• By Liam Ridings
• In Blog, Metal Roofing, Renovation
• Tags roof repairs

How Often Should Gutters Be Cleaned? Gutter Cleaning Explained

Gutter maintenance – something every homeowner should prioritise, but very few realise the importance of. The gutters on your property play an integral role in the way your roof performs and protects. Keeping your gutters clear is the most reliable way to ensure rainwater drains adequately, preventing your roof from suffering any water damage.

So, how often should gutters be cleaned? How should they be cleaned? And what’s the average price to clean gutters? We’ll take a look at all things gutter cleaning and maintenance; albeit not the most riveting discussion, however, an important and critical one for property and homeowners.

Whether you’re considering cleaning your gutters yourself, hiring a professional to maintain your gutters, or are planning on selling a property and want to improve its curb appeal, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s our guide to all you should know about gutter maintenance:

Gutter Cleaning

The guttering fringing the edges of your roof have one primary function: to divert water through downpipes, and away from your home. The gutters installed on your fascia and roof will protect the foundation and siding of your home, drain water from your roof, protect your landscaping, and prevent leaks and flooding. Gutters work to avoid water infiltration and stains, mitigate paint damage, and halt mould and mildew growth.

In essence, your gutters are absolutely critical in protecting your property from water damage. However, if your gutters are not clean, they will not perform well. A guttering system is only as good as it is clear from impediments.

Why Is Gutter Cleaning Important?

Sydney’s weather is often very changeable and unpredictable. While for the most part, we are blessed with blue skies and gentle ocean breezes, big storms seem to come out of nowhere and can leave a property with significant water and moisture damage.

Clean gutters are your first line of defence during rainfall in Sydney. If your gutters are full of dirt, leaves, and debris, the gutters will become clogged, blocked, and will overflow – causing the entire drainage system to fail under pressure. Once dirty gutters are clogged, the rainwater will cause significant and costly damage to your home. If water enters the structure of your house, it can cause rotting, internal plaster damage, mould growth, and weaken the structural integrity of your property.

Not to mention gutters are put in place to channel water to certain areas of a property. Once the gutter system fails, the downpipes are rendered useless, and the overflowing water will damage the siding and foundations of your property.

Frequent gutter cleaning will extend the lifespan of your gutter materials and prevent them from rusting and prematurely leaking. Hiring a professional to clean your gutters regularly will not only ensure longevity but will also actually end up saving you money on roof and house repairs in the long run.

Still not convinced? Here are some further points on why clean gutters are critical to maintaining and protecting property:

• Cleaning your gutters out allows for seamless water drainage
• Clean gutters will last twice as long as dirty gutters
• If the gutters are clogged and overflow, water can infiltrate the house and cause significant damage
• Regularly cleaning out your gutters prevents the downpipes from becoming blocked up with debris
• Dirty gutters are a breeding ground for insects and even mice
• Dirty gutters are incredibly flammable – by cleaning out your gutters, you lower the risk of suffering extensive damage if affected by bushfires

How Often Should Gutters Be Cleaned?

If you’re wondering how often to clean gutters, answers can vary. Gutter cleaning frequency depends on the number and type of trees nearby. How often should gutters be cleaned will depend on where you live, the trees around your property, and the design of your house. In saying that, even if there are no trees on your property – gutter cleaning is still required regularly.

Gutters should be cleaned regularly; between two and four times per year to be precise, and by a professional cleaner. However, for some properties, gutter cleaning will be required more often than others. If you live in a particularly leafy area, cleaning your gutters should be something you consider multiple times a year. Furthermore, if you’re in a region prone to bushfires, the question of how often to clean gutters will increase. Keeping your gutters clean throughout the warmer months is a critical step to protecting your property.

Gutter Cleaning Costs

While gutter cleaning seems simple enough, the average homeowner is better off engaging with a professional for regular gutter cleaning to ensure the job is completed safely and adequately. To put it simply, DIY gutter cleaning is not worth the risk of potentially damaging the gutters or causing severe injury.

Working with a professional to clean your gutters means entrusting an expert who is both experienced and skilled in gutter maintenance to provide exceptional safety for your home.. While gutter cleaning may sound like a ten-minute job, properly ensuring that guttering systems are entirely clear and in good condition is crucial for adequate drainage.

A professional roofing company offering gutter cleaning services have the experience, training, and knowledge to keep your gutters performing better for longer. A professional will also be able to advise you on how often should gutters be cleaned on your property Most importantly, they will not compromise on the quality of work, ensuring your house is protected during excessive rainfall.

When it comes to house maintenance costs, gutter cleaning costs may not be at the top of your list. However, you should know that the average price to clean gutters will always be significantly less than paying to fix damages caused by blocked, overflowing, or damaged gutters.

Gutter cleaning costs will depend on several factors, including:

Property Height

Unsurprisingly, a single storey house will come with a lower gutter cleaning rate than a property with multiple stories. Gutter cleaning costs will increase with each level due to the added safety risks, increased workload, and the requirement of specialised equipment to reach certain heights.

Condition of Gutters

If gutters have been neglected for some time, or have never been cleaned, the overall costs may increase with more labour and time required to clear them out and provide a thorough clean.

Property Size

How big your home is will also influence gutter cleaning costs. The square footage of the work will affect how much work is required; smaller houses will be easier to complete and will, therefore, cost less. Larger homes with a greater linear meterage of guttering may take longer and increased labour, and therefore, will include inflated gutter cleaning costs.

Gutter Accessories

Modern gutter systems can include additional accessories to aid in drainage or deterrence. Accessories may include gutter covers, leaf guards, brackets, splash blocks etc. Installation, repair, or extra maintenance required for these accessories may impact overall gutter cleaning costs.

The average price to clean gutters can vary from around $200 for a small project and can increase to about $600 for an extensive project. This is a basic price guide only; a professional gutter cleaner will not provide you with a set price until the site has undergone an assessment.

While it may be tempting to hire an amateur gutter cleaning service, the risks of having corners cut and unsafe practice on your property are far too high. A professional gutter cleaner will need to be certified to work safely at heights and insured for work cover and public liability.

Expert Gutter Cleaning Services

Vertec Roofing is the leading experts when it comes to gutter cleaning and maintenance in Sydney. With over 15 years of experience working with a wide variety of roofing and guttering materials, we pride ourselves on our quality of work and service with every job.

Fully insured, qualified, and with years of experience under our belt, Vertec understands the importance of taking care of your property to prevent costly damages down the road. That’s why we’re committed to getting the job done right the first time. We can provide comprehensive and regular gutter cleaning and maintenance service to any property in Sydney. Get in touch with our team of experts today to discuss your gutter maintenance project.