ServicesGutter Clearing
Gutter Clearing in Lansingburgh, NY
We clear leaves, seed pods and shingle grit out of your gutters and downspouts by hand. Then we flush them to confirm water flows and tell you plainly what we saw up there. You get a working drainage path and a straight answer about anything that needs attention.
What clearing your gutters does for your house
Gutters have one job: move roof water away from your siding and foundation. When they fill with leaves and grit, water spills over the front edge, soaks the fascia board and pools near the basement wall. Clearing them restores that path.
Timing matters here. Fall leaves fill the troughs right before freezing weather, and a clogged gutter in January holds ice that pulls on the hangers and backs water up under the roof edge. A late-fall visit, plus a spring check after the seed pods drop, keeps most homes in good shape.
We keep our recommendations simple. If your gutters just need clearing, that is what we quote. If a section is sagging or a seam is leaking, we show you a photo and let you decide what to do.
What's included in every visit
Hand-clearing every run
We scoop debris out by hand along the full length of each gutter, including the corners where leaves pack tight. It goes into bags, not onto your lawn.
Downspout flush
We run water through each downspout to confirm it drains freely. If one is packed, we clear it from the top or open the bottom elbow to push the clog out.
Flow check
After clearing, we watch water move to the outlets. Low spots that hold standing water get noted so you know where the pitch is off.
Photos of what we found
You see before-and-after photos of the gutters, plus close-ups of anything worth watching, like loose hangers, rust at the seams or soft fascia.
Cleanup on the ground
We pick up whatever falls during the job and clear off walkways and the edge of the driveway before we leave.
Signs your gutters need clearing
Overflow during a steady rain
Watch your gutters the next time it rains hard. If water spills off the front lip while the downspout barely trickles, the outlet is most likely plugged with packed leaves.
Plants growing up top
Seedlings or moss in a gutter mean there's enough wet muck in there to feed them. That weight and moisture are hard on hangers.
Streaks or peeling paint below
Dark streaks on the siding or peeling paint on the fascia board point to water spilling over the same spot again and again.
Sagging sections
A gutter that dips between hangers is often carrying wet debris or ice. Clearing it takes the strain off before a hanger pulls loose.
Heavy icicles along the roofline
Thick icicles hanging from the gutter in winter often mean the trough was full before it froze. Plan a visit before the next cold season.
How the day goes
- 1
A free quote by phone
Tell us about your house: how many stories, roughly how much gutter, and when it was last cleared. We give you a clear quote and pick a day that works for you.
- 2
Setup and protection
We set ladders with standoffs so they rest against the roof, not the gutter. Tarps go down under the work areas to protect plantings and walkways.
- 3
Clearing and flushing
We work around the house section by section, clearing by hand, then flush every run and downspout. You don't need to be home, though you're welcome to be.
- 4
Walkthrough and photos
Before we pack up, we go over the photos and point out anything that needs watching. If something looks like it needs a fix, we say so plainly, and if it doesn't, we say that too.
What moves the price
Clearing gutters is priced by the job, not by a menu of add-ons. Most of the price comes down to how much gutter there is and how hard it is to reach. We walk through the pieces on the phone so the number makes sense before we ever show up.
- Length of gutter
- More house means more gutter. A simple ranch has far less run than a house with wings, dormers and porch roofs.
- Height and roof pitch
- Two- and three-story homes, common among the older houses in the area, need taller ladders and more setup. Steep roofs add time because we work from the ladder instead of the roof.
- How full they are
- Gutters cleared every year go quickly. Gutters packed solid after several seasons, with mud and plants growing in them, take much longer.
- Guards and screens
- If you have gutter guards, we may need to lift and reset them to clear underneath. Some styles come off easily and some take real care.
- Stubborn downspouts
- A downspout packed from top to bottom, or one that runs into an underground drain, adds labor to clear.
Common gutter clearing questions
Something not covered here? (518) 754-0962
How many times a year should gutters be cleared?
Most houses do well with two visits: late fall once the leaves have dropped, and again in spring. Big trees over the roof can make a mid-fall visit worthwhile. If your house only needs one a year, we will say so.
Does someone need to be home?
No. We just need to reach every side of the house and use an outside faucet for flushing. If you are out, we call afterward to go through the photos and anything we noticed.
What if you spot damage?
We show you photos and describe it, such as a loose hanger, a dripping seam or rotting wood behind the gutter. We say whether it seems urgent or just worth watching. The next step is your call, and we will not push.
Do you clear gutters with permanent lighting on the roofline?
Yes. We take care around lighting track and keep debris off the channel and wiring. If you are considering permanent lighting, clean gutters are a good place to begin, and we can cover both in one call.
Should I get gutter guards?
They are useful under thick trees, but gutters still need upkeep. Grit and seed pods get through, and some guards make clearing underneath harder than an open gutter. If you have guards now, we will report how they look after our visit.
Get your gutters ready for the next storm
Tell us about your house and when the gutters were last cleared, and we'll give you a clear price over the phone. Fall dates fill up as the leaves come down.