Roof Replacement and Repair Blog | Insights About Roofing

Do MasterShield Guards Need to Be Removed During a Roof Replacement?

Written by Jim Singleterry | Apr 13, 2026 5:26:15 PM

Do you have MasterShield gutter guards on your home and feel worried about what will happen to them when it’s time to replace your roof? Are you concerned that your roofer might damage them or reinstall them incorrectly and create new problems like clogs or leaks?

If you’ve invested in MasterShield gutter guards, you already know they’re designed to last a lifetime. But the majority of roofers and installers do not know how to properly remove and reinstall MasterShield, and one mistake can leave you with bent metal, poor drainage, or the need for a full replacement.

At RoofSmart, we are the exclusive MasterShield dealer in the Greater Seattle area. Our crews are the only ones who know how to properly install, remove, and handle MasterShield gutter guards in this area.

In this article, we’ll walk you through exactly what happens to MasterShield gutter guards during a roof replacement, who is qualified to handle them, and how to protect your investment so they continue working properly for years to come.

What Happens to MasterShield Gutter Guards During Roof Replacement

Step in Process

What Should Happen

What Can Go Wrong

Why It Matters

Removal

Carefully removed and labeled for reinstallation

Bent, cut, or mishandled

Damage can make guards unusable

Storage

Safely stored on-site during roofing work

Left exposed or mixed up

Increases risk of loss or damage

Cleaning

Debris removed and guards restored

Skipped cleaning step

Reduces performance after reinstall

Reinstallation

Installed at correct angle with proper fit

Installed flat or misaligned

Leads to clogs and poor drainage

Handling by Contractor

Done by trained/certified installer

Handled by inexperienced roofer

High risk of permanent damage

Final Performance

Proper water shedding and debris flow

Standing water or debris buildup

Can lead to gutter failure or leaks

Do MasterShield gutter guards need to be removed during a roof replacement?

Yes, it’s crucial that you remove your MasterShield gutter guards before you get your roof replaced because it can get in the way of your roofer installing drip edge flashing or working on the edge of the roof.

Removing your MasterShield gutter guards protects them from damage before your roof becomes a messy, potentially hazardous worksite for materials left on.

Can MasterShield gutter guards be reinstalled after the new roof is done?

If your MasterShield gutter guards were already in good condition when they got removed, then you should be able to reinstall them on your gutters and continue to get good quality gutter protection for years to come.

If your MasterShield gutter guards get damaged during removal or reinstallation, they might need to be replaced. When removed and reinstalled properly by a certified contractor (like our crews at RoofSmart), you won’t have to worry about damage.

MasterShield gutter guards are made of metal, which is a material that lasts a long time on the roof. They’re designed to last for a lifetime and have a lifetime guarantee on the warranty. They can sometimes get dirty, but as long as they don’t get damaged, they can last for a long time.

Who is qualified to remove and install MasterShield Gutter Guards in the Seattle area?

MasterShield is a unique product, so very few contractors know how to install and handle it properly. RoofSmart (and MossEaters, which is a division of RoofSmart) is the exclusive MasterShield installer in the Seattle area.

Since MasterShield gutter guards are meant to last a lifetime, we recommend that you help to protect your investment by making sure that only qualified contractors remove and reinstall them. If they get damaged, then they won’t work properly.

This can potentially lead to leaks or other expensive damage. You’ll have to pay for repairs and likely also replace your MasterShield gutter guards.

Only our crews are familiar with MasterShield and know how to handle it without damaging the product. Other roofers or gutter guard installers don’t know how MasterShield is supposed to be installed, so they can easily mess up the process.

For example, on this roof, the customer has MasterShield gutter guards that were removed and reinstalled by their roofer during the roof replacement process. This company didn’t know how to install MasterShield, so it got completely butchered:

First, MasterShield is not supposed to lie flat on the gutter. It’s meant to be installed at an angle so that debris can easily shed. Also, there is not supposed to be a dip in the middle where debris can easily collect. So, clearly, it got bent and mangled.

Speaking of mangled, this installer also cut the metal edges for their installation purposes, but now some parts of it stick up:

You can see pieces of it sticking up when it should be lying flat. In addition, the corner pieces usually require a custom installation, but this got completely messed up:

It looks pretty wonky, right? Unfortunately, that’s what happens when you hire someone who is unfamiliar with MasterShield to install it. Even experienced gutter guard installers are probably unfamiliar with MasterShield, which is why it’s essential to find someone who knows how to install it.

How much does it cost to remove and reinstall MasterShield gutter guards during a roof replacement?

For a simple removal and reinstallation job, we’d charge for time and material (this is how we price our repair and maintenance jobs, which includes gutter guard removal and reinstallation).

Our pricing for this is $475 for the first hour and then $125 per person per hour for the remaining time. The cost can vary depending on the layout of your roof and length of your gutters.

If you have a big house with a lot of gutters, then that will cost more than a smaller house. Another thing that can increase the cost is having gutters that are difficult to access. Since every house is unique, we have to see your home to give an accurate estimate.

What’s RoofSmart’s MasterShield removal and replacement process?

We’re more than happy to include MasterShield removal and reinstallation on your proposal if you choose to hire us for roof replacement or just do the gutter guard removal, even if you hire another roofer.

Either way, our priority is making sure that your MasterShield gutter guards are handled properly so that you don’t have to worry about paying for damage or having to get a whole new set.

Here’s what you get when you hire RoofSmart to remove and reinstall your MasterShield gutter guards for a roof replacement:

  1. Removal: Guards are carefully removed. During the removal, they’ll be labeled to make sure every piece goes back in the right spot. They are bundled up and safely stored out of the way somewhere on your property.
  2. Cleaning: Guards are cleaned off with a scrub brush and restored to their original state (usually they’re dirty and need to be cleaned).
  3. Reinstall: Guards are reinstalled on the new roof.

How much should you expect to pay for gutter guards in the Seattle area?

As you’ve seen, protecting your MasterShield gutter guards during a roof replacement isn’t just a small detail: it’s a crucial step in preserving a long-term investment. When handled properly, they can be removed, cleaned, and reinstalled without issue, continuing to protect your home for decades. But when handled incorrectly, they can be damaged, misaligned, or rendered ineffective.

This highlights an important point: not all gutter guard systems or installations are created equal. Depending on what level of quality you want, you can choose from a variety of gutter guard options at different prices.

If you’re wondering what it would cost to replace your gutter guards if they were to get damaged in the Seattle area, our article breaks down the real costs and what factors influence them.

Read next: “How Much Do Gutter Guard Installations Cost in Seattle? A Pricing Guide for Homeowners

This guide will help you understand pricing, compare options, and decide which gutter guard system makes the most sense for your home.