Talk to me about gutter cleaning

I’ve been thinking of adding other services, and gutter cleaning seems like a decent fit.

My largest ladder is a 24 ft extension, and at least half of the two story homes, it would be a stretch. I may come up short in some circumstances.

Is there equipment to clean gutter from the ground, up to 3 stories? Does this equipment (that may or may not exist) go a good job?

I don’t like ladders, but I know there is a need to do a great job on gutters.

I do it with my 24 footer, some houses do require a 28… which is a serious PITA.

The thing you’re looking for is the gutter vac, though someone else will have to pipe in on it’s efficiency.

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Those two dont well together! Just saying… :wink:

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Gutter cleaning is great for us. Did a job for $535 the other day and they hired us for the windows, too. That’ll be $595. There’s two different tools we use and you can find them on the supply site for WCR. We have a scoop and a spoon that attaches to an extension pole.

Then the opposite happened where we were called to do the windows at one house and they asked if we do gutters. Easy $600 between the two. Do it!

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I’ll chime in with my limited experience. To me, the extra hassle and expense of special equipment doesn’t seem worth the payoff. Gutter spoons and poles are ok, as long as the gutters don’t have those little crossbars every 3 feet. I wanted to use a shop vac but the prevalence of pine needles in this area would just clog the hose. So I just use gloves and a bucket and it works out fine.

If it’s one story I work off my LG ladder, or from the roof if it’s not too steep. For second story I’ve been able to get by with my just my 24’ extension w/stabilizer so far. I don’t use anything but a pair of gardening gloves, a 5-gallon bucket, and some big lawn and leaf bags. I also keep a pocket hose on the truck with a good nozzle to rinse the gutters after they are free from obstruction. I charge $1 per linear foot, and it has been the most profitable part of my business in terms of equipment + time/ $$ earned.

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Have you used the gutter vac? And how high will it work efficiently?

Gutter cleaning is highly profitable if your market has a need for it.
I know guys that its there money maker 5-6 figures a year.

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I believe it. I still get more calls for window cleaning by far, but the gutter jobs I do usually average about $150/hour.
Cha-CHING!!

Start planning and getting marketing ready for fall “gutter cleaning” season now. :wink:

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That’s why I’m asking.

I’m not scared of ladders, I just like not using them. I don’t have a stand off or stabilizers. I’d like to stick to single story homes, but the vast majority of homes here are 2+ stories.

No one here use a leaf blower???

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Not too many clients want you to blow leaves all over their yards. Especially, if they or hired landscaping crew have already raked them up.

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The time you save by blowing will get spent raking the ground afterward

You’ll find mix reviews on gutter vacs. There are times I think I could use a system like @RHG_Products has, but not sure I can justify spending money on such a system. Although it would of helped with yesterday’s job that had gutter full of dirt.

I would suggest getting the gutter scoop and poles. A lot of the roofs around here are steep and are tile. So, I position the ladder in a good spot and pull the debris towards me and fill my bucket.

Dave Carroll has a video on the forum it consists of everything you need for gutter cleaning.
Ive heard about more cons then pro for gutter vacs (but that people talking not hands on knowledge)
I know your not sacred of ladders “your a dam window cleaner man!” :grin:

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I have a leave blower, a leaf vacuum, poles, scoops, gloves and I use them all at different times

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You could potentially double your income by bringing 20 vegans on an “organic salad harvest tour”.

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On a flat roof we used our shop vac and it proved very helpful as the gutters ran along the pool on that side of the house and they were loaded with leaves. The rest of the house wasn’t flat but still used it as it wasn’t too steep and it’s my wife and I doing the work. Looking to get the gutter tools from Rigid so I can do as much as possible from the ground on a single level.

humm. i used a leaf blower aand had the gutters cleaned in a few minutes. BUT that was during my lawn care days. i would just blow them on the lawn and mow/mulch them up, no prob. i see what u mean abt cleaning it up after. but if its doable, in a area where u can make a mess and then just continue blowing them in a pile to scoop up, then the leaf blower is king. btw. i love window washing, i never looked back at lawn care after i started.

For me, I’d never use a leaf blower. The clientele I have, wouldn’t put up me being sloppy and making a mess, even if I was to clean it up later.

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