the guards go on, and re-pitching, new hangers, or joint sealing found during that cleaning adds $75–$200, quoted separately. For scale, This Old House's 2026 table puts LeafFilter at $6,258 for 150 linear feet[14].
Get a written number for your house from Rocklin gutter guard installation, Roseville, Lincoln, or Granite Bay, and see our gutter guard installation cost breakdown for what moves the number.
Side-by-Side Quote
Holding a LeafFilter or Leaf Solution quote? Get the local number too.
Tell us the brand, the footage, and the price you were quoted. We measure the actual linear feet and put a stainless micro-mesh price in writing, so you are comparing like for like.
- Most homes land between $12 and $20 per foot installed; we confirm the exact price after measuring
- LeafBlaster Pro stainless micro-mesh on most jobs; a standard micro-mesh guard on some
- Existing gutters cleaned before guards go on
- Any gutter repairs quoted separately, before work starts
Six Questions to Ask Before You Sign Either Contract
- Which exact product and mesh? For Leaf Solution, which of the three lines, and for Xtreme, standard or high-flow mesh and its micron rating.
- Who pays labor on a warranty claim? Leaf Solution's manufacturer warranty covers material only[10]; ask the dealer what their labor warranty covers and for how long.
- Does the warranty transfer? LeafFilter says yes[2]; for a Leaf Solution dealer, get the answer in writing.
- Under-shingle or fascia-mount? Ask how the mount works with your roof type and whether it affects your roofing warranty.
- What is the contractor's license number? Check it on the CSLB site before any deposit.
- Is gutter repair included? LeafFilter bundles cleaning and sealing[4]; with a dealer, ask whether leaking seams and sagging runs are fixed before the guards go on.
FAQ: LeafFilter vs Leaf Solution
Is Leaf Solution the same company as LeafFilter?
No. Leaf Solution, LLC manufactures gutter guards in its own plant in Rochelle, Virginia, has done so since 2002, and sells them only through independent dealers and installers. LeafFilter is a separate company (LeafFilter North, LLC) that measures, prices, and installs its own single system with its own crews. The names sound alike, but the mesh, the frame, the warranty, and the way you buy each one are different.
Which is better, LeafFilter or Leaf Solution?
It depends on how you want to buy. LeafFilter is the better fit if you want one company responsible for the estimate, the installation, and warranty claims, plus the finer published mesh (275 microns) and a transferable lifetime warranty. A Leaf Solution micro-mesh line (Leaf Solution or Xtreme, not New Wave) is the better fit if you want to choose your own local installer, compare bids, or need 7-inch gutters or an aluminum frame. On pine-heavy lots, skip New Wave: Leaf Solution describes it as a large-debris product.
How much does Leaf Solution cost per foot?
Leaf Solution does not publish a price. The manufacturer sells only through authorized dealers and certified installers and says pricing is not published online, so the per-foot cost is whatever your dealer quotes. This Old House and Today's Homeowner both note the missing pricing, and we found no public survey figure for it. For comparison, This Old House reports LeafFilter averages of $16.31 per foot (2025 survey) and $41.72 per foot (2026 survey).
Does Leaf Solution have a lifetime warranty?
Its two stainless micro-mesh lines, Leaf Solution Gutter Guard and Xtreme, carry a Lifetime No-Clog Warranty; the punched-aluminum New Wave line carries a 20-year no-clog warranty. Some reviews still list a 20-year warranty for the whole brand. The manufacturer's warranty is limited to the material cost of the product, does not pay labor to remove or reinstall it, and excludes things like skipped routine maintenance and mesh clogged by sap, roof oils, or other organic buildup. Ask your dealer for transfer terms and their own labor warranty in writing.
Which handles pine needles and oak tassels better?
Both companies say their micro-mesh stops pine needles and pollen tassels. LeafFilter's mesh is finer on paper (275 microns versus 440 microns for the Leaf Solution Gutter Guard), and our oak tree guide recommends 275 microns or finer for catkins and needles. Xtreme does not publish a micron size, and New Wave is not meant for fine needles. Wet oak tassels can sit on top of any mesh until wind or a hose clears them, so ask either seller in writing how a spring tassel buildup is handled under the warranty.
Can I buy Leaf Solution gutter guards and install them myself?
Not directly from the manufacturer. Leaf Solution says it does not sell to consumers; its guards go through licensed contractors and suppliers, and its warranty excludes damage or performance failures caused by improper installation. In practice you hire a Leaf Solution dealer, or ask your own gutter contractor whether they can supply and install it.
What do micro-mesh gutter guards cost from a local installer in Rocklin?
With Rocklin Gutter Guard, most homes land between $12 and $20 per foot installed; we confirm the exact price after measuring. Our typical installation is LeafBlaster Pro, Gutterglove's contractor-only stainless micro-mesh line, with a standard micro-mesh guard on some jobs. A 150-foot home comes to about $1,800-$3,000, and the price includes cleaning the existing gutters before the guards go on.
Sources
- LeafFilter, “LeafFilter Gutter Protection” product page — 275-micron surgical-grade stainless mesh, uPVC frame, internal hangers, debris types
- LeafFilter, “LeafFilter Warranty” — lifetime, transferable; repair or refund of material purchase price
- LeafFilter, “Pricing” — at-home estimate required, quote held one year, financing and discounts
- LeafFilter, “Compare Gutter Guards” — cleaning, sealing, realignment and reinforcement included; no under-shingle install
- Leaf Solution, homepage FAQ “How do I buy Leaf Solution gutter guards?” — sold only through authorized dealers and certified installers; pricing not published
- Leaf Solution, “About” — manufacturing since 2002 in Rochelle, Virginia; product lines and warranty lengths
- Leaf Solution, “Leaf Solution Gutter Guard” product page — 440-micron stainless mesh, triple-dip capillary design, 60 GPM, mounts and finishes
- Leaf Solution, “Xtreme Gutter Guard” product page — 5-, 6- and 7-inch sizes, standard or high-flow mesh, 60 GPM
- Leaf Solution, “New Wave Gutter Guard” product page — .019-gauge punched aluminum, 40 GPM, bronze finish
- Leaf Solution, Lifetime No-Clog Warranty (Leaf Solution and Xtreme), PDF — coverage, material-cost cap, labor exclusion, maintenance and exclusions, arbitration
- Leaf Solution, New Wave 20-Year No-Clog Warranty, PDF — 20-year term for the punched-aluminum line
- Leaf Solution blog, “How Long Do Gutter Guards Last?” (Aug. 5, 2026) — New Wave is meant for large debris rather than fine needles and seeds
- This Old House, “Leaf Solution vs. LeafFilter” (updated June 17, 2026) — $16.31/ft LeafFilter average from a 2025 survey; quote negotiation reports; founding years
- This Old House, “How Much Does LeafFilter Cost? (2026)” (updated Aug. 19, 2026) — $41.72/ft and $8,344 per 200 feet from a 2026 survey of 1,000 homeowners
- Today’s Homeowner, “Leaf Solution vs. LeafFilter” (updated April 4, 2025) — Leaf Solution does not advertise pricing; professional installation only
- Rocklin Gutter Guard, 2026 Cost Guide — our published per-foot price for gutter guard installation
- LeafBlaster Pro, Frequently Asked Questions — contractor-installed only; stainless steel micro-mesh; cost varies by contractor
- Gutterglove, Inc., LeafBlaster Pro 40-Year Limited Parts Warranty (PDF, updated July 1, 2025) — parts only, no labor; transferable; 10 years within five miles of a shoreline
Manufacturer pages and warranty documents were read on September 30, 2026. Product lines, warranties, and prices change; confirm current terms with the seller before you sign.
Trademark notice: LeafFilter is a trademark of LeafFilter North, LLC. Leaf Solution, Leaf Solution Gutter Guard, and Xtreme Gutter Guard are trademarks of Leaf Solution, LLC. All other product names are the property of their owners. Rocklin Gutter Guard is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by either company. We are an independent installer; we install LeafBlaster Pro but aren't owned by or affiliated with Gutterglove, Inc. This comparison is based on each company's published materials and the third-party reviews cited above.
Get a Written Micro-Mesh Quote Before You Decide
We measure the real footage, check the gutters underneath, and give you a written price you can lay next to any national-brand or dealer quote. Rocklin, Roseville, Lincoln, Granite Bay, Loomis, and the rest of Placer County.