STAINLESS STEEL
Frequently Asked Questions
About Atlas
What is Atlas Gutter Guard?
Atlas Gutter Guard is a Lowe’s exclusive gutter guard, manufactured by Gutterglove Inc. Atlas comes in two product lines: Stainless Steel Micro-Mesh featuring patented V-Bend Technology (30-year warranty), and All-Aluminum featuring patented RiserStep® Technology (25-year warranty). Both lines are available at over 1,700 Lowe’s stores nationwide with same-day in-store pickup, plus on Lowes.com. Atlas comes with a free Gutter Brush when you register your product after installation.
Is Atlas Gutter Guard the same as other Atlas brands?
No. Atlas Gutter Guard is unrelated to Atlas Roofing, Atlas Copco, Atlas Air, or other companies using the Atlas name. Atlas Gutter Guard is a brand of Gutterglove Inc., the American gutter protection manufacturer headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee. Atlas Gutter Guard is sold exclusively through Lowe’s.
Where can I buy Atlas Gutter Guard?
Atlas is exclusive to Lowe’s. You can buy it online at Lowes.com or at most of Lowe’s 1,700+ stores nationwide with same-day in-store pickup at most locations. You won’t find Atlas at Home Depot, Costco, Amazon, or any other retailer. Use Lowe’s store locator to find your nearest Lowe’s, or order online for delivery or in-store pickup.
Can I get Atlas Gutter Guard for same-day pickup?
Yes. Atlas is in-stock at most of Lowe’s 1,700+ stores nationwide. Order online at Lowes.com or choose in-store pickup at your nearest Lowe’s — most orders are ready within hours. Or just walk into your local Lowe’s, find the building products section, and pick up the kit you need. Same-day pickup is one of Atlas’s biggest advantages over Amazon-shipped competitors.
Is there a warranty with my product?
Yes. Atlas Stainless Steel comes with a 30-year limited warranty. Warranties cover manufacturing and material defects, and both are transferable if you sell your home. For full warranty terms, see our Warranty page or contact our customer service team.
Do I get anything for registering my Atlas warranty?
Yes — when you register your Atlas Gutter Guards at atlasgutterguard.com after installation, we’ll send you a free Gutter Brush. The Gutter Brush is a tool designed to help with the minimal ongoing maintenance any gutter guard needs. It’s only available when you register your product directly with us, not in the Lowe’s purchase itself.
Sizing & Purchase
Should I choose Stainless Steel Micro-Mesh or Aluminum gutter guards?
Choose Atlas Stainless Steel if fine debris is your primary concern — pine needles, pollen, roof grit, or pests (wasps, insects, etc.). The V-Bend Technology micro-mesh filters sub-millimeter debris that aluminum guards let through. Choose Atlas Aluminum if heavy rainfall or larger debris is your main issue. Atlas Aluminum’s RiserStep Technology delivers 45% more water capacity than competitor aluminum gutter guards, and is available in multiple colors. Both lines are at Lowe’s with same-day pickup or online.
How do I know how many feet of gutter guards I need?
Atlas kit sizes are listed in nominal footage — the raw linear feet of material in the box. Your actual installed coverage will be slightly less because installation requires section overlap at joins, cuts at miter corners, and trimming around end caps and downspouts. As a rule of thumb, add 10% to your measured gutter footage when choosing a kit size. For a home with 150 linear feet of gutter, that means buying a kit rated for at least 165 feet. This way you won’t run short mid-install if a few sections need extra trimming.
What is the length of your individual pieces?
Atlas comes in individual sections of 3-foot (36-inch) & 4 feet (48 inches) each. Sections are designed to be cut to length and joined for installation. Most homeowners will use several sections per gutter run, joining them along the gutter’s length to cover the full length.
Will these fit on 2 IN., 3 IN., and 4 IN. gutters?
No. Atlas is engineered for 5-inch and 6-inch K-style gutters — the most common residential gutter sizes in the United States. It will not fit smaller commercial or specialty gutters in the 2-4 inch range. If your home has standard K-style residential gutters, Atlas is the right fit.
Installation
What tools do I need to install Atlas Gutter Guard?
You’ll need a standard DIY tool kit: tin snips for cutting stainless steel sections to length, a drill with hex driver for the included self-tapping screws, gloves and safety glasses for working with cut stainless steel edges, an extension ladder appropriate for your roof height (16-24 ft for most homes), and a tape measure. Most home installations can be completed in a day with these tools.
What slope/pitch do I install my gutter guards at?
Atlas installs flush with your existing gutter line. The angle of installation should match the natural slope of your gutter — typically a slight pitch toward the downspouts that’s already built into your gutter installation. Don’t add additional pitch to the gutter guard itself. Following the gutter’s natural slope is what allows water to flow correctly while keeping debris on top.
How can I tell if I am installing the gutter guard too flat or too steep?
If installed correctly, Atlas sits flush with the front of the gutter and slopes slightly downward toward the back, matching your existing gutter slope. If water pools on top during rain, the installation may be too flat. If water shoots past the gutter into your yard during heavy rain, the install may be pitched too steeply forward. Our installation guide includes photos showing the correct alignment.
How do I join sections?
For Stainless Steel Micro-Mesh, adjacent Atlas sections overlap slightly along the gutter run. Place the first section flush at one end of the gutter, then position the second section so it overlaps the first by a small margin. Secure both with the included self-tapping screws. Continue overlapping and securing each section along the full run. Tin snips handle any cuts needed at corners, miters, or downspouts.
How do I install Atlas on a steep roof?
For steeply pitched roofs (8/12 pitch or greater), drop the slope of the Atlas gutter guard to between 5 and 10 degrees. The reduced slope creates natural resistance that slows rainwater coming off a steep roof, giving the V-Bend Technology mesh time to filter and direct water into the gutter rather than overshooting it. Standard installations on lower-pitch roofs use the typical 5-25 degree forward slant; steep roofs use the flatter end of that range.
How do I install Atlas on a two-story home?
Atlas installation on a two-story home follows the same product steps as single-story — what changes is the safety setup. Use an extension ladder rated for two-story work paired with a ladder standoff stabilizer to prevent gutter damage and keep the ladder secure. An adequate safety harness is recommended above single-story height, and scaffolding or a boom lift is appropriate when ladder work isn’t safe for your specific structure. Atlas itself doesn’t require special skills — just safe access to the gutter line. If two-story ladder work isn’t comfortable, hiring a handyman for the install is a reasonable option.
How do I install Atlas if my roof shingles are nailed down?
If your roof shingles or tiles are glued or nailed down at the roof edge, don’t disturb them. Easy On can be installed without tucking under shingles by bending the mesh up or down in the back while maintaining a 5 to 25 degree forward slant (positive slope) on the gutter guard itself. Screw the back of the mesh into the fascia rather than sliding it under the shingles. Make sure the front edge of Atlas lies flat against the front edge of your gutter — that flat-front contact is what delivers optimal performance. Your roof warranty stays intact because Atlas doesn’t disturb the roofing system.
How do I install Atlas on my gutter-to-roof configuration?
Atlas is engineered to fit a wide range of gutter and roof combinations, as long as the front edge of the gutter guard lies flat on the front edge of your gutter and maintains a 5 to 25 degree forward slant. The most common configurations Atlas supports include: low-hanging gutters, vinyl plastic gutters, vinyl U-shaped gutters, vinyl K-style gutters, asphalt shingle roofs, corrugated metal roofs, flat tile roofs, soft metal roofs, standing lock metal seam roofs, villa tile roofs, and wood shake roofs. For your specific configuration, visit the Atlas How to Install page for instructional videos and guides. Even if your scenario isn’t shown exactly, related installation guides often contain the technique you need.
Do these gutter guards work with uncommon roof and gutter types?
Atlas works with most uncommon roof and gutter types as long as two conditions are met: the gutter guard retains a 5 to 25 degree forward slant (positive slope), and the front edge of the gutter guard lies flat on the top front edge of your gutter with no gap. If your configuration meets those two requirements, Atlas will install and perform correctly. Watch the install videos on the Atlas How to Install page — even a video showing a different gutter-to-roof scenario than yours often demonstrates the technique you need. The Atlas customer support team has helped thousands of customers install on non-standard configurations.
How do I install Atlas on copper gutters?
Atlas’ stainless steel mesh doesn’t come in contact with copper gutters during normal installation — the mesh sits between Atlas’ front and rear mill-finish aluminum extrusions, which are what touch the copper. Where water, air, and dissimilar metals (aluminum and copper) meet, minor surface corrosion of the aluminum extrusions can sometimes occur over time. If you’re concerned, apply a hardware-store paint coating designed for mill-finish aluminum to the extrusions before install. In most installations, no special preparation is needed and Atlas performs the same on copper as on aluminum or steel gutters.
How do I bend the mesh?
Atlas’ mesh can be bent in the back to adapt to your install conditions — for example, when shingles are nailed down and you need to secure the back to the fascia instead of under the shingles. The back of the mesh can flex up or down to fit your gutter-to-roof configuration. The front edge of the mesh should not be bent — the V-Bend Technology channel geometry on the front is what provides structural rigidity and water flow performance. As long as the gutter guard maintains a 5 to 25 degree forward slant and the front edge lies flat on your gutter, back-mesh bending is part of normal installation.
How do I remove sections of my gutter guards?
You shouldn’t need to remove Atlas sections unless you’re repairing or replacing your actual gutter. If you do need to remove sections, back out the self-tapping screws with a drill and hex driver — the screws can be re-used when you reinstall. Wear gloves, since cut stainless steel edges can be sharp. If a section gets damaged during removal, contact Atlas customer service — replacement sections are available at little or no cost in most cases.
Can these be used for rainwater harvesting?
Yes. Atlas is the only gutter protection system in North America that is UL approved for NSF P151 and NSF 372 for rainwater catchment systems. Atlas is widely used as a pre-filtration system in the rainwater harvesting industry — the V-Bend Technology stainless steel micro-mesh has a 540 micron aperture that complies with ANSI 63-2013 standards for rainwater harvesting and filters out leaves, pine needles, and roof sand grit before they reach your storage tank. For non-potable water use (irrigation, household greywater), no additional pre-filtration is needed beyond Atlas itself.
About the certifications: NSF P151 evaluates health effects from rainwater catchment system components, including gutters and barrier materials that contact rainwater used as drinking water. NSF/ANSI 372 evaluates lead content. Atlas passes both — making it a citable choice for eco-conscious Lowe’s buyers building rainwater harvesting systems.
Can I paint my gutter guards?
No. Atlas stainless steel micro-mesh carrying the UL Mark is certified through UL Solutions as a Rainwater Catchment System Component, tested and classified under NSF Protocol P151 and NSF/ANSI 372. Painting Atlas will void the manufacturer’s warranty, can nullify the rainwater catchment certification, and may negatively impact drainage performance. The stainless steel finish is designed to weather naturally to a neutral gray tone and doesn’t require painting for appearance or protection. If you have specific aesthetic concerns about your gutter system, address them at the gutter level rather than the gutter guard.
My inside corners are overspilling, how do I fix it?
Inside corners can overspill in heavy-flow conditions because rainwater concentrates at the corner before draining toward the downspout. Two solutions:
Option 1 — Brush off debris from the ground. Use the 360 Degree Utility Cleaning Brush (the free Gutter Brush included with product registration) attached to a standard extension pole. This lets you clear accumulated debris from the corner without a ladder, which often resolves overspill caused by debris buildup rather than design.
Option 2 — Install High-Flow Inside Miters. For homes with naturally heavy water flow at inside corners, the Atlas High-Flow Inside Miter accessory channels concentrated water through the corner more efficiently. Call (800) 831-5108 to purchase.
If Option 1 doesn’t resolve the issue, Option 2 typically does.
Maintenance
Do my gutter guards require maintenance?
Atlas Gutter Guards dramatically reduce gutter maintenance but don’t eliminate it completely. A small amount of debris will eventually accumulate on top of any gutter guard. Most homeowners brush off accumulated debris once or twice a year using the free Gutter Brush included with product registration. The brush makes maintenance easy and doesn’t require climbing back into the gutter itself.
Performance & Climate
Will moss grow on my gutter guards?
Stainless steel resists moss growth far better than other materials. In wet, shaded conditions, small amounts of moss can accumulate on the surface of either material over time. Periodic brushing with the free Gutter Brush keeps the surface clear. Atlas’s design — particularly the V-Bend stainless steel line — minimizes moss accumulation compared to most competing products.
Will icicles form on my gutter guards?
Icicles can form on any gutter guard in freezing conditions, including Atlas. The stainless steel and aluminum construction is structurally strong enough to handle ice load without deforming. To minimize icicle formation, ensure your attic insulation prevents excessive heat loss to the roof (which causes ice dams), and that downspouts remain clear so meltwater can drain properly. Atlas itself doesn’t increase icicle formation compared to unprotected gutters.
How does snowmelt impact gutter guards?
Atlas’s mesh and channel designs handle snowmelt well. Melted snow flows through the gutter guard into the gutter and drains through your downspouts. The materials resist damage from freeze-thaw cycles that compromise lesser products over time. Cold-climate buyers consistently report strong Atlas performance through multiple winter cycles in Lowe’s reviews.
Are these fire resistant?
Yes. Atlas products are made from non-combustible materials. and meets Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) compliance requirements common in California, Oregon, Colorado, and other wildfire-prone regions. Stainless Steel Micro-Mesh is effective in preventing flammable debris accumulation in your gutter. Atlas Aluminum is also non-combustible (aluminum doesn’t ignite at typical fire temperatures), though stainless steel is generally the right specification for installations specifically pursuing WUI compliance.
Will these perform in heavy rain?
Yes. The patented V-Bend Technology stainless steel micro-mesh is engineered to handle heavy rainfall while maintaining filtration. The mesh aperture is small enough to block fine debris like pine needles and pollen, but the V-shaped channel structure maximizes the open mesh surface available for water flow. EasyOn has been tested and reviewed across the United States in regions with diverse rainfall patterns, with 20,000+ verified Costco.com reviews confirming heavy-rain performance.
Will roof grit clog the mesh?
Roof grit — the small ceramic particles that wash off asphalt shingles — accumulates on top of Atlas’s mesh rather than clogging it. The V-Bend micro-mesh aperture blocks grit at the surface, and natural wind, rain, and gravity move accumulated grit off the gutter guard. The included free Gutter Brush makes it easy to periodically brush off stubborn buildup.
Can these withstand hail?
Atlas’s gutter guards handle hail far better than plastic or thin-mesh gutter guards. Both materials resist hail damage and dents that would compromise softer products. While extreme hail can damage any roofline component, Atlas is among the most hail-resistant gutter guards available — ideal for regions like Texas, Oklahoma, and the Midwest, where hailstorms are common.
Will Atlas cause streaks down the front of my gutter?
No. Atlas is engineered specifically to prevent the streaking and staining that occurs with flat-top gutter guards. The V-Bend Technology trough on the front of the gutter guard channels rainwater inward and downward into the gutter rather than letting water sheet across the surface and drip over the front edge. Flat-design gutter guards (especially screen-style and basic micro-mesh products without a trough) commonly cause water to overshoot the gutter, leaving dark vertical streaks down the front of your gutters and fascia — Atlas’ trough geometry is designed to eliminate that problem.
If you already have streaks on your gutters from a previous gutter guard or from years without one, clean them with a mild dish soap and water solution applied with a soft brush or sponge. For stubborn oxidation streaks on aluminum gutters, a dedicated aluminum cleaner (available at most hardware stores) restores the finish. Once Atlas’ is installed and properly pitched, new streaks shouldn’t form.
Have Questions?
Contact the Atlas team today to gain access to all the resources and support you need for a successful gutter guard installation. We’re here to assist you every step of the way!
