How to Estimate Your Gutter Cleaning Cost
While cleaning your gutters is an important part of keeping your home's exterior clean well-maintained, it's easy to shirk this tedious chore.
If you're unwilling or unable to complete this task yourself, consider hiring a professional gutter cleaning service to handle the job for you.
But how much does gutter cleaning cost? Keep reading to find out.
Why You Need Clean Gutters for Your Home
It pays to invest in clean gutters. Dirty gutters aren't just unsightly. They can become a reservoir for bugs and mildew and they may actually damage your home.
Clean Gutters Protect Your House
Water can be a particularly damaging for your home.
Your roof, for instance, may suffer if your gutters aren't draining properly. Clogs and debris can create standing water in any low points or crevices, increasing your risk of leaks. This is particularly true during the winter when poorly draining gutters can allow snow and ice to build up for months at a time.
Moisture can also damage any wood on the exterior of your home. This damage can even spread to the interior of your attic or basement if it's left alone for too long.
Your foundation may see the biggest benefit from clean gutters. A fully functioning gutter system will direct rainfall away from the foundation of your house. If your gutters are clogged, you may see water accumulate next to your home, weakening your soil and, over time, sinking your foundation.
Clogged Gutters Can Ruin Your Landscaping
Clean gutters can also preserve all of the hard work you've put in on your lawn and gardens. Misdirected water can quickly destroy saplings and non-woody plants—especially during a rainstorm.
A clean gutter system will point excess water to a spot where it can't hurt anything.
Clean Gutters Keep the Bugs at Bay
Clogged gutters attract more than just leaves. Mold, mildew, and bugs tend to love the moist environment dirty gutters create. Mold and mildew can spread to any soft surface on the exterior of your home. It may even cause health problems for you and your family.
Mosquitoes can thrive even in small pools of standing water. Given the health hazards mosquitoes can represent—especially with the West Nile virus—it makes sense to remove any potential habitats for these dangerous bugs.
Why You Should Hire a Professional Gutter Cleaning Service
Not only is cleaning your gutters a dirty, gross job—it can be dangerous, too.
Climbing up on a ladder and wrestling with your gutter clogs can put you at risk for a fall. Though they may not seem like it, falls can be extremely dangerous accidents that result in traumatic injuries.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the number one cause of traumatic brain injuries in the United States. In 2013, these injuries directly contributed to 50,000 deaths and 282,000 hospitalizations.
As if that's not reason enough to stay off a ladder, falls are the second-leading cause of spinal cord injuries. Damage to the spinal cord can leave victims facing millions of dollars in healthcare costs over their lifetime.
The safest bet is to let the professionals handle your gutter cleaning.
How Much Does Gutter Cleaning Cost?
Your precise gutter cleaning cost will vary depending on the services you need. They may also change depending on the time of year since prices tend to go up during the rainy season.
However, if you shop around, you should be able to snag an affordable gutter cleaning cost that fits your budget.
For a one-story home, you may be able to get a full clean finished for between $100 and $200. If you live in a two- or three-story house—or your gutters are particularly troubled—that price might rise to $300 or $400.
Your quote can change based on a variety of factors, like:
1. The number of stories of your home
2. Whether or not you have gutter guards installed
3. If you have any unseen obstructions in your gutter system
4. How long it's been since your last cleaning—twice per year is recommended
5. An unusual pitch to your roof or particularly difficult home layout
Before you agree to work with a company, make sure you understand all the services you are getting for the price quoted. Your cleaners should not only remove all debris and clean your gutters. They should also check your downspouts for obstructions and bag up all the debris they removed, too.
What to Look for in a Professional Gutter Cleaning Service
A Variety of Gutter Cleaning Services
Your home may need a variety of services more complicated than simply pulling leaves out of your gutters. Choose a company that offers a varied portfolio of gutter cleaning options, like simple cleaning, gutter polishing, and gutter guard maintenance.
A Great Reputation
Look for customer testimonials and online reviews from others in your area before you choose a service. Hold out for a company that has earned a stellar reputation in your community.
An Experienced Staff
Make sure your company employs people who are properly trained. Look for a company with experienced, skilled workers who can identify clogs and clean your drainage system without damaging the exterior of your home.
Insurance Coverage
Make sure your gutter cleaner fully insures all of its employees. With the dangers that come along with fall injuries, you don't want to be liable if an employee suffers an accident while on the job at your home. If your gutter cleaning service lacks insurance, their employees could file suit against you if they fall on your property.
Hire a Professional Service to Clean Your Gutters
The professionals at Labor Panes can clean your gutters for a reasonable price. We will climb to any height to rid your gutters of harmful dirt and debris so you don't have to.
We offer cleaning and polishing and will even maintain your gutter guards to keep your gutters working longer. Read more about our services and contact us for a free quote today. We will go through the details of your job to determine your gutter cleaning cost.
