We often get asked how often the gutters should be cleaned.
There are a number of factors that need to be considered:
- Amount of trees in the vicinity
- Do you have bird activity?
- Where do you live? Near a beach, in the bush, in an industrial area or a suburb, etc.
- Do you have trees near the house or any overhanging the roof?
- What type of trees are they, deciduous or coniferous?
We also get asked about gutter guard.
You would be surprised to know the number of people who think they never have to clean their gutters again if they install gutter guard.
Gutter guard is a tool to help keep the gutters clear which allows for the water to flow as it should, through the gutter system. When combining the use of gutter guard and gutter cleaning, you can maintain your gutters and keep them blockage free.
Add the cost of installing gutter guard, which varies depending on the type, to the cost of cleaning the gutter, up to four times the cost of a gutter clean depending on the type of guard and you could have an expensive maintenance job to deal with.
It can be preferable to have a more frequent schedule for gutter cleaning rather than go to the expense of buying and installing gutter guard.
The above pictures were taken in 2018. This client in Hobart, has a tree overhanging the front two gutter lines.
We have been asked to come back in 2020 to complete a clean and the pictures below show the amount of debris collected and the vegetation that has grown over the two years. They asked about installing gutter guard, thinking they would not have to clean again or at least less frequently.
In this situation, the debris would sit on top of the guard and we would need to clean of the top every year. The debris would breakdown and fall through the holes in the guard and grass or weeds would eventually grow through. A full clean would then be required which means removing, cleaning and refitting the guard. A costly exercise.
We suggested not installing gutter guard and that we clean the gutters every year(which we would have need to do with gutter guard installed). In doing this the debris and corrosive sludge will be removed, prolonging the life of the gutters.
We provide a roof and gutter report of the work carried out with every job. We will recommend a cleaning schedule and send you a reminder when the next clean is due.
