CLEANING GUIDES
Gutter cleaning: what to check before booking
| Guide | What you will find |
|---|---|
| What it covers | Know what to tell a gutter cleaner, which roof edges to include and how to distinguish clearing debris from repairs. All checks stay at ground level. |
Start with what you have noticed
| What to check | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Water overflowing | Say where water spills over during rain: at a corner, along a straight section or near a downpipe. A description of the location helps, but overflow alone does not establish which part needs clearing or repairing. |
| Leaves you can see | If leaves are visible from the ground, say which roof edge they occupy. Do not reach up to pull them out or climb for a better photograph. The cleaner can discuss inspection and clearing after seeing the building. |
| Damp marks on a wall | Photograph the wall and the gutter above it from ground level. A damp patch can have more than one cause. Gutter cleaning removes debris; it does not diagnose or repair every source of damp within a building. |
| Drips at a joint | Mention a joint that drips repeatedly, even if there is no obvious debris above it. Clearing and joint repair are different jobs. The quotation should make clear whether anyone will inspect or repair a damaged fitting. |
| A previous blockage | Explain where the earlier blockage was and what was done, if you know. Send current photographs and mention repairs, new guards or roof changes since the last visit, so the company can discuss the gutters as they are now. |
| No obvious problem | You can enquire before a dramatic overflow appears. Describe the gutters and the last known clean, if available. Avoid guessing a blockage simply because time has passed; ask what can be inspected and what the price covers. |
List every roof edge you want included
| What to check | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| The front of the house | Include the main front gutter and any separate bay or porch gutter. A photograph should show the whole elevation, not just a small section of roof. This helps the cleaner understand the building before discussing a visit. |
| The back of the house | Rear gutters may be reached through a garden, side passage or the property itself. Explain which entrance is available. A straightforward-looking rear roof edge can still need a different plan from the front of the same house. |
| Side gutters | Remember the side elevation if the roof drains there. Mention a narrow gap beside a neighbouring building or a locked passage. Do not leave this section out of the enquiry simply because it is difficult to photograph. |
| Extensions | An extension may have lower gutters and its own outlets. List it separately from the main roof so it is considered in the quotation. Show where it meets the original building and what sits underneath the gutter. |
| Garages and outbuildings | A detached garage or garden building is not necessarily included with the house. Name every extra building you want considered, including its position and height. This is clearer than requesting all gutters without showing where they are. |
| Shared roof edges | In a converted house or block of flats, establish who can arrange work on shared gutters. Tell the cleaner which sections belong to your enquiry. A booking for one flat should not imply permission to clean neighbouring roof edges. |
Useful photographs without climbing
| What to check | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| A wide view | Stand where you can comfortably see the elevation and take a wide photograph. Include the ground below the gutter. The relationship between roof, wall and surrounding space is often more useful than a tightly cropped picture of leaves. |
| Corners and outlets | If visible, photograph the corner or outlet near the problem and a wider view showing its position. Do not lean out of an upstairs window. Explain what you cannot see, rather than putting yourself at risk for a picture. |
| The ground below | Show patios, steps, flowerbeds and other features beneath the gutter. A roof edge may look simple from the road while the ground immediately below is uneven or obstructed. These photographs help the cleaner discuss the available working positions. |
| Nearby roofs | Include conservatories, lean-tos and extensions below higher gutters. Their roofs can change how the upper section is reached. Do not suggest standing on them or test whether they support weight; leave that assessment to the professional arranging the work. |
| Gates and passages | Show the side entrance and any narrow turn or permanent obstruction in the passage. Tell the cleaner whether the gate will be locked and who can open it, so the photographs match the space available on the day. |
| When pictures are unclear | Do not worry if trees or building angles prevent a clear view. Say what you can see and what remains hidden. The cleaner can explain whether further assessment is needed rather than relying on a guessed gutter length or height. |
Clearing, washing and repair are different jobs
| What to check | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Debris inside the channel | Gutter clearing concerns material collected within the gutter, such as leaves and loose debris. Ask which roof edges are included and how the cleaner will explain any part that cannot be completed during the agreed visit. |
| The outside face | The visible outer face of a gutter can look dirty even when the channel is clear. Washing that face is a different request. Name it separately if appearance is part of the reason you are arranging the clean. |
| Soffits and fascia boards | Boards beneath or beside the gutter are separate surfaces. If you want them washed, ask for this alongside the gutter work and check the written reply. Do not treat a gutter-clearing quotation as an exterior washing package by default. |
| Downpipes | Mention downpipes linked to the sections you want cleared. Ask what the visit includes around the outlet and whether suspected downpipe problems need separate attention. A clean gutter channel does not automatically mean every underground drain has been investigated. |
| Loose or broken parts | Sagging sections, missing clips and broken joints need a repair conversation. Cleaning removes debris but cannot replace a missing fitting. Send photographs of known damage and ask who will handle it rather than expecting a cleaner to carry replacement parts. |
| Guards and covers | Tell the cleaner about gutter guards or covers before booking. Their design and condition may affect the work. Do not remove a high-level cover yourself to show the channel, and ask whether any removal or refitting is included. |
Getting ready for the visit
| What to check | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Open the right gate | Agree which entrance will be used and make sure someone can open it. If the cleaner needs to pass through the home to reach the garden, arrange that beforehand rather than expecting an exterior-only visit to require no entry. |
| Move light belongings | Move light garden items where you can comfortably do so. Tell the cleaner about heavy planters, fixed furniture or stored materials that will remain. The quotation should reflect the space that will be there on the day. |
| Keep pets away | Plan a separate place for pets while gates are open and work takes place beside the building. Mention any gate that must stay shut between trips. A short conversation beforehand is easier than managing an escaping pet during the visit. |
| Parking and unloading | Explain nearby parking restrictions and any distance between a stopping place and the property. Do not promise a space you cannot reserve. Give clear information so the cleaner can discuss what is practical for the appointment. |
| Weather and changes | Ask who will contact you if weather prevents the clean and how another date would be arranged. Tell the company about new scaffolding or building work, as those changes can also affect whether the gutters can be reached. |
| Confirm the price | Ask for a price covering the listed roof edges and extras discussed. Keep the reply and check anything unclear. A lower headline figure is not a useful comparison if it leaves out the rear gutter or the extension. |
What to discuss after the clean
| What to check | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Completed sections | Ask which gutters were cleared and whether any section could not be reached. Refer back to the original list of roof edges. This is more useful than a general statement that the property has been dealt with. |
| Remaining concerns | If a cleaner points out a damaged joint or another concern, ask where it is and what kind of follow-up is needed. Keep clearing and repair separate when deciding whom to contact about the next job. |
| Water still escaping | If overflow continues later, note the location and circumstances and contact the provider. Do not conclude that every continuing leak is leftover debris. A damaged fitting, pipe problem or another defect may require investigation beyond cleaning. |
| Planning another visit | Ask when another clearing visit would be useful based on the debris found. Notice how quickly leaves return and whether nearby trees or later building work change the gutter condition, then discuss the next appointment using those observations. |
| Finding further information | The HSE cleaning guidance includes work at height among cleaning risks. This article deliberately keeps customer checks at ground level. For property-specific advice and a quotation, use our gutter-cleaning service page. |