Roofer - Gutter Cleaning Tools Needed

Roofing Advice & Tips - Tools Needed For Cleaning Gutters Out?

Essential Gutter Cleaning Tools

Most homeowners already own the tools necessary for cleaning gutters, which make it a perfect, do it yourself maintenance project. The primary tool for cleaning gutters is a ladder. The ladder must be tall enough to reach the gutter comfortably and safely. Observe all safety precautions when using a ladder. Make sure the ladder leans against the building and not the gutters to prevent damage to gutters. In general, it is good to have the base of the ladder one foot away from the wall for every foot in height. It is always a good idea to secure the bottom of the ladder to prevent the ladder from slipping; a sand bag can secure the ladder if no one is available to hold it in place. In addition to a ladder, you must have a scooping tool to remove debris, rubber gloves, safety glasses and a garden hose. A scooping tool can be a specialized gutter scoop, a garden trowel, or even a large serving spoon. The first step to clean the gutter is to scoop any debris that may have built up in the gutter. It is helpful to have a rubble bag on the roof surface near at hand in which to scoop debris. Although rubber gloves keep hands clean, remember that the gutter may have sharp edges and nail or screws points exposed and take care not to puncture the gloves and scratch hands. If you find a large amount of leaves and debris, it may be a good idea to install a leaf guard to prevent debris from building up in the gutter.

Other Gutter Cleaning Tips

After removing debris from the gutter, flush the gutter with a garden hose. The hose will remove dirt and help identify areas that may have leaks and need repair. If the downspout seems clogged, try using the garden hose directly in the downspout to clear the blockage. If this does not resolve the problem, use a plumber's auger (snake) or a straightened hanger. After resolving leaks, visually check all brackets for loosened hardware or places where the gutter may have slipped out of the brackets.

Maintaining Gutters To Prevent Blocked Gutter Problems

These simple tools and easy maintenance steps keep gutters in working condition and are much cheaper than repairing water damage or replacing gutters every few years.