Being from Ohio, I was surprised when we were house hunting in Texas, and none of the new homes came with gutters.
I asked our realtor what was up with that?
She said, "Honey, you can get them installed if you want to. But most people skip it. You want the rain water to fall as close to your foundation as possible, to keep the ground from cracking. If the ground gets too dry, it will crack your foundation, and you'll end up with a huge repair bill."
So, we took her advice, and skipped adding any gutters.
No gutters to clean. No trees growing in gutters. And so far so good...no cracks in our foundation!
Our gutters needed replacing. But when the tree feel on the house, we just left them off. We have them just over the doors.
There is an angle in our roof that catches debris. Sometimes something will sprout there.
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I wasn't able to get my gutters cleaned as a result of the construction. Now I see trees growing in my gutters. This is not good.
A few years ago, I answered ads in our local Pennysaver for gutter cleaning services. The first 3 I called said, basically, they will come here and clean them for $35 (one said $50).
When they got here, the all said that I needed new gutters, for between $1500 and $3500.
The second and third guys, I told them "You're here with ladders and a helper, how about I pay you $100 (or $150) and you just clean them out?" No. They wanted to sell me new gutters.
Bye.
The next guy said on the phone, it would be between $175 and $235 depending on how big the house is and how filled the gutters are.
They came the next morning at 9:00, I had $240 in cash ready, the left 45 minutes later. The second year it was $175.
No more trees in the gutters.
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I try to have my gutters cleaned twice a year. After winter and then in November when the trees are lost their leaves. My gutters have saved me a ton of damage. Plus I can direct the downspouts with an extension to water some of the landscaping. I have no trees growing in them.
If I have someone come out to just clean gutters, I costs at least $300, so instead I have the guy who power washes the house do it, I just give him $100 over the cost of house cleaning.
-- Edited by I know what to do_sometimes on Monday 20th of July 2015 08:32:08 PM
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
I've never owned a home so pardon the ignorance but why does it cost so much to clean gutters? Isn't it just pulling the gunk out of them?
Ladder, climbing up (in my case) three stories. Takes time and is somewhat dangerous. Bees make nests in gutters, just a lot going on. Ranch house? Not so much.
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
I've never owned a home so pardon the ignorance but why does it cost so much to clean gutters? Isn't it just pulling the gunk out of them?
Ladder, climbing up (in my case) three stories. Takes time and is somewhat dangerous. Bees make nests in gutters, just a lot going on. Ranch house? Not so much.
Oh ok. Gotcha. I had no idea bees make nests in gutters.
I don't know if the houses around here have gutters. I know my apartment complex doesn't.
