Most homes in Adelaide's north-east need their gutters cleaned at least once a year, before the wet season. Homes right under gum trees, which is a lot of streets near the hills face around Vista, Tea Tree Gully and towards Anstey Hill, often need it twice a year or more. A blocked gutter does not just overflow onto the garden. It backs water up under the roof edge, soaks the fascia and eaves, and over time rots the timber the gutter is fixed to.
Gutter cleaning is part of the maintenance side of our business, and because we are roofers, Sam checks the roof while he is up there. Here is how to tell when your gutters need doing, and what a proper clean covers.
How often should gutters be cleaned?
- No big trees nearby: once a year, ideally in autumn before the winter rain.
- Gum trees or other large trees close to the house: two or more times a year. Gums drop leaves, bark and gumnuts all year round, not just in autumn.
- Before summer: worth adding if you are near the hills face. Dry leaves sitting in gutters are fuel, and keeping gutters clear is part of the CFS's advice on preparing a home for the bushfire season (CFS: Preparing your home).
- After a big storm: wind strips leaves and twigs off trees and dumps them straight into the gutters and valleys.
The SA SES also lists clearing gutters, downpipes and drains as one of the basic steps to get a home ready for storms (SES: Storm).
Signs your gutters are blocked
- Water spilling over the front or back edge of the gutter in rain
- Plants, grass or seedlings growing out of the gutter
- A downpipe that barely runs, or stays dry, while the gutter above overflows
- Stains, peeling paint or damp patches on the eaves and fascia
- Water pooling against the house footings below the gutter line
- Leaves and debris built up in the roof valleys, where two roof sections meet
Overflow at the back edge is the one to worry about most. Instead of falling onto the garden, the water runs behind the gutter into the fascia and the eaves, which is how timber rots and ceilings stain.
What a proper gutter clean includes
A good clean is more than scooping out the leaves you can see from the ladder:
- Gutters cleared along the whole run, including the corners where debris packs in tight.
- Roof valleys cleared. Leaves that build up in valleys hold water against the roof and can push it under the tiles or sheets.
- Downpipe outlets checked so the water can actually get away once the gutter is clear.
- A roof check while we are up there: slipped or cracked tiles, cracked ridge pointing, lifted sheets or screws, and tired flashings.
Small faults found during the clean, like a slipped tile or a loose screw, can often be fixed on the spot. Anything bigger is explained and quoted, so you can decide what to do and when. Our guide to roof inspections covers what Sam looks for.
When cleaning is not enough
Sometimes a clean shows up a bigger problem: rust holes along the bottom of the gutter, leaking joins, a gutter that has sagged and lost its fall, or fascia boards that have gone soft. At that point a clean only buys time. Our guide to gutter and downpipe replacement explains the signs and what affects the cost, and our gutters, downpipes and flashings page covers the replacement work.
Is it safe to clean your own gutters?
Plenty of people do it themselves on a single-storey house, and that is fair enough. If you do, use a sturdy ladder on firm, level ground, have someone with you, and stay off the roof itself, especially a tile roof, where cracked tiles are easy to cause and easy to slip on. On two-storey homes, steep roofs, or if you are not comfortable at height, it is a job worth handing over.
Book a gutter clean
Sam is based in Redwood Park and cleans gutters across Tea Tree Gully and Redwood Park, Modbury, Golden Grove and Greenwith, Salisbury and the rest of Adelaide's north-east. Send a couple of photos of your gutters and roof through our quote form, or call Sam on 0407 559 774. Hours are Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm, and Saturday 8am to 1pm.
Frequently asked questions
How often should gutters be cleaned in Adelaide?
At least once a year, ideally before the wet season. Homes right under gum trees often need it twice a year or more, and a clean before summer is worth it near the hills face.
Do you check the roof when you clean the gutters?
Yes. Sam checks the roof in the same visit for slipped or cracked tiles, cracked pointing, lifted sheets and screws, and tired flashings. Small faults can often be fixed on the spot.
Why do my gutters overflow even when it is not raining hard?
Usually because they are blocked with leaves or the downpipe outlet is blocked. If the gutter is clear and still overflows, it may have lost its fall toward the downpipe.
Do you clean gutters in Tea Tree Gully and Modbury?
Yes. A1 Roofing is based in Redwood Park and cleans gutters across Tea Tree Gully, Modbury, Golden Grove, Greenwith, Salisbury and the rest of Adelaide's north-east.
Want Sam to take a look?
Send a photo through the quote form for an honest assessment and a free, no-obligation quote, or call Sam directly.
