gutter cleaning
How Often to Clean Gutters in Toronto
Most Toronto homes need gutters cleaned twice a year, in late fall and in spring. Here is when a third visit makes sense and when once is enough.
Most Toronto homes need their gutters cleaned twice a year, once in late fall and once in spring. Homes under big maples or oaks sometimes need a third visit.
The fall clean
This is the one that matters most. Do it after the leaves come down, usually early to mid November, and before the ground freezes. It leaves the gutters clear for the snow and the melt.
If you are not sure which group your house is in, look up at the roof after the first week of November. If you can see leaves sitting in the gutter, you are in the group that needs the fall clean.
The spring clean
Winter leaves its own mess. Wind blows debris onto the roof, and seeds and maple keys arrive in spring along with pollen. Freeze and thaw can also loosen screws and open joints. A spring visit clears the trough and gives us a chance to check that nothing moved over the winter.
When you need a third visit
Some roofs catch more than others. You may want an extra clean if you have large trees hanging over the roof, a low pitch roof where debris sits instead of sliding off, or a flat roof back addition that drains into a short gutter. Pine needles also pack down fast and hold water.
If you see water coming over the edge in a rain, do not wait for the calendar. That gutter is full now.
When once a year can be enough
A home with no trees close by, and a roof that stays fairly clean, can get by with one visit a year. Do it in the fall.
Gutter guards cut down what gets in, but they do not stop fine debris, and shingle grit and seeds still collect underneath. Guards need a look at least once a year. We quote them separately.
How to tell you have waited too long
Overflow in the rain, plants growing in the trough and stains on the wall below are all signs. We cover them in our guide on the signs your gutters need cleaning.
What a visit includes
Cleaning the trough is not enough. A proper visit clears the debris, flushes the gutters and downspouts with water to prove they drain, and looks at the run for loose screws, gaps and low spots.
That last step is why a regular schedule matters. Small issues get caught early, when the fix takes a minute instead of an afternoon.
Does the type of tree matter
It does. Maples drop a lot of leaves and seeds, oaks hold their leaves late into the fall, and pines drop needles year round. A house with a mix gets a mix of debris. When we quote, we look at what is overhead, not only the house.
What we do
- 1
We remove all the debris.
- 2
We flush the gutters and the downspouts.
- 3
We do minor repairs on the spot for free, like popping loose screws back in.