Gutter cleaning: compare quotes and prices

How much does gutter cleaning cost?

One Swiss indicative price checked in October 2026 lists CHF 200–500 for a detached house, including a downpipe check. This is a published example, not a guaranteed market rate. VAT, exact gutter length and access conditions are not fully specified.

A low price per metre alone does not establish the total. Travel, setup and safe access are needed even for short sections. Clearing a blocked downpipe, removing guards or carrying out repairs may cost extra.

Compare appointment terms too: does the price cover a specific requested date or a time window scheduled by the contractor? With flexible scheduling, agree when cleaning will be completed. Ask how inaccessible sections or a necessary second visit will be handled and whether further travel charges apply. Agree any additional work and its price before it starts.

Separate gutters, downpipes and repairs

The horizontal gutter collects water at the roof edge. Outlets and downpipes carry it away. A clean gutter therefore does not prove that the entire drainage route is clear. Equally, a downpipe problem does not automatically require cleaning the whole roof.

• Clear the gutters. Remove leaves and deposits from the agreed sections rather than simply pushing debris into the pipe.
• Check drainage. Check the agreed outlets, any leaf baskets and drainage route. A blockage farther down the pipe needs separate assessment.
• Repair defects. Leaking joints, loose brackets or deformed sections are repair work. Confirm that scope and its price separately.

Give gutter length, not roof area

The relevant quantity is the length of gutters to be cleaned, not the building footprint or roof area. Two gutters measuring 12 m each, for example, total 24 linear metres. Two downpipes to be checked are recorded separately as two units; their height can also affect the work.

A building does not necessarily have gutters on all four sides. Use existing plans or an approximate estimate from a safe position on the ground. Do not climb onto the roof for the enquiry. The contractor can establish an unknown length later.

An enquiry might read: “The house has two gutters of about 12 m each at roughly 5 m above ground, plus another 6 m on the carport at about 2.5 m: approximately 30 linear metres in total. There are also three downpipes whose drainage we would like checked. Water overflows near the outlet at the rear of the house. There are leaves and a leaf guard, but we do not know how the guard is fixed. The side passage is narrow. Please include access, any guard removal and refitting, and waste disposal. Discuss any deeper blockage or repairs with us first.” These example details describe the need without assuming the cause or method.

Describe overflowing or dripping without diagnosing it

Overflow can indicate deposits, a blocked outlet or a problem in the downpipe. Slope, fixings or drainage capacity can also matter. Cleaning alone is therefore no substitute for assessing a recurring problem.

Describe what you can see: leaves, water running over the edge, drips at a joint or a sagging section. You do not need to identify the technical cause. Photos from ground level or a safely accessible window may help during later contact.

Access determines the working method

Depending on the building, telescopic vacuum equipment, suitable platforms or other protected access may be appropriate. Cameras can help with inspection from the ground. No single method reaches every gutter: overhangs, conservatories, narrow passages and fixed guards can limit access.

Give the approximate gutter height and describe obstacles around the building. The contractor selects suitable equipment and protection. Tools and cleaning agents must suit the material and finish; a gutter is not a surface to walk on.

Before the visit, clarify which areas must be kept clear for equipment and vehicles and whether the chosen equipment needs electricity or water on site. Mention locked garden gates, delicate planting or glazed extensions. The contractor assesses how to protect these areas and reach the gutters; a carport roof or glass roof is not automatically a suitable access route.

Match maintenance and leaf guards to the site

Where deciduous trees are close to the roof, a check after the main leaf fall is useful. Depending on deposits, further work in spring or after a storm may be needed. A fixed interval for every building would be inappropriate: location, vegetation and previous accumulation determine the need.

Guards and baskets can catch larger debris, but do not make drainage maintenance-free. They can become blocked themselves and must remain accessible. Quotes should account for existing guards, including removal and refitting where necessary.

Compare complete quotes

A useful quote describes work that can be checked. The priority is the same gutter sections and an agreed result, rather than adding as many extra tasks as possible.

At completion, review the agreed gutter sections and outlets, for example using the contractor’s images. Record which downpipes were checked, how they were checked and where further investigation is needed: a photograph of a clean gutter does not prove a clear route all the way to the drain. Also check that removed guards have been refitted, residues cleared and any untreated areas identified. Report any leaks or loose components found, specifying their location.

1. Set the scope. Identify gutters, outlets, downpipes and guards. Add roof-surface cleaning or metalwork repairs only where needed.
2. Check the total. Include travel, access, residues and taxes. Agree that additional work discovered on site needs approval first.
3. Confirm the result. Ask for a record of cleaning and the agreed functional check, for example images. Record defects separately without climbing onto the roof yourself.