Blocked gutters: warning signs & what clearing costs
Gutters fail quietly. By the time you notice water sheeting down the wall, the blockage has usually been building for a year. Here's how to catch it early — and what clearing actually costs.
Warning signs to look for
- Water overflowing the gutter edge during rain — the clearest sign.
- Grass or weeds growing along the gutter line. If plants have soil to root in, your gutters are full.
- Green staining or damp patches on the brickwork under a gutter run.
- Sagging gutter sections — wet debris is heavy and pulls brackets loose.
- Birds returning to the same spot on your roofline — often nesting in debris.
Why it matters
A blocked gutter sends rainwater where it shouldn't go: into fascias and soffits (rot), down the wall face (damp and frost-spalled brick), and pooling by the foundations. Those repairs run into the thousands — against £50–£95 for a clear.
How gutter-vac clearing works
Modern gutter clearing is done from the ground with a high-reach vacuum — a carbon-fibre tube that reaches over the gutter and sucks out leaves, moss and sludge. No ladders leaning on your gutters, no one on your roof.
What it costs and when to do it
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Bungalow or small terrace | £50–£65 |
| Semi-detached | £60–£80 |
| Detached / larger homes | £75–£95 |
Once a year suits most homes — ideally after autumn leaf-fall. Under mature trees, make it twice. Cheapest way to book it: add it to a window-cleaning visit so there's no separate call-out.
Free same-day quotes across Anstey, north Leicester and the Charnwood villages — no visit needed.