Gutter Cleaning

You’d be surprised what we find. Sure, there’s the usual leaf litter and sticks — especially in leafy suburbs like Eltham or Ferntree Gully. But I’ve also cleared out dead leaves, dry gum leaves, tennis balls, corflute signs, chunks of roof bedding, bird nests and even the odd snake skin.

Here’s what typically causes blockages:

• Leaves and twigs: Autumn is the peak season but in windy areas debris builds up year-round.
• Roof sand and bedding: On older tiled roofs, ridge capping can break down and wash into the gutter.
• Bird nests and pests: Birds, rats and possums love gutters as nesting spots.
• Moss and algae: These thrive in shaded gutters with standing water.
• Mud and silt: Especially in areas with unsealed roads or nearby construction.

Blocked downpipes and stagnant water is another common issue and it’s harder to spot from the ground. If the water can’t escape your gutters will overflow even if the channels themselves look fairly clear.

Here’s what we see on the job week in, week out:

• Overflow into eaves and ceilings: Water backs up and finds its way into your ceiling cavity.
• Rotten fascias and timber framing: Constant dampness breaks down timber and paintwork.
• Foundation and structural integrity issues: Poor water runoff causes pooling near the slab, leading to movement or rising damp.
• Gutter sagging or tearing away: Debris adds weight especially when wet.
• Pest infestations: Stagnant water is a breeding ground for mozzies and blocked gutters are rodent real estate.

Most of these issues don’t show up immediately. It’s only when you start seeing ceiling stains or musty smells that people realise there’s a problem — and by then it’s a bigger, more expensive job, or an insurance claim or thousands of dollars in damage.

There’s no one-size-fits-all rule, but here’s a rough guide:

• Every 6 months for most suburban homes
• Every 3 months if your property is surrounded by trees
• Quarterly to monthly for commercial buildings, especially with large roof spans or minimal fall

If your downpipes are connected to rainwater tanks or solar panel systems, gutter cleaning and solar panel cleaning are even more important — you don’t want decomposing leaves leaching into your water supply.

A good rule of thumb: if you’ve had a storm and noticed overflow, or if you can see tufts of grass, a brown plastic gutter edge, or weeds in your gutters, it’s time.

• Manual removal of debris (dirt from gutters, leaf blowers where suitable)
• Flushing of downpipes and downpipe cleaning
• Inspection of gutter brackets, joins, anchor point systems, and fall
• Checking for signs of rust, rot, broken roof tiles, or nesting
• Reporting any roof issues or the chance of tiles cracking under pressure
• Complimentary roof inspection (offered by many professional gutter specialists)

• The technician uses proper safety equipment and is trained in working at heights
• Fall arrest systems or a hose guide scaffold are used where required
• They’re not walking freely on brittle tiles

• Ladder stability on carport gutter cleaning jobs
• Live wires near the roofline
• Brittle or cracked tiles
• Wasps or bird nests

Before: Full of sludge, leaf build-up, water pooling at one end, weeds growing, maybe even a smell.

After: Clean rain gutters, downpipes draining freely, brackets intact and no overflow during the next rain.

We always recommend a post clean inspection with the customer present if possible. It’s your chance to check the job and ask about any issues spotted on the roof — a great step towards complete peace of mind.

• Blocked gutters aren’t just a cosmetic issue. They can cause serious damage if left unchecked. Regular gutter cleaning prevents costly repairs, keeps pests at bay and protects your roof, walls and structural integrity.
• Not sure if your gutters need a clean? Walk the perimeter after a storm and check for signs of overflow, sagging or visible build up. Or send us a photo — our friendly team is happy to take a look. We’ve done thousands of gutter cleans on homes, apartments and government buildings.
• We offer competitive pricing, fast service and leave our customers happy. Whether it’s budget gutter cleaning, premium gutter cleaning services, vacuum gutter cleaning or commercial gutter maintenance, we can help you make the right choice in gutter cleaning.
• We also work with the Window Cleaning Melbourne Crew so if your outdoor maintenance needs go beyond just gutters we can coordinate a full service exterior clean with trusted specialists.