How Much Does It Cost To Get Your Gutters Cleaned?
Gutters play an important role in directing excess water away from our houses. Because they are mounted high up on the roof, it is easy for us to forget that these water tunnels need regular maintenance. Just because they are away from sight doesn't mean they cannot get dirty. For your information, gutters are very prone to clogging up from debris like leaves, twigs, or even shingles.
You don't want a clogged gutter that fails to channel the water away from the house; they can easily cause damage that can be quite expensive to fix. Think about it this way, when water collects around the foundation, it can easily cause damage to the foundation wall that costs several thousand bucks to fix. This is just one of the reasons why you need to schedule regular maintenance. According to Forbes, cleaning your gutter costs approximately $0.80 per foot, which equates to a total of $160 for a standard 200-foot gutter.
Factors for Cost
Gutter maintenance is a necessary activity that should be scheduled twice annually to keep water flowing freely and away from the house. This task is often simple, but a few complexities will ultimately determine how much you have to pay. HomeAdvisor has a detailed rundown on some of the factors and how they will influence your budget.
House height and length of the gutters
Cleaning gutters on multi-story buildings does not cost the same as a house with a single story. This is simply because a bigger building will mean a longer gutter in terms of linear length. Depending on the company, the cost may be calculated by square feet of the home or by linear length. In addition, cleaning the gutter on a single-story building is relatively simpler and costs much less than a multi-story building. According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost of cleaning a single-story building is $152, while a three-story building will cost you $340. What's more, depending on the design of the roofline, you may need to pay extra if the gutter professional needs to access those dangerous and hard-to-reach corners.
The condition of the gutter
If it is your first time cleaning your gutter, then chances are there is a lot of debris in there. The accumulation of rocks, tree branches, and leaves could prove difficult to remove and is likely to increase the scope of work hence more cleaning time. This will definitely reflect on the total quote eventually. To save on cost and the possibility of your gutters clogging, it is ideal to get your gutter cleaned at least two times a year. Remember, some seasons will cause a lot of debris, especially from tree leaves to accumulate in your gutter faster.
Extra accessories
The work of the gutter cleaning professionals does not stop at removing debris and cleaning the gutters, inspection of the installation also falls within the scope of their task. They will look for loose or worn-out parts that need replacement and fix it for you, for example, replacing broken gutter guards or replacing fasteners that are missing. These minor repair and maintenance tasks cost about $7 to $10 for every linear foot. Depending on unique requirements, some downspouts may also need additional cleaning, which will cost you an extra $50 to $100. While these maintenance repairs will ramp up the overall cost, they are necessary to increase the life of your gutters.
Labour, location, and materials
A significant portion of what you will pay for the service is for labor which is about $0.85 to $1.20 for every linear foot. Since cleaning the gutters doesn't need so many materials, the total cost is approximately $22 to $45, exclusive of any additional service. Another significant factor that you have to put into account is how far you are from the cleaning company services. The further the distance, the more you have to pay for travel fees.
Additional Costs
Depending on the age of your home and the condition of the gutters, a simple clean-up job might be all that you require. However, not every gutter is in tip-top shape, it is likely that other repairs may be necessary. Here are other cost considerations, according to Bob Vila.
Downspout installation
During the cleaning process, it may become evident that the downspouts are not enough, and your home could use a couple more. In such a scenario, the cleaning professionals might suggest installing other downspouts depending on the overall load. This service will cost you approximately $5 and $10 for every downspout installed. Additionally, if you want the downspouts extended to move the water even further away, the extension rate is approximately cost $6 to $15.
Frequency of cleaning
It is important to mention that the frequency of cleaning your gutters will influence how much you will have to pay during the cleanup process. Cleaning your gutter regularly will mean that every other scheduled cleanup and maintenance will be easy and fast, hence, less cost of the cleanup job. Remember, your environment will determine how often your gutters should be cleaned. More trees in your compound will mean frequent cleaning, but if there is not a single tree in your yard, you might never need to clean your gutters at all.
Gutter guards installation
Gutter guards are of great help if you have got a lot of trees in your yard. They prevent the leaves and branches from getting into the gutters. It is also worth remembering that gutter guards don't stop every material from getting in the gutter, so you might need to clean it once in a while. According to Angi, gutter cleaning professionals charge approximately $6 to $8 for the installation per linear foot.
Types of gutters
What is a good gutter? Well, a good gutter is any type that works effectively in transporting excess rainwater away from your house. According to The Spruce, there are essentially two choices when it comes to the types of gutters: the seamless and the sectional or seamed gutters. Let's discuss!
Seamed or sectional gutters
This is the less complicated of the two from an installation standpoint. Each piece is produced a standard 10-foot in length. The installation will involve the use of hangers that will hold the gutters on the fascia board. You also need to keep in mind that since they are produced as 10-foot-long pieces, they need to be connected to one another seamlessly to avoid leaks. The two major ways of interconnecting these gutter pieces are by using joiner pieces or overlapping one piece over the other.
You have several options as far as the choice of materials is concerned: vinyl, metal (aluminum and galvanized steel), and copper. Vinyl gutters are quite durable but heavier than the other options. Also, you will not be able to paint them in your favorite colors. Aluminum and galvanized steel, on the other hand, are lightweight but easily fold when hit by branches from the trees. Lastly, copper gutters are the most expensive option but are better as far as quality is concerned.
Seamless gutters
This type of gutter gives you more customization choices in terms of color than the seamed option. Installation is only done by professionals with the necessary equipment. Depending on the length of your roof, a continuous aluminum gutter is rolled into shape on the spot. It is quite impressive how fast the process forms a 45-foot-long seamless gutter in a minute. Because the gutter is a long continuous piece, there is no chance of leakages making them more effective for collecting and transporting water away from the house. What is even more impressive, there are plenty of color options that you can choose from. Go ahead and pick one that complements the color of your roof or house exterior.
Why you need to get your gutter cleaned
You don't have to wait for your gutters to stop moving water for you to consider calling the professionals for a clean-up. If you don't have a structured maintenance schedule and you are having a hard time deciding when it's time for a cleanup, Bob Vila details below some clear signs that could indicate when it's time to call in the cleaning crew.
Plant growth
Seeds that get into the gutters do not need much to germinate; some moisture and sufficient sunlight are all it takes. Allowing plants to grow on the gutters will not only obstruct the waterway, but the roots may cause significant damage to both the gutter and also the roof. The earliest signs of plant life should let you know that it is probably time to consider cleaning the gutter.
Too much debris
With so many trees in your yard, it is only a matter of time before the gutters around your roof collect a lot of them. It gets even worse if there is a strong wind blowing in the direction of your house. Rainwater will only do so much if you are counting on it to push the debris away. In fact, water will make the leaves and other debris stick together and block the water channel completely. If left unattended for long, water will eventually start to overflow and collect right at the foundation of your home.
A leaking roof
This is every homeowner's nightmare that can be caused by too much debris on the gutter. When debris accumulates and clogs the water channel, rainwater needs to find an alternative outlet, and sometimes the path of least resistance is through the roof into the attic. Water can easily cause a lot of damage that will be very expensive to fix. Immediately when you notice a leaking roof, take it as an early warning and call in the professionals.
Benefits of getting your gutters cleaned
The primary purpose of having gutters is to protect our houses from water damage. With that in mind, a gutter can be effective only if it is able to transfer excess rainwater away from the house. Other than preventing water damage, let's have a look at some benefits of having clean gutters, according to Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning.
Protects the landscape
A beautiful lawn is more than a delight to the eyes; it also goes a long way in increasing the property value if you intend to sell. In that regard, uncontrolled water flow from a missing or clogged gutter will destroy any plants below. A heavy downpour can also lead to possible soil erosion in your yard as well. It is easier to install gutters instead of having to deal with the aftermath of a heavy downpour.
Keep pests away
Different pests and insects love dark and isolated places where they can pitch camp and also create a nest. Accumulated clutter on the gutter is just the perfect hiding and breeding ground for pests. When left to breed and live in the gutters, pests like rats will find their way inside the house and bring along further destruction to property as well. It is worth emphasizing that pests and insects could also carry diseases into the house.
Prevents damage to the roof
The effect of a clogged gutter is felt during the winter seasoning. When gutters fail to drain water effectively, any water that is left on the gutter freezes during winter, therefore, causing unnecessary loading on the roof shingles. Eventually, when the weight gets too much, roofing materials give way and finally collapse. The damages accrued are often more expensive to fix than installing a gutter.