What decides the price
Every gutter clean is priced on the job in front of us. These are the things that make the biggest difference:
- The size of the house. More guttering means more time. A terrace with a short run front and back is a smaller job than a large detached house with gutters all the way round.
- How many storeys. Bungalows and two-storey houses are the most common. Three-storey houses and town houses need more reach and take longer.
- Access. Conservatories, extensions, garages and lean-tos all add extra gutter runs, and sometimes make the main gutters harder to reach.
- How blocked the gutters are. A light layer of leaves clears quickly. Years of moss, silt and even small plants growing in the gutter take a lot longer, and the waste has to be taken away.
- Downpipes. A blocked downpipe means the gutter can’t drain even once it’s been cleared, so it needs checking and clearing too.
- Extras. Washing the fascias, soffits and the outside of the gutters, or fixing a leaking joint while we’re up there, all add to the job.
What a proper gutter clean should include
A cheap quote isn’t a good deal if half the gutter is left full, or the waste is washed down the walls. When you compare quotes, check what you’re actually getting:
- All the gutters cleared, not just the ones you can see from the front.
- Downpipes checked so the water can actually drain away.
- The waste removed, not left on your drive or in the garden.
- Proof the job’s been done properly, such as photos or camera footage from inside the gutter.
- Insurance, in case anything goes wrong.
Why we inspect before we quote
Most of what’s in a gutter can’t be seen from the ground. That’s why every gutter job we do starts with a camera inspection. You see the footage, so you know exactly what’s up there, and the price is based on the real job rather than a guess. You approve the price before we start, so there are no surprises.
Is it cheaper to do it yourself?
If you have a single-storey building and you’re comfortable on a ladder, clearing a short run yourself is possible. For anything higher, the risk usually isn’t worth it: falls from ladders are a common cause of serious injuries. A professional gutter vacuum works from the ground, clears the gutters properly and takes the waste away.
How to keep the cost down
- Don’t leave it for years. Gutters cleared regularly are quicker to clean than ones packed solid.
- Do it before winter. Clearing gutters in late autumn, before the frost, avoids the damage a frozen blockage can cause to joints, brackets and fascias.
- Combine jobs. If you’re also thinking about a roof clean or fascia wash, doing it on the same visit saves a second call-out.