What is included in a gutter cleaning service (And what's not!)

If you’re looking into gutter cleaning, one of the easiest mistakes to make is assuming every company includes the same things.

In this article, we’ll break down what is usually included in a gutter cleaning service, what is sometimes included depending on the company, and what is often not included unless it has been specifically agreed beforehand.

Removal of debris from inside the gutters

At the most basic level, gutter cleaning usually means removing the debris that has built up inside the guttering.

That debris might include moss, leaves, silt, twigs, plant growth, or general grime that has washed down from the roof over time.

The main aim is to clear the channel inside the gutter so rainwater can flow towards the outlet properly rather than backing up and overflowing over the front or back of the gutters.

Clearing the accessible gutter runs around the property

A standard gutter cleaning service will normally include the main sections of guttering attached to the house.

Depending on the property, that may also include gutters on extensions, garages, porches, or conservatories, but this is something worth checking because not every quote automatically includes every structure on the property.

In most cases, the service covers the parts of the guttering that can be cleaned safely using the contractor’s chosen access method, whether that is a ladder, a gutter vacuum.

Basic removal of the mess created by the clean

Most customers reasonably expect that the debris removed from the gutters will not just be left on the driveway, lawn, or patio.

Many companies will bag the debris and place it in the garden waste recycling bin  or take it away as part of the job. Others may leave it neatly a bag for the customer to dispose of or put into an area of the garden to compose.

This sounds like a small detail, but it is one of those things that can vary more than people expect.

A simple visual check while the work is being done

Although gutter cleaning is not the same thing as gutter inspection or repair, a professional contractors will be identifying obvious issues while carrying out the work.

That might include signs of standing water, vegetation growth, leaking joints, loose brackets, sagging sections, or blocked outlets.

A good company will usually mention these if they spot them.

Although its worth mentioning that not all gutter cleaning services offer repairs of guttering and is typically not part of the gutter cleaning service so would be charged extra

What might NOT be included in the gutter cleaning service

Downpipe clearing

Some gutter cleaning services include checking and clearing minor blockages in the downpipes. Others do not.

This is important because sometimes the gutter itself is clear, but the water still cannot escape properly because the blockage is lower down in the downpipe.

If you’ve recently had your gutters cleaner but they are still overflowing - a blocked downpipe is often one of the first things to look at.

Because of that, it is always worth asking whether downpipe clearing is included in the quoted price.

The downpipe is the long pipe that goes from the guttering, down to the ground. 



Checking of the downpipe stops at the ground level, and any blockages that go beneath the ground would be the work of a drain jetting company who have specialist equipment to unblock drains underground.

Washing out the guttering with water

Some companies may wash through the gutter with water once it's been cleaned. 

This is a basic form of a flow check, its worth noting that it is not included by many gutter cleaning companies so if this is required it maybe wise to not assume every company will fully test every run of guttering as standard.

Before and after photos

More companies now offer before and after photos, especially when they use gutter vacuum systems with camera attachments.

That can be very useful for your upper level gutters you can’t easily see from a window because thos before and after photos serve as a piece of mind that the clearing has actually been done.

Not every company provides this so its worth asking ahead of cleaning

Gutter repairs

Cleaning and repairing are not the same service.

If a gutter joint is leaking, a bracket has come loose, a section has dropped, or a clip has failed, that will usually need repair work rather than cleaning.

A gutter cleaning service may reveal these faults, and a company may be able to quote separately to fix them, but they are not normally included within a standard clean.

Soffit and fascia cleaning (outsides of the guttering)

Window cleaning

Window cleaning is also usually separate.

Even if the windows get splashed a little during the process, that does not mean a full window clean is included. Most companies will price gutter cleaning and window cleaning as two separate jobs.

Roof valleys and moss removal from lower tiles

Unblocking underground drainage

If water is not draining away properly, the issue is not always in the gutter or downpipe itself.

Sometimes the real problem is lower down in the underground drainage system.

Standard gutter cleaning does not usually include investigation or clearing of buried drains, gullies, or soakaways unless that has been specifically quoted as part of the job.

Why this matters when comparing quotes

This is one of the reasons gutter cleaning prices can vary so much.

A cheaper quote may only include a basic clear-out of the main gutter runs.

 A more expensive quote might include downpipe checks, waste removal, before and after photos, or allowance for more difficult access.

So when comparing gutter cleaning prices, the better question is not just, “How much does it cost?” It is also, “What exactly is included?”

That way, you are comparing like with like.

Questions worth asking before you book Gutter Cleaning

Before agreeing to a gutter cleaning service, it helps to ask a few simple questions:

• Does the quote include the garage, extension, and conservatory gutters?
• Are downpipes checked and cleared if needed?
• Is the gutter debris taken away?
• Are before and after photos included?
• Is this for internal gutter clearing only, or does it include external washing too?
• If faults are found, are repairs included or quoted separately?
• Will you be able to access all the guttering to complete the cleaning?

Those questions can save a lot of confusion later.

Our honest view

We think gutter cleaning is one of those services where clear communication matters just as much as the work itself.

We get that as a homeowner you might not be spending all your time looking at guttering like we might be at squeaky :) 

You just want your problems sorted be that emptying the gutters, fixing leaking joints, broken brackets, and blocked downpipes. 

That is why it helps when a company is upfront about what is included, what is not, and what may need to be priced separately if the issue turns out to be more than a standard clean.

If you are unsure about what service you require or would like some more information ahead of booking a gutter cleaning, drop us a message using the chat button and Angela and I will be more than happy to offer our advice :)