Gutter cleaning that protects the foundation
Clogged gutters are the cheapest problem to fix and one of the most expensive to ignore — they cause basement seepage, fascia rot, ice dams and cracked foundations. We clear, flush and photograph the whole system.
How often should gutters be cleaned?
Twice a year for most Chicago-area homes — late spring and late fall. If you have mature trees, especially oak, maple or pine overhanging the roof, three times a year is realistic. The fall clean is the important one: gutters full of wet leaves freeze solid and are the direct cause of ice dams.
Gutters do one job — move roof water away from the house. When they are blocked, water spills over the back edge onto the fascia and down the wall, or sits in the trough and freezes. The damage rarely shows up as a gutter problem; it shows up as a wet basement, peeling paint, rotten soffit or a crack in the foundation, and by then the repair is a different order of cost.
What a proper gutter cleaning includes
Clearing the trough is only half the job — the downspouts are where blockages actually sit. Here is exactly what we do on every visit.
- Hand-clear the full run — leaves, shingle grit and nesting debris removed, not pushed along.
- Flush every downspout — and clear it if it is blocked, which is where most overflow starts.
- Check the pitch and hangers — sagging sections hold water and pull away from the fascia.
- Reseal obvious leaking joints — minor sealing is done on the spot.
- Bag and haul the debris — nothing is left in your beds or on the lawn.
- Send a photo report — including anything we spot on the roof, fascia or soffit while we are up there.
Signs your gutters need attention now
Water overflowing the back edge during rain is the clearest signal — that water is going straight into the fascia and down the wall.
- Water sheeting over the edge in a normal rain — the trough or downspout is blocked.
- Plants growing in the gutter — there is enough packed soil in there to grow in.
- Sagging or pulling away from the fascia — the weight of wet debris is winning.
- Staining or peeling paint below the gutter line — overflow has been running down the wall.
- Ice dams and icicles in winter — classic symptom of blocked gutters plus attic heat loss. See the real fix for ice dams.
- Damp basement after heavy rain — roof water is being dumped at the foundation instead of away from it.
.jpg)
Gutter Cleaning questions
How much does gutter cleaning cost?
It depends on the size of the home, the number of stories and how much debris is in the system. We give you a firm price before we start — no per-hour surprises. Call (866) 992-2982 for a quote on your address.
Do I need gutter guards?
Guards genuinely reduce how often you need cleaning, but no guard is maintenance-free — fine grit and shingle granules still get through. We install quality guards and tell you honestly when they are worth it for your tree cover. See are gutter guards worth it.
Will you check my roof while you are up there?
Yes, and we include it. If we can see missing shingles, lifted flashing, rotten fascia or storm damage from the ladder, it goes in the photo report so you know about it early — whether or not you hire us to fix it.
Can you repair the gutters as well as clean them?
Yes — resealing joints, re-pitching sagging runs, replacing hangers and swapping damaged sections. If the system is beyond repair we quote seamless replacement. See gutter installation.
Book a gutter cleaning
Clear gutters, a photo report, and no mess left behind.