We don’t need to tell you why gutter cleaning is essential to regular home maintenance. Without it, you risk having roof leaks, rotted fascia boards, and flooded foundations, to name a few problems.
While gutter cleaning looks easy on the outside, it’s complex, dangerous, and best left to the professionals. However, many homeowners shy away from bringing a gutter cleaning services company on board. The reason? Allegedly high prices.
Gutter cleaning has long been touted as an expensive home repair- but that’s far from the truth. Once you know the various factors that affect these fees, you’ll have a clearer idea of how much to budget for it.
What Factors Affect Gutter Cleaning Prices?
According to Forbes Home, the national average for gutter cleaning costs is $0.80 per linear foot. But this is only a baseline. No two gutter systems are alike, and a variety of factors can influence your final bill. Let’s walk you through them.
1. Length and Height
The length of your gutters plays a vital role in determining gutter cleaning service costs. Gutter length is usually measured in linear feet: the more linear feet there are to clean, the more expensive the job will be.
Gutter height is an important consideration as well. Single-story homes usually have the lowest rate since they are the easiest to clean. Meanwhile, second-and-third story homes put professionals in more precarious positions, causing them to take additional precautions, use special equipment, and be more purposeful with their work: hence the extra charge.
2. Accessibility
Do you have a large tree looming over your gutters? Does your fence make ladder placement difficult? If so, chances are you’ll need to shell out more for professional gutter cleaning services.
Any obstacles that hinder technicians from working comfortably will add to the final cost of the job. That’s a no-brainer.
Furthermore, the slope of your land can also create a challenging environment for gutter cleaning in Salt Lake City. Homes built on hills are tough to maneuver, and workers must take extra time to stabilize the ladder and make their way around your gutter runs.
3. Condition
Most homeowners need to clean their gutters two or three times per year, depending on the local weather and the most common types of debris found in the area.
Properly maintained gutters require less attention and cleaning than those that are neglected for most of the year. When homeowners ignore their gutters, their systems tend to overflow, clog, and break. Hence, cleaning out neglected gutters takes more time and effort- and costs more too.
4. Time of Year
Contrary to popular belief, there is an ideal time to clean gutters. Events that make gutter cleaning more difficult, such as heavy rains or snowfall, could spike the charges significantly. However, you may receive seasonal discounts from contractors, so it’s best to talk to your gutter cleaning services company before you chalk out a budget.
5. Gutter Guards
We’ve said this before, we’ll say it again: installing gutter guards is a great way to reduce your gutter maintenance efforts and costs. Available in different designs and styles, leaf guards can effectively free your gutters from debris, critters, and similar clogging agents.
With a professionally installed leaf guard, your rain gutter system will remain protected and not back up unceremoniously. That said, you’ll still have to clean up the debris collecting on top of the gutter guards. Additionally, temporary options like foam/brush gutter guards must be removed before cleaning. All this may affect the price point of the gutter cleaning services.
6. Extras
You can always opt for additional services alongside gutter cleaning and repair. While they may extend your budget, they can save you a ton down the line. For example, your contractor may advise you to swap out old gutter screens with the latest variants- a small price to pay in place of future repair expenses.
Also, gutter cleaning services could fix any leaks and seams in your system that you wouldn’t notice otherwise. And based on the condition of your gutters, you may be advised to perform a full service instead of a simple cleaning.
That’s not all. Cleaning downspouts are not typically included in gutter cleaning packages because the debris should flow through your downspouts and away from your home. However, if you have tree branches, rocks, or pine needles disrupting your downspout flow, you could ask your gutter cleaning service company to take care of it. Of course, that would cost more.
7. Type of Building
Residences and commercial buildings use different rain gutter systems. Gutters in commercial properties are longer, more complex, and spread over a larger area. Consequently, they require more extensive cleaning than residential gutters. Yet, commercial buildings have cheaper gutter cleaning charges, thanks to special discounts and coverage fees.
The type of your residence could also affect your gutter cleaning prices. Townhomes, duplexes, and apartments have different charges, so consult a gutter cleaning and repair service company to know where your home stands.
8. Gutter Width
Generally speaking, rain gutters are four, five, or six inches wide based on the model you choose. But why is this important?
It’s simple: wider gutters collect more debris and take more time to clean out. Your gutter cleaning service company may request an additional payout to compensate for the extra time they’re spending on your home.
The Bottom Line
Gutter cleaning is no easy feat. Not everyone with a ladder, trowel, and sense of balance can clean gutters themselves. That’s why it’s always wise to leave it to those trained in the job.
But homeowners often worry about gutter cleaning and repair services burning a hole in their pocket. Now that you know the different factors affecting gutter cleaning services, you’ll be able to set aside an annual budget for gutter cleaning services every year. Watch out for seasonal discounts to save some extra cash!
Don’t know who to call to clean your gutters? Ace Gutter Inc is here to help. As resident experts of gutter cleaning in Salt Lake City, we know how to whip them back into shape- and how! For more information, feel free to reach out to us today!