Gutter Cleaning – What NOT To Do.

Gutter Cleaning Tips From The Pros

Gutter cleaning can be a tedious chore that pops up on spring and fall cleaning lists. The beautifully wooded landscapes of the Shenandoah Valley are partially to blame for the frequency of this chore which often takes longer than you expected. Here’s our professional guide on what not to do when cleaning your gutters – our favorite is the last:

• Don’t Squat On Your Roof: To safely clean your own gutters, you need a tall enough ladder to access multiple points on your roofline. Once you have the appropriate ladder, always clean your gutters from the ladder as opposed to squatting on top of your roof and reaching down into the gutter. This might sound like common sense, but the constant shifting of the ladder down the gutter line leads many a homeowner to get on the roof to clean the gutters.
• Don’t Use Bare Hands: All types of dirt, debris, and critters can take up residence in your gutters. Wearing gloves protects your hands from the nastier elements of decomposition and stagnant water.
• Don’t Flush Your Gutters: While flushing the leaves and dirt down the downspout might sound like a good idea, don’t bother. A clogged downspout is much harder to clean and could result in costly expenses to remove dense leaves or even animals. Clean your gutters first, and then flush them to make sure they are working properly.
• Don’t Do It Yourself: Are you sure you want to do this yourself? Your safety or the safety of your loved ones is more important than the cost of hiring a professional to clean your gutters. Additionally, the cost of a ladder tall enough to hit multiple peaks will pay for a full year of gutter cleaning. When you hire Valley Roofing & Exteriors, we’ll inspect your roof for any damage while we’re up there.