If you wonder how often should you clean your gutters, roofing installation and maintenance expert Yorkshire Roofing recommends that you inspect and clean your gutters at least 1-2 times a year, ideally during spring and autumn. But if you live in a region that receives a significant amount of rainfall, you may need to do it more frequently than the general recommendation.
You may also need more frequent roof inspection and cleaning if your home is surrounded by trees that shed often, or you live in a region that experiences freezing temperatures or severe storms that makes your roof more susceptible to damage.
DIY Gutter Cleaning
Gutter cleaning is a critical part of home maintenance that almost everyone loves to hate. Without proper gear and equipment and a pair of helping hands, it usually takes an entire day to do this cleaning project, or sometimes even longer if you have high or slanted rooftops.
If you choose to clean your gutter all by yourself, make sure that you don’t step on your roof, especially in freezing weather when shingles are brittle and prone to cracking, and in sweltering heat that can soften the asphalt coating of shingles, making them susceptible to dent and warping.
A good rule of thumb is to use a ladder, which makes DIY gutter cleaning safer not just for you but also for your roof. While quality shingles and other roofing materials can withstand harsh weather conditions, they are not designed to be walked on or sit on–unless you don’t mind the appearance of “worker’s footprints” on your roof or the possibility of having damaged shingles.
When to Call a Pro
Yorkshire Roofing, which serves homeowners and businesses in Northern California, explained the situations wherein calling a roofing and gutter professional makes more sense than resorting to DIY gutter cleaning.
- If the height of the roof or gutter placement is too high, it’s safer and more cost-effective to leave the cleaning to the pros who have anti-fall gear and know the safety precautions to prevent accidents and damage.
- Hire a pro if you notice that your gutter has large leaks. Aside from cleaning it, he can also make the necessary repairs to prevent roof damage and more “expensive” problems.
Take note that leaks can lead to serious damage to the roof and fascia, which in turn creates more problems such as wood rot, cracked foundation, and water pooling near your wall.
- If your gutter is more than 30 years old, you may want to hire a professional to inspect and repair (or even replace) it to prevent roof and fascia damage.
- Hire a pro if it’s a time-consuming and complicated cleaning. If your home is surrounded by mature trees that shed often, DIY gutter cleaning can take a day or two if you don’t have the proper gear and a pair of helping hands. By contrast, roofing professionals can do this in just 2-4 hours.
If you need gutter installation, repair, and cleaning, contact us at (800) 794-7444. Since 1989, we have completed more than 25,000 gutter installations in Northern California, making us the region’s leading roofing and gutter expert.