How much does it cost to clean gutters?

Gutters play a vital role in keeping your residence dry and free from water damage.  A gutter system works as a channel to collect rainwater, melting snow, and hail as they run off the roof.  It diverts the water away from the home and into downspouts which funnel the water away from the structure.  Gutters typically run alongside a building's eaves ¹ and are attached to the fascia boards.

Gutters should be cleaned twice a year, in fall and spring, to remove all debris and keep the system functioning properly. Debris, such as fallen leaves and twigs, can quickly dam up a gutter system and cause it to malfunction.

For a single story 1,500 square foot home with 150 linear feet of gutters it will typically cost $150 to have the gutters professionally cleaned.   

Problems caused by a clogged gutter

As the seasons change, leaves and other debris regularly build up in the trough-shaped gutter system. The buildup of debris can form a dam in the gutter so water cannot flow to the downspout and away from your house. The dam causes the water to back up and overflow the sides of the gutter, leading to the problems below:

Structural damage: a clogged gutter can cause water to overflow out of the gutter system’s trough, across the eaves ¹, and onto your roof’s edge. Water running across the eaves ¹ and down the sides of your house eventually damages the roof and the sides of the building.

Flooding: water overflowing out of your clogged gutter may pool on the ground beside your home’s foundation, where it can seep beneath the foundation into the basement or crawlspace. Flooding in your crawlspace or basement poses a significant risk of causing extensive structural damage.

Cracked foundation: water settling around a foundation could freeze during the winter months. Frozen water makes the soil expand and heave upwards which could crack the home’s foundation.

Slippery surfaces: pooling water on walkways and driveways also poses a danger to passing pedestrians who can slip on the wet surfaces.

Professional gutter cleaning vs DIY

You can opt to clean your own gutters instead of hiring a professional. Here are the pros and cons of cleaning the gutters yourself versus having a professional undertake the task.

Benefits

Bi-annual gutter cleaning keeps the gutter system free from accumulated debris so the water continues to be diverted away from the structure. A buildup of debris in a gutter is heavy and can cause the gutter to bow, bend, break, or pull away from the side of the building. Regularly cleaning the gutter system prevents costly future gutter repairs; for example, damaged gutters may need to be repaired or replaced. If the gutter pulls away from the home’s fascia board they may suffer damage and also need to be replaced.

Cost factors

• Height: professional gutter cleaning services for a two or three story home will typically cost $300-$450 because of the added safety risks and additional ladder lengths required. The added height means that the job must be done by two people for safety and will require a 40-foot ladder or longer to reach the gutters.
• Location: landscaping that is difficult to get around, such as large shrubs, flowerbeds, or trees, typically increases the cost of gutter cleaning because of the additional time that the worker must take in maneuvering.
• Gutter screens: gutter screens cover a gutter system to help prevent leaves from collecting in the gutter trough, however, debris can still infiltrate beneath the screens. Often there is an added charge to lift out the gutter screens and clean underneath.
• Gutter condition: gutters pulling away from the home’s fascia board may need to be reaffixed. If the gutters are rusted, warped, bent, or broken then sections might need to be completely replaced.

Labor

A ladder must be placed against the structure’s wall. A technician will climb the ladder and use a pressure washer to hose the debris out of the gutter system with a strong burst of water. When the gutter system’s trough is clean, he will then sweep or rake up and remove the debris from around the home’s foundation, walkways, or other areas where it might have fallen. After the entire gutter system is clean, he will inspect it to make sure it remains in working condition.

A professional gutter cleaning company will normally charge approximately $1 per linear foot of gutter length for labor. The price may increase to around $2 per linear foot of gutter length on a two-story or three-story building.

Maintenance

Gutters require biannual inspections and cleanings in the spring and autumn. In some cases, a gutter professional will need to adjust the slope of the gutters to keep the water flowing smoothly towards the downspouts. The downspouts will also need to be inspected for possible obstructions and to make sure they are still adequately expelling water away from the structure. The inspector should also be looking for spots of rust andpeeling or flaking paint. The downspouts and gutter must be snugly affixed to the structure and the fascia board. An inspection of the fascia boards for rot or damage will also be carried out. If areas of rot or damage are noted then it is suggested that you have the lumber replaced or repaired by treating it with wood preservatives.  

Enhancements and improvement costs

• Downspout cleaning: a clogged downspout can cost from $50-$100 to clean, depending on the severity of the clog.
• Tighten fasteners ², reseal end caps ³, and outlets: professional gutter repair is normally charged by the hour.  The cost averages $11 per hour and the time needed to do the repairs will depend on how many fasteners ² need to be tightened, how many end caps ³ require resealing, and how many outlets need repairs.
• Installing gutter guards:  gutter guards keep leaves and debris from falling into the gutter trough. The cost of installing gutter guards averages $6-$7 per linear foot.

Additional considerations and costs

• Before hiring a professional gutter cleaning company you should consult with them to make sure that they include the price of removal of all debris in their price quote.
• Discuss with the professional gutter cleaning company any possible price increases that may be involved due to large bushes or trees that may obstruct the gutter technician’s path while cleaning the gutters.
• Clogged downspouts frequently add to the cost of basic gutter cleaning charges by $50-100.
• Cleaning the gutters on a three-story home typically costs more because of the added safety risk and the need for extension ladders. Having the gutters cleaned on a home three stories or higher can range from $300-450.
• If you live in an area with abundant rainfall then you might want to consider having your gutter system divert the water into a dry well area.
• Gutters that are located beneath trees often require more frequent cleaning, especially after a storm because of fallen leaves and debris from the tree accumulating in the gutters.
• Water that pools up in the gutter system’s troughs can cause rust or rot wood. This is especially true if the gutter is made out of sheet-metal.
• Any roof that is higher than a single story should have a professional gutter cleaning company clean the gutter system because of safety.  Taller structures will require an extension ladder.
• Gutter guards and leaf catchers can prevent debris from building up in a gutter system but they are not a complete solution. Gutters still require bi-annual cleanings because small pieces of debris eventually filter past the leaf guard screens. The screens must be removed and cleaned.
• Never work on a roof that is icy or wet because you could slip and fall.  Also, avoid working in windy conditions because a sudden burst of wind could knock you off the ladder.
• Always check to make sure your downspouts expel water away from the house because water pooling near the home’s foundation can seep into the crawlspace or basement and cause structural damage. The pooling water can also freeze and cause the home’s foundation to crack. If they do not, then consider having downspout extenders installed to divert water away way from the home’s foundation. Downspout extensions typically cost from $6-$15 each.
• Gutters typically need to be cleaned more often in regions that suffer from frequent storms because leaves and other debris build up in the gutter troughs more quickly.
• Many professional gutter cleaning companies offer maintenance contracts that provide repeat customers with a discount.
• Always get at least three quotes for gutter cleaning from gutter cleaning companies before deciding on the best one.
• Gutter cleaning companies typically charge more to clean under gutter guards because of the extra labor involved.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

³ End caps: A separate piece of finished material that covers the unfinished edges of a countertop