Cleaning or repairing gutters: DIY or professional?

In autumn, lots of leaves fall into the gutter. Together with moss, twigs and sand they form a blockage that holds back the rainwater. The water then runs over the edge down the facade, can soak into the fascia board or the wall and causes extra damage when it freezes. Cleaning a gutter seems a simple job, but you are working at height. In this blog you will read when you can do it yourself and when it is better to call in a professional.

👷 Calling in a roofer or gutter specialist is never superfluous. Working at height is one of the main causes of serious accidents. A professional has the right access equipment, fall protection and experience, and sees straight away whether the gutter or the roof is damaged.

When can you clean the gutter yourself?

• With a low gutter, such as on a shed, garage, carport or a single-storey home.
• If you can reach the gutter safely from a sturdy ladder on a level, firm surface.
• When the weather is dry and calm.
• If there is someone nearby who can hold the ladder and help if something goes wrong.

When is a professional the better choice?

• With a gutter on the second floor or higher, or if you cannot position the ladder safely.
• If you need to go onto the roof, for example with a gutter behind a dormer or on a pitched roof without a fixed walkway.
• With a leaking joint, a sagging gutter, loose brackets or a zinc gutter that needs soldering.
• With damage to the fascia board, the roof tiles or the roofing.
• If you suffer from a fear of heights or do not feel confident on a ladder.

⚠️ Never climb a ladder to a gutter in wet weather, wind or frost, and never go onto the roof without fall protection. If in doubt, stop and call in a professional.

What do you need to clean the gutter yourself?

Access equipment

• A three-section ladder that extends at least one metre above the gutter, or for a very low gutter a folding ladder with handle.

Tools

• A hand rake to pull leaves and dirt out of the gutter.
• A 12-litre bucket with a hook on the ladder, so you have both hands free and do not throw the dirt down.
• A garden hose with an adjustable spray nozzle to rinse the gutter and the downpipe.
• For a small leak at a joint: black bituminous roofing sealant with a sealant gun. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and only work on a clean, dry surface.

Personal protective equipment

• garden gloves with latex coating or work gloves with nitrile coating, because gutters often contain sharp edges, glass and screws.
• safety goggles against dirt that can fall into your eyes when you look up.
• A safety shoe with a non-slip sole for a firm footing on the rungs.
• A safety helmet if someone else is working above you or if roof tiles may be loose.

A safety harness belongs to professional work on the roof. Fall protection only works with a proper anchor point and the right instruction; that is work for the professional.

How to clean a low gutter safely

1. Place the ladder on a level, firm surface at an angle of about 75 degrees.
2. Let the ladder extend at least one metre above the gutter and do not lean the ladder against the gutter itself.
3. Climb with three points of contact: two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand.
4. Remove the dirt from the gutter with the rake or your gloved hand and put it in the bucket.
5. Work within arm's reach and move the ladder often rather than reaching far to the side.
6. Rinse the gutter with the garden hose and check that the water drains freely through the downpipe.
7. While working, look out for loose brackets, cracks or leaking joints and call in a professional if there is damage.

💡 Clean the gutter in late autumn, when most of the leaves have fallen from the trees. That way you only need to climb the ladder once before winter.

Common mistakes

• A ladder on loose ground or on a paving slab that can tip.
• Reaching too far to the side, so the ladder slips away.
• Throwing dirt down, where it lands on the patio or on someone's head.
• Only cleaning the gutter and forgetting the downpipe, so the water still does not drain.

Working safely

Working on a ladder calls for calm and good preparation. Read our blog on safe working on the construction site beforehand and see which parts of your home need attention before winter in our blog on getting your home ready for winter. You can read more about gloves for outdoor work in our blog on gardening gloves and tools.

Read also: How to insulate an attic: DIY step-by-step, Getting your garden ready for winter and Checking your roof after a storm: how to do it safely.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I clean the gutter?

At least once a year, preferably after the leaves have fallen in autumn. If there are many trees around the house, twice a year is sensible.

Can I repair a leaking gutter myself?

You can sometimes seal a small leak at a joint of a low gutter yourself with a suitable sealant. With a sagging gutter, loose brackets, a zinc gutter or damage to the roof, a professional is the right choice.

Can I go onto the roof myself?

We advise against it. On a roof the risk of falling is high and you need fall protection. Leave work on the roof to a roofer.

How do I know if my gutter is blocked?

You see water running over the edge when it rains, there is standing water in the gutter or plants are growing in it. Damp patches on the facade below the gutter are also a sign.

Read also: Checking your roof after a storm: how to do it safely and Getting your garden ready for winter.

Where can you find everything for this job?

At Saniso, the online store for DIYers and professionals, you will find tools, materials and personal protective equipment for your job.

• Browse our construction tools and our workwear and safety.
• Create a customer account and order easily.
• Working on a bigger project or want to hand over the job? Request a project quote.
• Book a showroom visit, at least 24 hours in advance.
• Not sure which material suits your job? Get in touch with us.

In doubt about the approach? Feel free to call in a professional.

Saniso – Build your home with Saniso.