Gutters are an essential part of any property, they are designed to protect your home or commercial building from water damage, and they require regular maintenance to function properly. We have written about that before (and we will probably write about it again, because the importance of well-working guttering for keeping your buildings in good nick is often underestimated). Yes, insurance will often cover roof and structure repairs caused by water damage, but the property needs to be reasonably maintained, and prevention is always better (and cheaper) than attempts at a cure.
Now you are fully convinced of the importance of regular gutter cleaning, the question of “how to do it best” arises. The obvious two options are: do it yourself or hire someone to do it for you.
There are definite pros and cons to both options, so let's take a closer look.
First, let's talk about DIY gutter cleaning. One of the obvious pros of cleaning your gutters yourself is that…
DIY gutter cleaning can save you money
Professional gutter cleaning services can be expensive and even if they are not out of your financial reach, there is still money going out of the bank account. If you're on a tight budget, doing it yourself may be the best option, if you can. “If you can” is the operative phrase here, because, depending on your building’s construction, equipment you own and your personal fitness and motivation, the diy option might not be realistic.
You need the motivation to actually do it when it needs doing
What do we mean by motivation? Gutter cleaning is one of those tasks that are extremely easy to put away. People usually notice it needs doing during heavy rain, when blocked or partially blocked gutters start to overflow and water begins to pour on the walls or windows, or gets inside the building. And then they think “oh, I MUST do it, but maybe when it’s not raining QUITE as much”. And sometimes this is what indeed happens, but sometimes it does not. It’s easy to forget, or people can’t find time, or the tools or protective gear that might be needed. Until the next heavy rain.
In many ways, outsourcing gutter cleaning to a professional, even when you are able to do it yourself, is not a lazy cop-out but a very sensible move, ensuring that your property is well looked after.
DIY can give a sense of accomplishment and pride
On the other hand, some people gain a strong feeling of accomplishment, satisfaction and pride from completing the diy and house maintenance task, and if you are one of those people, have at it!
Just make sure that you know what you are doing, so you keep yourself and your property safe, especially if working at height.
You stay in control with DIY
As with any diy option, diy gutter cleaning gives you complete control over the process. You can choose the date and time that works best for you and make sure that the job is done to your exact standards.
DIY gutter cleaning can be dangerous and dirty
We mentioned fitness earlier on. There is no hiding the fact that diy gutter cleaning can be time-consuming and physically demanding. Whilst professional gutter cleaners nowadays often use high-performance vacuum systems, just like we do (we have compared these with traditional methods in a separate article), few homeowners would want to invest significant amounts of money in a machine devoted exclusively to gutter cleaning (and the less powerful diy ones don’t work as well). So diy gutter cleaning tends to involve climbing ladders, buckets, brushes, scrapers, gloves and quite a lot of dirt. If you're not comfortable working at heights, or if the idea of scooping out ice-cold decomposing leaves with a chance of a dead bird or a mouse is not your idea of fun, it's probably better to leave it to the professionals.
Professional gutter cleaning will save you time and energy
Now, let's talk about professional gutter cleaning. One of the main pros of hiring a professional is that it saves you time and energy. Whilst you will pay for the job to be done, the time you don’t spend cleaning gutters could be used in a more pleasant way, or even to earn money (maybe more money than the cost of a professional gutter clean, even).
And it is also safer and more efficient
Another pro of professional gutter cleaning is that it's safer, both for you and your home. DIY gutter cleaning typically involves work at height (unless you buy and learn how to use one of the powerful vacuums professionals use) which can be a dangerous task. Whether you hire professionals who work from the ground level, or technicians trained and skilled in working from ladders or ropes (depending on the building, ladder access might not be possible), they will have the proper equipment and experience to do the job safely. And they will also know how to use their gear not to damage gutters, downpipes, or parts of the building that might get in the way of ladders and other diy implements. And if the worst comes to worst, in case of any accidents, they are fully insured and certified, so you'll have peace of mind knowing that you're protected.
In conclusion, when it comes to gutter cleaning, there are pros and cons to both DIY and professional approaches. DIY gutter cleaning can save you money, but it's time-consuming, physically demanding, and potentially dangerous if done at height. Professional gutter cleaning is more expensive, but it's safer, faster, and more efficient. It's essential to consider your budget, your skill level, and your personal comfort level when deciding which approach is best for you.
If you have any doubts or need further assistance, feel free to get in touch with any questions. And if you want to give a professional service a try, our prices start from as little as £50, and if you book your gutter cleaning with us, we will clean your windows completely free during the same visit!
