maintain

Clean gutters without hurting yourself

About 60 minutes

Twice a year keeps water off your walls and out of your foundation.

Printable steps & tools

Watch it done

How to Clean Gutters & Install Gutter Guards · Lowe's Home Improvement

Watch it done → Practice now

Do these 3 things next

  1. Set the ladder on flat ground and have someone foot it before you climb.
  2. Clear one downspout end first so water has somewhere to go.
  3. Flush with a hose and watch for overflow at the seams.

Say it while you work: Búidu good, well

Steps

  1. Set the ladder on flat ground at a 4-to-1 angle and have someone foot it.
  2. Scoop debris into a bucket hung on the ladder — never carry it in your hand.
  3. Flush from the far end with a hose and watch every downspout run clear.
  4. Check the fascia behind the gutter for soft or dark wood while you're up there.

When to call a professional

Ladders and roofs

Most of this is yours to do. Call someone licensed if any one of these is true — it's a judgement call, not a defeat.

  • You would be working higher than one storey.
  • The roof is steep, wet, mossy, or it's windy today.
  • Nobody is home to hold the ladder or call for help.
  • You can see daylight, sag, or soft decking from below.
Open “Clean gutters without hurting yourself

General guidance only. Local codes and conditions vary. If work involves electrical, gas, structural, HVAC or plumbing systems — or if anything feels beyond your comfort — stop and hire a licensed professional.

Bumada Bridge

Want to learn this in Garifuna?

Búidu good, well

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