Gutter cleaning may seem quite a straightforward task but there are certain things you need to consider when scheduling a job with a roofer. There are certain questions you need to ask yourself as well. How much does gutter cleaning cost, and what factors affect the price? Should you hire someone to clean my gutters or do it myself?
Here’s everything you need to know when hiring a gutter cleaner or doing it yourself!
How Much Does It Cost to Clean a Gutter?
Gutters are designed to capture and move water away from your home. However, gutter algae and grime can block this water flow, resulting in water leaks and damages to the structures.
Professional gutter cleaning ensures that your gutter is functioning properly so you can sleep easy knowing that your home is protected from water damage.
The gutter cleaning cost will depend on a number of factors which will be discussed in the next section. To give you some indication on the range, the table below outlines an estimate based on various scenarios.
For instance, if you have a very large home with four floors (and therefore eight sets of vertical drains), you can expect to pay more than someone who lives in a smaller house with only one or two floors and no vertical drains at all!
| JOB | ESTIMATED COST WITHOUT SCAFFOLDING | ESTIMATED COST WITH SCAFFOLDING | TIME REQUIRED |
| Bungalow | £60-£90 | £120-£270 | Two to three hours |
| Terraced house | £90-£120 | £270-£360 | Three to four hours |
| Semi-detached house | £120-£150 | £360-£450 | Four to five hours |
| Detached house | £150-£180 | £450-£540 | Five to seven hours |
Property and homeowners typically spend £3-£5 per metre of guttering if it’s cleaned and maintained on a regular yearly basis. A professional will be able to advise you on the optimal window for cleaning and maintenance.
According to the above table, the gutter cleaning cost without scaffolding can range between £60 – £180, whilst the estimated cost for cleaning out a gutter with scaffolding is £120 – £540 depending on the size of the property.
The estimated cost is between £90-£120 to clean a gutter of a terraced house without scaffolding; with scaffolding, it’s estimated to cost £270-£360.
Gutter cleaning costs will vary depending on whether you need a full or part clean. The estimated costs for a full cleaner are £120-£150 for a semi-detached house without scaffolding, £360-£450 with scaffolding. For a detached house it’s likely to be the most expensive, costing between £150-£180 without scaffolding and £450-£540 with scaffolding.
What Affects the Cost of Cleaning a Gutter?
The cost of cleaning gutters is not something you want to leave up to chance. If you’re not sure how much it will cost, there are a few factors that affect your final bill.
Property size
This is another variable that affects your overall gutter cleaning price tag—the larger your property size is (in square footage), the higher costs can go because more time needs spent on each section until completion. Larger properties will also require the guttering length to be longer too resulting in higher material costs.
Condition of Gutters
Cleaning an unclogged and debris-free gutter is much cheaper than cleaning out one with years’ worth of buildup and debris in it—and this applies whether the problem was caused by nature or an improper installation job from years ago.
Height of Gutters
You’ll pay more for higher roofs because they require more work to reach them safely and efficiently. Plus, if your roof has multiple peaks or valleys (or both), you’ll have even more hoops to jump through when performing maintenance on them all! Heavily sloped properties can also lead to higher prices as professional cleaners will need to purchase longer ladders and possibly scaffolding in order to reach the gutters.
Guttering material used
The type of guttering and the guttering system used on the property can affect the time it takes to clean as well. This can in turn affect the labour cost of cleaning.
Location of the property
Different areas in the UK will differ when it comes to the cost of hiring a professional to clean your gutters. It’s always a good idea to look for roofing professionals within your city who can provide the best rates. It’s best to try and take your location into account when creating a budget for this type of clean.
For instance, if your property is located in Northampton or any surrounding areas, you can get in touch with the team at LD Roofing who will be more than happy to serve you. Browse through our service locations to check if your area is listed here.
Tips to Save Money on Gutter Cleaning Cost
To save you the time, effort and money of having gutter cleaning done yourself when it’s not necessary, here are some tips for reducing the gutter cleaning cost.
Cleaning them regularly
If you clean your gutters regularly then you will reduce their chances of becoming clogged. This means that if they do become clogged, it will be easier for them to unclog themselves again at a later date when you are ready for more significant maintenance work such as repainting or replacing damaged sections of gutter guard mesh sheeting material (or “gutter screen”).
Using the correct type of equipment
There are several different types of power washers or pressure cleaners that can be used on different types of surfaces such as wood (pine), metal (aluminium), plastic etc. However, you need to ensure that you use the type that is suitable for the guttering material.
If you’re unsure about any aspect of the cleaning process, we’d recommend hiring a professional to clean your gutters and save you peace of mind and keep your gutters in good condition.
Steps to cleaning a gutter
There are a few steps to the process of cleaning out a gutter.
- To clean gutters, you will need a ladder. You will ensure that the ladder is safe and securely fastened.
- To access the gutter, you must climb onto your roof and position yourself by one of the downspouts. Once you are in place, you can begin to clean the gutter by using a gutter cleaning tool (or leaf blower) to get rid of debris that has accumulated at the bottom of the gutter.
- Professionals will tap the downpipe to detect if there’s a blockage. They’ll then remove the existing down-pipe and use pipe rods, which are long, flexible metal tools, to dislodge the blockage.
- You can also use a hose to clean out any debris that may have collected there. Consider using a power washer on them for more thorough cleaning.
Choosing a professional gutter cleaner
When choosing a professional to clean your gutter, it’s important to follow this checklist which will make sure you’re engaging with the right people.
- Check for a business licence.
- Ask for references from previous customers.
- Ask for proof of insurance that covers workers on your property, and verify it with the state insurance commission’s online database or by calling your agent.
- Request a list of services they offer in addition to gutter cleaning (e.g., roof washing, power washing).
- Get an estimate so you know exactly what you’re paying before work begins and can decide whether to go ahead with it based on your budget and needs.
- Be sure to ask if they’ll also clean downspouts, which aren’t always included in standard gutter cleaning packages; this is especially important if there are any clogs or blockages that raise concerns about water damage inside the house or property around it.
- Ask for a guarantee on their work. Many companies will give you some sort of satisfaction guarantee as long as there were no major problems found during inspection after completion
Ensuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
Before you get started with the process of finding a professional gutter cleaning company, it’s important to ask some questions and make sure they’re the right fit. Here are some tips:
- Check their credentials. A good place to start is by checking their credentials. You can do this by looking online or even giving them a call and asking how long they’ve been in business and what qualifications they have that make them qualified to clean gutters.
- Ask for references from previous clients so you can speak with people who have had positive experiences with them in the past. This will give you an idea of what kind of service quality to expect from them as well as whether or not they are reliable enough for your needs.
- Is the company bonded, insured, licensed? These three things go hand-in-hand when it comes to making sure that any contractor working on your home is protecting both themselves and their clients’ interests during every job—especially one so high risk (such as roofing).
Scaffold hires for gutter cleaning
If the gutters are high, you may need scaffolding or a ladder. Scaffolding is great for keeping your roof clean while working on the gutters, but ladders can be dangerous if they’re not properly secured. The last thing you want is to have a ladder fall over while you’re standing on it!
If the gutters are lower, then it’s probably fine to do this work yourself. However, be careful when doing so because falling off of a ladder can cause serious injury or even death in some cases (especially if there’s ice on the ground).
You could hire someone else to do all of this work for you! If possible try doing research first before hiring anyone because maybe there would be someone cheaper than what they offer at first glance? You’ll never know until looking around though; maybe even calling around town asking different businesses how much their service costs would help too!
Signs that the gutter needs cleaning
If your gutters are clogged with debris, they may be leaking and causing water damage to the exterior of your house. If this happens, it is time for you to call a professional gutter cleaning service.
If you notice a leak in one of your downspouts, this could mean that there is high pressure on the gutter’s seams. This can cause leaks — which means more money spent on repairs rather than a simple cleaning.
If you have noticed any leaks coming from your gutters or downspouts, then it is time for them to be cleaned!
Another sign that you need gutter cleaning is if they have been damaged by something in particular, for instance, falling branches or trees; hail storms etc.
A professional roofer will be able to determine whether or not any of these damages are severe enough to warrant having them repaired before continuing onto other areas within the home itself (or even outside).
Frequency of cleaning the gutter
It’s best to clean your gutters at least twice a year. If you live in an area that has a lot of trees, leaves and debris on the ground, you should clean them more often. Also consider cleaning your gutters if there is any damage to the gutter itself or if water is leaking into your home.
Indications for the need to replace a gutter
- If your gutters are leaking, or if you’ve noticed a few leaks here and there over the years, you may want to consider replacing them.
- You may also need to replace your gutters if they’re old. They can lose their shape or become damaged by falling trees or other debris. Gutters that have been damaged by ice or snow will require special attention when it comes time for replacement because these types of repairs are usually more difficult than simply replacing the gutter itself.
- If you have clogged downspouts that are causing water from inside your house to drain into the foundation walls instead of draining out into the street (or at least away from where it’s causing damage) then yes: it’s probably time for new ones!
Final thoughts
Gutters are an important part of your home or business, and they need to be kept clean. If your gutters are dirty or clogged with leaves, you could end up with water damage in your roof or walls. You could even see mould growing on the inside of these areas! To avoid that, make sure to get them cleaned regularly by a professional gutter cleaning company. Click here to visit our guttering cleaning services for more information!
