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Roof Cleaning Missouri 417-230-8103 · Guest

RE: Gutter Cleaning 101

sweetwaterfish · Guest

Am I to assume you are blowing the horizontal run of the gutters out? Do you clean from the roof, or clean from a ladder?

Also, what do you do with the deadfall of leaves & debris that comes out? IN this are most gutters get just packed FULL of crap( pine needles and oak leaves). Seems like I spend more time picking up the deadfall than I do cleaning out the gutters.

Ty=hanks for sharing your expertise!

gutterdog · Aug 5, 2010

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 wrote:

gutterdog wrote:

Downspouts. years ago I got subbed this apartment complex. Gutter clean. Had 2 dudes working for me one still does. I'm the guaranteed downspout guy right! I took one 10 ft ds apart and flipped it upside down! It was full! Took others apart. I had a quarter size hole in each palm bangin on the downspouts. We worked in the dark and got it done in one day.

A property manager that was visiting said he never seen anyone clean the downspouts, wanted my card. I Said I was hear working for xyz and to contact him.

A good question to become certified. If you bag the gutters, do you just assume they are clean or check them first including the downspouts?

I think assuming anything is bad?

So true bro, assumptions kill otherwise good business people. We always check out the gutters and act accordingly. Our bids say 'may include some gutter clean outs and whitening for free'
I like your penny trick!! We should meet at the VFW next time I get to Upper Marlboro or Southern MD. If I get another job in the capital beltway it's all yours!!

Thats how we can work together Bill. Save us both some gas money too!

BCRoofClean · Guest

Great thread Mike, Gutter cleaning is a huge part of roof cleaning.

With this in mind there are several types of Gutters up here where we are at. You have Vinyl clad, Aluminum, copper, Galvanized, Regular Vinyl, Dull PVC, and even pitched wood.
I think a 5K 6" is the way to go if it looks decent on your house. Thats just my opinion.

Other the type of gutter there are different painting techniques as well. This can cause big problems when cleaning Anodized aluminum and Vinyl clad gutters and the like. Paint can come right off there depending what you use to clean them.

When cleaning gutters you must always carry more than one type of cleaner, because it may not work or may be too strong.

What do you guys use to clean gutters?

gutterdog · Aug 5, 2010

swee****erfish wrote:

Am I to assume you are blowing the horizontal run of the gutters out? Do you clean from the roof, or clean from a ladder?

Also, what do you do with the deadfall of leaves & debris that comes out? IN this are most gutters get just packed FULL of crap( pine needles and oak leaves). Seems like I spend more time picking up the deadfall than I do cleaning out the gutters.

Ty=hanks for sharing your expertise!

They pay extra if I am to bag the debris. Just blow out the gutters, test each downspout when you come to it. If you dont do each one when you come to it you will for get one and have to come back to the house again.

Blow off the whole roof first blow out the gutters do each downspout when you get to it. If one is real bad and creating the vibration to loosen the debris doesnt work, Ive spent 5-10 min. on some it does let go and shoot out the bottom! Try snaking it from the top. If youve spent 10 min. on one. You can set a ladder at the downspout and bang on the section between the 2 elbows. Thats where the clog is 99% of the time.

The debris that fall to the ground blow the driveway tops of bushes, deck, blow it into the grass. Spread it out any clumps of debris break up with your hands. Next time they cut the grass its like compost.

Some gutter cleaner told me that for free he takes the debris away and puts it in his garden, no chit!

RCIA Founder

gutterdog wrote:

swee****erfish wrote:

Am I to assume you are blowing the horizontal run of the gutters out? Do you clean from the roof, or clean from a ladder?

Also, what do you do with the deadfall of leaves & debris that comes out? IN this are most gutters get just packed FULL of crap( pine needles and oak leaves). Seems like I spend more time picking up the deadfall than I do cleaning out the gutters.

Ty=hanks for sharing your expertise!

They pay extra if I am to bag the debris. Just blow out the gutters, test each downspout when you come to it. If you dont do each one when you come to it you will for get one and have to come back to the house again.

Blow off the whole roof first blow out the gutters do each downspout when you get to it. If one is real bad and creating the vibration to loosen the debris doesnt work, Ive spent 5-10 min. on some it does let go and shoot out the bottom! Try snaking it from the top. If youve spent 10 min. on one. You can set a ladder at the downspout and bang on the section between the 2 elbows. Thats where the clog is 99% of the time.

The debris that fall to the ground blow the driveway tops of bushes, deck, blow it into the grass. Spread it out any clumps of debris break up with your hands. Next time they cut the grass its like compost.

Some gutter cleaner told me that for free he takes the debris away and puts it in his garden, no chit!

I bet it is good to grow stuff in biggrin

gutterdog · Aug 5, 2010

BCRoofClean wrote:

Great thread Mike, Gutter cleaning is a huge part of roof cleaning.

With this in mind there are several types of Gutters up here where we are at. You have Vinyl clad, Aluminum, copper, Galvanized, Regular Vinyl, Dull PVC, and even pitched wood.
I think a 5K 6" is the way to go if it looks decent on your house. Thats just my opinion.

Other the type of gutter there are different painting techniques as well. This can cause big problems when cleaning Anodized aluminum and Vinyl clad gutters and the like. Paint can come right off there depending what you use to clean them.

When cleaning gutters you must always carry more than one type of cleaner, because it may not work or may be too strong.

What do you guys use to clean gutters?

-- Edited by gutterdog on Thursday 5th of August 2010 07:29:31 PM

Roof Cleaning Bradenton FL 941-822-2454 · Guest

Great Post Mike!
TCare
Kim

gutterdog · Aug 6, 2010

Thanks for the "save" Kim.

gutterdog · Aug 6, 2010

You and Randy are great people. Yall made my visit to Tampa better! I recognize Randy by the pic! Homestly, before I thought he was some dude from Austrailia or somrthing! By the signature in a diff language.

Roof Cleaning Little Rock Arkansas · Guest

Ive learned something here But

I still hate cleaning gutters!

Around here most who pay to have it done live in homes on the sides of mountains with 12/12 roofs. Ive been on the end of a 40 foot ladder thinking I DIDNT CHARGE ENOUGH! hahaha

Roof Cleaning Bradenton FL 941-822-2454 · Guest

gutterdog wrote:

You and Randy are great people. Yall made my visit to Tampa better! I recognize Randy by the pic! Homestly, before I thought he was some dude from Austrailia or somrthing! By the signature in a diff language.

It was nice meeting and talking with you as well. Tampa was a blast, next time you get a chance to come back this way, we gotta get together for an evening out!
(Btw: Randy is Belgium.)
Take Care
Kim

gutterdog · Aug 7, 2010

Roof Cleaning Arkansas wrote:

Ive learned something here But

I still hate cleaning gutters!

Around here most who pay to have it done live in homes on the sides of mountains with 12/12 roofs. Ive been on the end of a 40 foot ladder thinking I DIDNT CHARGE ENOUGH! hahaha

Everyone asking about pricing for gutters. Its wide open. Depends on competition, depends on alot of things. 40 ft ladder for instance. thats an up charge. Not much of my competition has a 40 ft? The ones that do, I heard charge 100 or more for the 40. I'm not geting that yet. I do charge extra for the freakin heavy arse 40. I'm going to go from where I'm at, extra for the 40, and creep the price up till I start looosing jobs, back it down a knotch and stay.

If you are not sure about pricing on anything, start somewhere and increase the price, till you start loosing to competition. back it down a hair and keep your price there. You should sell 70% of your estimates. If you sell a higher percentage you are too cheap!

Here is something else to think about! You get a call for something you dont want to do. Price it to where...uhhhh... yea at that price I kinda want to do it now!!!

gutterdog · Aug 7, 2010

Randyr5150 wrote:

gutterdog wrote:

You and Randy are great people. Yall made my visit to Tampa better! I recognize Randy by the pic! Homestly, before I thought he was some dude from Austrailia or somrthing! By the signature in a diff language.

It was nice meeting and talking with you as well. Tampa was a blast, next time you get a chance to come back this way, we gotta get together for an evening out!
(Btw: Randy is Belgium.)
Take Care
Kim

Hey Kim I got an invite from Chris Tucker in this thread to get back down there! When I was there I saved money and stayed in the motel. There is so much to see and do there! Florida does Rock! Can I hold ya to that evening out?

Here in the DC area there is much to see and do also!

BCRoofClean · Guest

Mike I didn't catch your reply there?

I sometimes use krud kutter, which for some reason seems to be the best cleaner. I have used Apple cider before on some old gutters just like everyone else but ofcourse we try to never get it on any decent looking newer gutters just in case, a few different kinds of Simple green, gutter grenade, 409, dawn etc.

Nothing seems to clean a gutter everytime and some cleaners take the paint off of a gutter. And there is always that one job where nothing seems to work.

Anyone have any tricks?

Guest

Does anyone price gutters by the hour? I do. I see it as a win - win situation. Ever price a job and then find out once you are on the ladder that the gutters are completely full of debris that is wet because they dont slope properly... It may turn out to be a PITA job that you really are not too thrilled to do for the price you quoted. It also protects the Customer from having to pay $200 for a gutter job that all you do is climb on the ladder and find the gutters completely free of debris already.

NoPressure · guest

The other thing I didnt see in any of the threads, was most effective way for bagging gutters!! Heres the best thing ever. PANTYHOSE, go to walmart and buy like 20 off the ones that look like they come out of a candy machine.

guest

what do you use pantyhose for?

Roof Cleaning Bradenton FL 941-822-2454 · Guest

gutterdog wrote:

Randyr5150 wrote:

gutterdog wrote:

You and Randy are great people. Yall made my visit to Tampa better! I recognize Randy by the pic! Homestly, before I thought he was some dude from Austrailia or somrthing! By the signature in a diff language.

It was nice meeting and talking with you as well. Tampa was a blast, next time you get a chance to come back this way, we gotta get together for an evening out!
(Btw: Randy is Belgium.)
Take Care
Kim

Hey Kim I got an invite from Chris Tucker in this thread to get back down there! When I was there I saved money and stayed in the motel. There is so much to see and do there! Florida does Rock! Can I hold ya to that evening out?

Here in the DC area there is much to see and do also!

Sure can, just let us know a bit ahead of time to make sure we will be here, and pretty sure we should be. One of these days we will hit DC. It is crazy up there was in Philly once lost looking for the airport,, gosh what a trip that was confuse

Philly was nuts way more than Detroit, that is for sure..
Take Care
Kim

BCRoofClean · Guest

NoPressure wrote:

The other thing I didnt see in any of the threads, was most effective way for bagging gutters!! Heres the best thing ever. PANTYHOSE, go to walmart and buy like 20 off the ones that look like they come out of a candy machine.

they would leak.

everyone tries to get creative with the gutter bagging. don't just control runoff and bag them, thats what I say.

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"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"