It may be an easy chore to forget about, but if you want to avoid expensive damage to your home, you won’t neglect your gutters. The purpose of your gutters is to get storm water and snow melt away from your home, specifically your foundation, and ignoring that effort can cause serious repercussions for your home. Let us help you.
Clogged gutters can damage your foundation by allowing water to enter your basement or crawl space, which can lead to mold and other water damage. In winter, the water can freeze and actually crack your foundation. Higher up, if water gets behind your gutters, it can rot out your fascia boards, which in turn puts your gutters at risk of collapse and also provides an opening for animals and more water to find its way into your roof.
This is why it is critical for you to regularly clean your gutters and repair any sagging or broken hangers as soon as you notice them. If you have been neglecting your gutters, you may need to consider completely replacing your gutters depending on the level of damage.
How often should you clean your gutters?
How often gutters need to be cleaned depends on your surrounding landscape. Here in Wisconsin, it’s important to clean gutters at least twice a year, usually in the spring and in the fall.
The most important time is of course, in late fall after all or most of the leaves have come down. The other important time to clean your gutters is the spring or early summer as pollen, flower petals and seeds such as maple “helicopters” can build up. Also, most deciduous trees drop debris in the spring, as those with hardwood trees know too well. Those who live in heavily wooded areas may find it necessary to clear the gutters three or four times a year!
It’s not just the horizontal gutters you need to worry about. Always make sure the downspouts are not clogged and that they are carrying water away from the house foundation.
Gutter guards and screens
Gutter guards (also called leaf guards) are primarily aimed at preventing damage caused from clogged gutters and reducing the need for regular gutter cleaning.
Gutter guards are a great option to consider if you want to clean less and protect your gutters longer. But if your goal is to never get up on a ladder again to scoop out leaves, you are out of luck with this option. That’s where I can come in. Even the best gutter guard systems require regularly cleaning every few years.
Types of gutter guards
You can generally classify gutter guards into one of three categories: screens, inserts or reverse curves.
Screens – The most common kind of guard. These work by covering your existing gutter with a membrane that allows water through, but blocks debris. The screens can be simple, like the screens that cover your windows, or complex with several layers of fine mesh to block even the smallest of particles. Like all filters, screens will need to be removed and cleaned from time to time.
Inserts – The least expensive and easiest to install. These guards fill the gutter with a porous material, such as foam or a brush (it looks like a giant pipe cleaner), which allows water to filter through while blocking most debris. Inserts will need to be regularly removed and cleaned, and smaller pieces of debris may still collect in your gutter over time. They also do not prevent algae or plant growth.
Reverse curves – A slightly more advanced type of guard. They direct water over a curve and into a small slit while allowing gravity to force other debris to fall off the roof. The best reverse-curve systems require little maintenance, but while they’re efficient at keeping debris out, they may have water collection issues during heavy storms.
Gutter guard installation procedures and cost
Gutter guards systems can range widely in price from just a few dollars to upward of $30 per lineal foot installed. The average home has about 200 feet of gutter and $1,500 is an average starting cost for professional gutter guard installation.
Foam guards are usually the cheapest type of gutter guard and require minimal installation.
Screens have the widest variety of cost and installation expense, ranging from easy-to-install inserts to very complex. Simple screens need to be attached to the gutters and roof with screws or tape and can be installed in a few hours, while more advanced filtering systems require professional installation.
Reverse curves are usually the most expensive option and prices can reach up to $30 per foot. Many people find them to be unattractive and difficult to maintain.
Hiring a gutter cleaning service – Me!
If you really want to never clean your gutters again, your only option is to hire someone to do it for you. This can be a particularly good choice for homeowners who have gutters that are difficult to reach, or who no longer feel physically comfortable doing the job themselves. No matter the reason, the most important thing is to regularly clean your gutters because the cost of neglect is too high.
The cost of gutter cleaning depends on the length and type of gutters you have as well as the height of your home as certain circumstances may require special equipment. I usually charge a flat fee for this service and typical ranges are $75 – $225.
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