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Gutter cleaning may be one of the most dreaded chores homeowners face. It is dirty, sometimes dangerous, and, unfortunately, very necessary. Thankfully, there are ways to make the process easier and safer. There are also many companies and handymen who can get the job done for you. And you’ll find that the gutter cleaning cost, whether you do it yourself or hire an outside contractor, is far cheaper than the repairs that your home will likely need if it is not done.
Most professionals recommend gutter cleaning at least twice a year, usually in fall–when a season’s worth of leaves have fallen from the trees–and in spring, to clear out winter’s debris. Exactly how often your gutters will need to be cleaned depends on many factors, including the environment your home is in (urban, suburban, rural), the height of your home, the surrounding trees, and of course, the size and condition of your gutters.
Of course, if you have recently weathered a major storm or you see water falling from your gutters, it is a good idea to check and see if any clogging has occurred, regardless of when you last cleaned the gutters.
Gutters and downspouts are installed on houses to direct rainwater away from your home’s foundation. Without gutters, rainwater would run off your roof and into the ground right outside your house. Over time this will lead to the erosion of the soil around your home, which can crack your foundation, especially in climates where the temperatures drop below freezing. There is also the increased risk of damp or flooded basements and mold growth if this water is not shunted away from your house.
Gutters cannot effectively collect and move water if they are clogged with leaves, branches, trash, and other debris. When this happens, the gutters overflow, and water can run down your walls to the foundation, as if the gutters weren’t there at all. This isn’t pretty–and can lead to rot and mold–for the sides of your home, too. In Colorado, for example, melting snow load with nowhere to go may find its way into your home’s frame.
To avoid this, someone needs to climb up and manually clean the debris out of the gutters, preferably before it gets washed down into the downspouts, which are harder to unclog. Although it does not require a great deal of skill to climb up and pull the bulk leaves and garbage out of your gutters, it is not a chore everyone can, or should, tackle.
Climbing up the ladder to get to your gutters is one of the dangers of this chore. This is a relatively small risk if you live in a one-story rancher, but if you live in a three-story Victorian, the risks can be much higher. Either way, a fall from even a short height can be dangerous, and falling is much more likely to occur if you are not very comfortable on ladders.
Even if you are comfortable doing the work yourself, there is the cost of the supplies needed to consider. Aside from the ladder, you may require a tarp, a trowel, a bucket, and a garden hose with a spray nozzle. If you’re unclogging, you best have a long-handled hoe or fork, and extensions for it. It would also be wise to add goggles, gloves, and a dust mask to your shopping list. When you consider the costs and potential danger of doing it yourself, hiring a contractor to get the job done might well sound like the better way to go.
Gutter cleaning cost varies, depending on the size, shape, and height of your home. All things considered, the average price range for gutter cleaning in 2021 for a 2-story house is between $75 and $225. Houses with 3 or more stories and those with extensive gutter work will cost more.
The price is usually determined by measuring the total linear feet of gutter to be cleaned, with an average cost of $1 to $2 per foot. These numbers are somewhat variable, and more is typically charged if the job is particularly tricky or poses unusual risks to the worker cleaning the gutter.
Some contractors may determine the price of service based on the square footage of the house itself, but this is not the most accurate way to determine how much work will have to be done. Porches, covered patios, and breezeways can change the amount of gutter without adding to the square footage of the house.
Gutter cleaning costs can also be affected by demand. Since most people want to have their gutters cleaned in the fall and spring, it may cost you more to have it done in these seasons. You can possibly mitigate the additional cost by scheduling your work months in advance or setting up a service contract.
It is also always wise to shop around for the best price as costs can vary widely, even in the same market.
There are, of course, ways to lower your gutter cleaning cost, including:
If you think you are up to the challenge of cleaning your own gutters and you understand all the risks involved, that can be a good choice to potentially save you money. But saving money by not cleaning your gutters at all is a choice that you will pay for later down the line, usually with more expensive repairs. If you opt to have someone do the job for you, for whatever reason, be sure to find a reputable, reliable and insured company, like Hidrent.
Hidrent is a website that connects off-duty firefighters with homeowners and businesses looking for handyman services. They provide professional and volunteer firefighters with a way to use their skills, and supplement their income, as gig laborers. They connect those looking to have small jobs completed around their home or business to a reliable, safe, and skilled laborer who has already proven their desire to serve their community.
For more information about gutter cleaning or any of the many other tasks they can get done for you, go to Hidrent.com.
Best of luck with fall leaf season!