Cleaning Roof Gutters

Gutters serve a singularly simple purpose: channel rainwater falling on the roof to prepared dispersal points, being either into storage tanks or run-off along the ground into drains. The inevitable fact exists that just like the water, everything that falls on the roof also ends up in the gutter. Leaves, dust, dead birds and tennis balls all come to rest there.

• A clogged gutter cannot do its work, which usually results in the water overflowing the gutter's sides. Water, however, has the irritating habit of not flowing where it does the least damage, so the overflow will probably be towards the building, thereby causing gradual water damage to the roof and wall, eventually penetrating to the inside, where it will require serious repairs and expensive damp sealing.
• It is not only the dead birds that smell terrible and are a health risk, but also the composting leaves that will attract a myriad of insects that both feed on and hatch inside the warm, moist mulch. This, in turn, can attract snakes and other unwanted wildlife, who now have a source of food and will take up residence inside the roof.
• The really fantastic occurrence is when sufficient nutrients in the gunk accumulate in the gutters for tree seeds to germinate and grow into little bonsai, but usually with considerably invasive root systems that soon attack the roof structure and consume the house from the top.

Nature certainly does not like gutters, which is why we must keep them clean ourselves, for otherwise, she has her revenge. Luckily, there is the possibility of vacuum gutter cleaning, which sounds like real fun.

Obviously, it is quite within the handy homeowner's scope; if this is the chosen route, some preparation is required and things to consider before tackling the job. Here are just a few points to ruminate on:

• Getting up there. Easily done with a ladder. The rub is having a ladder that is both sturdy enough to carry the weight of the worker and all the necessary equipment for an effective cleaning operation and sufficient length to allow safe access to all points along the entire length of the gutter. Doable. However, the next requirement is finding someone who is not afraid of heights or rickety ladders to climb up while carrying all the equipment.
• Safety and liability. A homeowner who climbs up the ladder only puts himself at risk of injury. Still, once an employee is coerced into doing the menial task up there, the world of personal injury litigation starts smiling, for surely cleaning the gutters is not in the job description of the shop’s bookkeeper. There is also damage to the expensive gutters to consider, or windows, cars and pets when inexperience is at work.
• A job well done. Cleaning gutters is more than just scooping out dead leaves and birds. Once the debris accumulates for a few weeks, then moss and other study-worthy proto-plants start growing on and in the gutters. These must also be removed, for they will damage the gutters over time and impede the free flow of water and act as catch points for new debris to build up and quickly clog the gutter again.

No doubt, it has now been surmised that the DIY cleaning of gutters is not for just everyone, which is why we suggest you engage the services of a professional gutter cleaner.