Gutter cleaning in Georgia

Heavy rain and thunderstorms

Much of Georgia gets frequent heavy rain, often in short, intense summer thunderstorms. A gutter packed with debris can't carry that much water, so it overflows and can soak the soil around your foundation, rot fascia boards or wet a crawl space.

Pine needles and oak leaves

Pines drop needles through much of the year, and oaks shed leaves in late fall and pollen and catkins in spring. Pine needles pack into a dense mat and slip past many basic gutter screens.

Red clay and erosion

Water spilling over a clogged gutter can carve channels in clay soil, wash out beds and walkways, and splash red stains on siding. Downspouts that drain well away from the house help protect the foundation.

Humidity, moss and mildew

Warm, humid weather keeps debris damp. Wet leaves and needles left in gutters can grow moss and mildew and hold moisture against the fascia.

How often to clean

Many Georgia homes do well with a cleaning in late fall after the leaves drop and another in spring after pollen season. Homes under pines or big oaks may need three or four a year. If you see water spilling over the edge during a storm, plants growing in the gutter, or stains on the siding below, it is time.

Questions to ask a gutter company

• Do you clear and flow test the downspouts, or just the gutters?
• Do you bag and haul away the debris?
• Are you insured for work at my home's height?
• Will you tell me about loose hangers, leaks or storm damage you notice?
• Is the price flat, by linear foot, or by home size?