How Much Does It Cost to Clean My Gutters?
Have you ever wanted to know how much it would cost to clean your gutters? A lot of people in Charlottesville, VA, think they can save some money and do it themselves. However, they often discover that they don’t really want to get into a project like that. Ladders are involved, making the task even more daunting. Their next question is: How much would it cost me to clean my gutters if I hired someone to do it?
In this post, I’ll explain everything you need to know about how a gutter cleaning service is priced, some pitfalls to avoid, and how to avoid getting ripped off.
The Basics of Gutter Cleaning Pricing
A lot of people think that gutter cleaning is just… gutter cleaning. Which makes sense, right? This isn’t rocket science—put the ladder up, scoop out the gunk, drop it in a bucket, and repeat. There’s some truth to that, but like anything in life, you get what you pay for. It’s important to know exactly what you’re getting for your money because not all gutter cleaning services are created equal.
What’s Included in a Standard Gutter Cleaning?
An industry-standard gutter cleaning service typically includes removing all debris from inside your gutters to ensure water flows properly. Since the primary goal is to prevent clogs, most companies focus on making sure your gutters are completely clear.
Some companies offer rinsing or flushing your gutters to remove any remaining residue. This service often incurs an extra charge. More on this below.
Price Ranges for Gutter Cleaning
In Charlottesville, a standard gutter cleaning can range anywhere from $80 to $1,500 or more. The wide price range depends on multiple factors, including the size of your home, the height of your gutters, and other accessibility challenges.
Let’s break it down:
Small Homes
- Size: 1,500 square feet or smaller (often 1-story)
- Ease of Cleaning: Very easy—many homeowners attempt it themselves.
- Common Examples: Mill Creek South, Holmes Ave, The Highlands (Crozet), many Belmont and City ranch-style homes.
Medium Homes
- Size: 1,500-2,500 square feet (typically 2 stories)
- Common Features: May include an attached garage and some 2-story gutters.
- Common Examples: Hollymead, Greenbrier, some Mill Creek, Willoughby, some Forest Lakes.
Large Homes
- Size: 2,500-3,500 square feet
- Challenges: Often include walk-out basements, creating 3-story gutters in the back.
- Accessibility: Requires a 40ft ladder, making DIY nearly impossible.
- Common Examples: Fontana, Forest Lakes, Moseby Mountain, Old Trail, Whittington, Preddy Creek, most 3-story townhomes.
Extra-Large Homes
- Home Size: 3,500+ square feet
- Complexity: High linear feet of gutter (200+ feet) with multiple 3-story sections.
- Common Examples: Glenmore, Fontana, Preddy Creek, Old Trail.
Very Large Custom Homes
- Size: 5,000+ square feet
- Considerations: Require in-person pricing due to complexity.
- Common Examples: Farmington, Keswick Hall, custom homes in Ivy, Old Trail.
Factors That Impact Your Gutter Cleaning Price
Several factors determine the final cost of your gutter cleaning service:
- Home Size: The larger the home, the higher the price.
- Gutter Height: Higher gutters (especially 3-story) require specialized ladders and professionals.
- Gutter Accessibility: Obstacles like bushes, tree branches, and steep hills can increase costs.
- Location: If your home is outside the standard service radius, expect an additional fee.
- Gutter Guards: Some gutter guards make cleaning more difficult, affecting pricing.
- Roof Pitch: Steep roofs require cleaning from ladders, increasing labor costs.
- Back Deck with No Stairs: Limits ladder access, making the job more challenging.
- Tight Shingle Gap: If shingles overhang the gutter, it complicates hand cleaning.
- Additional Buildings: Detached garages or cottages add to the total cost.
Gutter Cleaning Methods
Different companies use different methods, each affecting price and results.
1. Sky Vac (Vacuum System)
- Pros: No ladders required, innovative technology, generally lower cost
- Cons: Can miss spots, difficult to clean downspouts, limited visibility for gutter issues.
2. Leaf Blower
- Pros: Fast, cost-effective.
- Cons: Can create a mess, not effective for downspouts.
3. Hand Scoop & Bucket (Traditional Method)
- Pros: Most thorough, allows for inspection of other issues, minimal mess.
- Cons: Time-consuming, requires ladders, higher cost, leaves behind residue.
4. Pressure Washing
- Pros: Cleans thoroughly, can be bundled with house washing services.
- Cons: Difficult to access certain areas, can damage gutter sealant, not ideal for downspouts.
Gutter Cleaning Tiers
Understanding gutter cleaning pricing starts with recognizing that your gutter system consists of three main parts:
- Gutters – Where debris collects.
- Downspouts – The section (some call it a pipe) that carries the water from the gutter to the ground.
- Drains – Underground pipes that carry water away from your home.
If you clean your gutters but ignore the downspouts and drains, you’ve only completed one-third of the job. Even with clean gutters, clogged downspouts or underground drains will still cause overflow and problems.
Many people ask, “Can’t I just flush my drains out with a hose?” If that worked, they wouldn’t get clogged in the first place. Proper drain cleaning requires high-pressure machines and specialized jetting tools to clear the blockages effectively.
Final Pricing Summary
Here’s a general pricing guide based on the size of your home:
- Small Home: $229+
- Medium Home: $329-$389
- Large Home: $449-$529
- Extra-Large Home: $800+
For an exact quote, call our office, submit a request on our website, or book an appointment online.
I hope this article has helped you understand how companies typically charge for gutter cleaning services! Now, you’ll know exactly what to expect when hiring a professional. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!
