Gutters: the twenty-minute job that decides where water goes.
A gutter takes water off the roof and away from the house. Packed with leaves, it dumps the whole roof down one spot on the wall instead. It's the cheapest job on the list and one of the most expensive to miss.
How often do gutters need cleaning?
Twice a year covers most houses: spring after the seeds drop, fall after the leaves are down. Heavy tree cover means a third pass. The fall clear is the one that matters most in Michigan, because whatever's left in the trough in November freezes in it.
What happens when they're full?
Water runs over the edge and down the wall, into the trim and the ground beside the basement. In winter the trapped water freezes, adds weight to the gutter, and pries at the shingle line above it. Packed gutters can back water up under the shingles too, not just over the edge.
How to check from the ground.
During heavy rain, watch the roofline. Water sheeting over the sides or bubbling out of the downspout joints means a clog. On a dry day, look at the ground below the gutters: a trench in the dirt, washed-out mulch or peeling paint on the siding means it's been overflowing for a while.
How to clean them yourself.
Ladder on firm ground, someone holding it. Scoop from the downspout end toward the corners so the debris doesn't pack the outlet. Flush with the hose until the downspout runs clear. If it doesn't, the clog is in the downspout; a plumber's snake from the top usually clears it.
When to hand it off.
Two stories, a steep pitch, or a roof edge that's already soft. Or just a Saturday you'd rather have back. Gutter cleaning is $— added to a plan or $— one-time, spring and fall.
Or never think about gutters again. On a plan they're done spring and fall, $— a visit, spread across the monthly bill. Plans
Related
One email a month, one job.
The one thing the house needs this month, and how to do it. No sales emails, ever.