Gutter cleaning in Dublin

What we clear

Leaves, moss, silt and weeds, plus blocked outlets and downpipes

How often

At least once a year in late autumn, with a spring clean near trees

Checks

Joints, brackets, fall, outlets, fascia and the bottom row of slates or tiles

Repairs

Only done if you agree, and quoted separately

Price

Free quote agreed before any work starts

What we clear from your gutters

Most Dublin gutters fill up with the same mix of material. Leaves arrive every autumn from the mature trees that line so many suburban roads, moss washes down off concrete tiles and slates after every heavy shower, and grit from weathered tiles settles in the bottom of the run and turns to silt. Add a few seedlings and the odd tennis ball, and a gutter that looks fine from the ground can be half full.

• Leaves, twigs and seeds from nearby trees.
• Moss and lichen washed down from the roof.
• Silt and grit from weathered concrete tiles.
• Weeds and grass growing in the gutter itself.
• Blockages in outlets, swan necks and downpipes.

How we clean your gutters

Before we start, we look at the gutters and the roof edge from the ground and agree with you what the job covers. Leaves, moss, silt and weeds are then cleared out of every run and removed, rather than pushed along the gutter into the outlets or washed down into your drains.

Each outlet is cleared and each downpipe is checked so that water runs freely down to the gully at the bottom. Once the gutters are clear we look over the joints, brackets and fascia, tell you about anything that needs attention, and leave the ground around the house as clean as we found it.

How often should gutters be cleaned in Ireland?

Most Irish houses need gutters cleaned at least once a year, ideally in late autumn after the leaves have fallen and before the heaviest winter rain. Houses near large trees, or with a lot of moss on the roof, usually need a second clean in spring, because moss and silt washed off the tiles block outlets just as leaves do.

North-facing slopes and roofs shaded by trees grow moss much faster because they rarely dry out properly between showers, and all of that moss ends up in the gutter sooner or later.

Older terraced houses with valley gutters, or with parapet gutters hidden behind the front wall, need particular attention. A blockage there can send water into the roof space rather than over the edge of the gutter where you would notice it. After a first clean we can tell you how often your own gutters are likely to need doing, based on what we found in them.

What affects the price of gutter cleaning

The price of a gutter clean depends on the house rather than a set rate per job. The number of storeys matters most, since a bungalow can be reached easily while a three-storey period house needs more access equipment and more time. The total length of gutter comes next, along with the number of outlets, corners and downpipes, and a detached house with gutters on all four sides has far more to clear than a mid-terrace.

Access around the house also plays a part. Conservatories, single-storey extensions and narrow side passages all make it harder to reach the gutter above them safely. How blocked the system is makes a difference too, because gutters packed with years of moss and silt, or downpipes choked further down, take longer to clear than a run holding one autumn's leaves. If the gutters are also leaking or sagging, any repair is quoted separately so you can decide on it.

We give you a free quote before any work starts, so the price is agreed up front. For a rough range on a typical Dublin semi, see our gutter cleaning cost guide.

Is it worth paying for gutter cleaning?

For most houses the cost of a clean is small next to the damage a blocked gutter causes over a wet Irish winter. The overflow runs down the face of the wall or behind the fascia board, and over a few months that leads to damp patches on internal walls, stained or blown render, and fascia boards that rot from the back. Putting those right costs far more than a yearly clean, and rotten fascia usually means the gutters have to come down and be refitted as well. Our fascia and soffit cost guide shows what that adds to the bill.

There is a second benefit when the person cleaning your gutters is a roofer. From the eaves we can see the bottom courses of slates or tiles, the condition of the fascia, and the joints and brackets along the run, so a slipped slate or a dripping joint gets spotted while it is still a small job. If repairs are needed, our gutter repairs and fascia and soffits pages explain what is involved.

Checks we make while we are up there

A gutter clean is a good opportunity to look at the rest of the system, since we are already at the eaves with the right access. While cleaning, we look at the following and point out anything that needs attention.

• Joints and corners, where the rubber seals in uPVC gutters perish and start to drip.
• Brackets, which can break or work loose and let a section sag so that water sits in the run.
• The fall of the gutter towards each outlet.
• Outlets and downpipe connections, including the swan necks at the eaves.
• The fascia boards behind the gutter, for soft or rotten timber.
• The bottom row of slates or tiles and the felt at the eaves.

No surprise extras

We do not carry out repairs without asking. If something needs fixing, we explain what we found and give you a free quote, and you decide whether to go ahead.

Signs your gutters are blocked

A blocked gutter usually shows itself during heavy rain. Water spilling over the front edge, or a curtain of water falling past a window, is the clearest sign, but there are others worth watching for between showers.

• Plants, grass or moss visible along the top of the gutter.
• Green or black streaks on the render or brick below the gutter.
• Damp patches on internal walls near the ceiling, especially on the top floor.
• A downpipe that stays dry in heavy rain, or a gully at the bottom that overflows.
• Gutters that sag in the middle of a run under the weight of debris and water.
• Birds regularly feeding in the gutter, which usually means there is plenty in it.

When cleaning is not enough

Cleaning solves most overflow problems, but not all of them. If gutters still overflow once they are clear, the run may have lost its fall, a downpipe may be blocked or broken lower down, or the gutter may simply be too small for the area of roof it drains. Leaking joints, cracked sections and broken brackets need a repair, and old, brittle or cast iron systems that leak in several places are often better replaced.

Our gutter repairs and guttering page covers repairs and uPVC replacement, and our guide to gutter replacement costs explains what affects the price of new gutters. If the fascia behind the gutter has rotted, see our fascia and soffits page.

Gutter guards

Mesh and brush gutter guards cut down on the leaves that get into a gutter, which can help under large trees. They do not stop moss, grit and silt washing off the roof, so guarded gutters still need clearing, and a clogged guard can shed water over the edge as badly as a blocked gutter. Our guide to blocked downpipes and gutter guards looks at the options in more detail.

More answers on our roofing FAQs page.

Related

• Gutter repairs
• Fascia and soffits
• Blocked downpipes: signs, causes and whether gutter guards help
• Gutter leaking at the joint: why it happens and how to fix it
• Gutter replacement cost in Dublin: what to expect
• How much does gutter cleaning cost in Dublin?
• Gutters overflowing in heavy rain: causes and fixes