How much does gutter cleaning cost in Virginia?

What drives the price

Height and access. This is usually the biggest factor. A single-storey ranch can often be done from a short extension ladder or a stepladder; a two- or three-storey house needs a long extension ladder that is heavy to raise and slow to move. The top two rungs of an extension ladder are not for standing on,^[2] so a higher eave needs a longer ladder than the height alone suggests. Steep yards, soft ground, decks and landscaping under the eaves all add setup time.

Wires near the gutters. A service wire often runs to the house near an eave. Metal ladders must not be used on or near electrical wires,^[2] so a crew has to bring the right ladder and plan its setups around the wire, which can add time. Lines along the street or yard are a different matter if they are high voltage: Virginia's Overhead High Voltage Line Safety Act bars anyone doing paid work from placing a person, tool or ladder within 10 feet of an overhead high voltage line unless the danger has been guarded against.^[3] The Act defines an overhead high voltage line as one carrying more than 600 volts.^[4] A section of gutter within that distance of such a line may have to be left or handled another way, and that changes the quote.

How much gutter, and how many downspouts. Companies often quote by the foot of gutter. Downspouts should be placed at least 20 feet apart but no more than 50 feet apart,^[5] so a long house usually has several, and each one may need clearing and flushing.

How full they are. A gutter cleaned last fall is quicker than one with years of compacted debris and plants rooted in it. Fairfax County's soil and water conservation district advises that gutters should be cleaned at least once a year, and more often with trees close to the house,^[1] so heavy tree cover raises both the price of each visit and how many visits you need.

Guards and screens. The district notes: "Installing gutter guards can help reduce the frequency of gutter cleaning needed."^[1] Guards do not end the job, though. Screens at the bottom of downspouts need regular cleaning to keep them from clogging,^[5] and some guard designs have to be lifted off and refitted to clean underneath, which takes longer than an open gutter.

What is included. Ask whether the price covers flushing every downspout, bagging and hauling the debris, cleaning the gutter faces, photos of the gutters and fascia, and small fixes such as re-securing a loose hanger. Two quotes that look far apart are often for different work.

When a cleaning turns into a repair

A cleaning often turns up sagging sections, leaking seams, rotted fascia or downspouts that are too small. That is a separate job and a separate price. In Virginia, a Class C contractor's licence covers construction, removal, repair or improvement jobs with a single contract over $1,000 and under $30,000,^[6] and Virginia law requires all licensed contractors to provide a written contract for residential work.^[7] If a repair quote crosses that line, check the licence on DPOR's lookup before you agree. See why gutters overflow for what the usual repairs are.

Getting quotes you can compare

Virginia's Board for Contractors advises homeowners to get at least three written bids or estimates^[7] for the same work. It also warns: "Beware of any bid substantially lower than the others."^[7] A very low price can mean a crew that skips the downspouts, leaves the debris on your lawn, or is not insured.

For a repair or improvement contract, the Board gives a rule of thumb for the deposit: an initial deposit of no more than 10% of the total price or $1,000, whichever is less, or as much as 30% of the total contract value if the job needs custom-made items or special orders.^[7] It advises not to pay 100% of the bill until the job is 100% complete,^[7] and lists being asked to "pay cash instead of writing a check or money order" as a warning sign.^[7] For a routine cleaning, paying when the work is done is reasonable to ask for.

If someone knocks on your door

Gutter cleaning is sometimes sold door to door. Under Virginia's Home Solicitation Sales Act, when a seller solicits the sale in person at your home and you agree there, the buyer may cancel the transaction at any time before midnight of the third business day after the date of the transaction,^[8] and the seller must give you a receipt or written agreement with a notice of that right, headed "BUYER'S RIGHT TO CANCEL".^[8] The law does not cover cash sales of less than $25, or a sale that follows earlier negotiations between you and the seller.^[9] Take the time to get other quotes before you agree.

Doing it yourself

On a single-storey house with firm, level ground, cleaning the gutters yourself costs a ladder you may already own, gloves, a scoop and a few hours. Above one storey, or with wires near the eaves, the cost of a pro is mostly the cost of the ladder work you are not doing. See how to clean gutters safely from a ladder and whether paying for gutter cleaning is worth it.

Stop and call a pro if

• The gutters are on a second storey or higher, or reaching them would mean getting on the roof.
• Wires run near the gutters.
• Sections sag, leak or have pulled away from the fascia, which needs a repair quote, not a cleaning price.

Getting quotes on Loclis

On Loclis you describe the gutter job once and local businesses quote it. A business that needs to see the house first can offer an estimate visit, and a paid visit's fee comes off the price of the work. Loclis's own fees are on the pricing page. You can also browse gutter cleaning, look up exterior pros around Blacksburg, or read the other exterior answers.