On a proper roof clean, the moss and debris that come off the roof are cleared out of the gutters before the job is finished. Gutters are where roof moss ends up anyway: it dries, loosens and washes down. Clearing them after the clean stops blockages, overflows and water running down your walls.
Why do roofs fill gutters with moss?
Because moss lets go of the roof bit by bit. Through the year, cushions dry out, loosen and are washed or blown down the slope. Gutters catch them, along with leaves, grit from the tiles and silt. Over time this forms a thick mat that holds water and stops it reaching the downpipe.
What are the signs of a blocked gutter?
- Water spilling over the front of the gutter in heavy rain.
- Green or dark stains on the wall or fascia below the gutter.
- Plants or grass growing out of the gutter.
- Gutters sagging or pulling away from the fascia.
- A downpipe that stays dry in rain, or water bubbling up from a gully.
Why does a blocked gutter matter?
Water that should go down the pipe goes down the wall instead. Over time that can stain brickwork and render, soak the ground next to the house, and in the worst cases lead to damp inside. Standing water in gutters also adds weight and strains the brackets.
What happens to the gutters on a roof clean?
When we hand-clear moss from the roof, we keep as much of it as we can off the ground, and what goes into the gutters is scooped out. At the end of the job, gutters on the cleaned roof are cleared of moss and debris, and the ground below is tidied. You shouldn’t be left with a gutter full of what came off your roof.
Will moss keep falling into the gutters after the clean?
For a while, a little. Dead lichen and some fine growth carry on washing off for weeks as the biocide works. Most of it is fine enough to wash through. On roofs that were heavily covered, a quick check of the gutters a few months later is sensible.
Do downpipes get cleared too?
We check that water can get from the gutter into the downpipe. A downpipe blocked further down, or a blocked underground drain, is a different job; we’ll tell you if we find one.
How can I keep gutters clear between cleans?
- Keep the roof treated. Less growth on the roof means less in the gutters.
- Cut back overhanging branches where you can.
- Look at the gutters in late autumn, once the leaves are down.
- Watch for overflows in heavy rain: it’s the easiest test there is.
Are gutter guards worth it?
They can help under trees, keeping leaves out. They don’t stop fine moss and silt, and they need cleaning themselves. On many roofs, keeping the moss down with a biocide treatment does more good than guards.
What about fascias and soffits?
The boards behind and under the gutter often stain green or black from overflows. If you’d like them looked at as well, mention it when you ask for a quote and we’ll tell you what we can help with.
Do I need a separate gutter clean?
If you’re having a roof clean, no: the gutters get cleared of what comes off the roof as part of it. If your roof doesn’t need cleaning but your gutters are blocked, that’s a separate gutter clearing job, and we can tell you about that when you ask.
Can moss block underground drains?
It can, over time. Moss and silt washed down the downpipe can collect in the gully or the drain below. If a gully keeps overflowing, the drain may need clearing by a drainage specialist. We’ll tell you if we see signs of it.
Why do gutters overflow at the corners?
Corners and the ends of valleys take the most water, and debris collects there first. A gutter can look clear along its length and still overflow at one corner. That’s one of the first places we check.
What gutter problems can’t cleaning fix?
Gutters that are sagging, have joints leaking, are falling the wrong way or have broken brackets need repair, not clearing. We’ll tell you if we see any of these. Plastic gutters on older homes often have perished seals at the joints, which leak even when the gutter is clear.
Do you clear the gutters on the whole house?
On a roof clean, we clear the gutters on the roof we’ve cleaned. If you’d like the rest of the house done too, say so when you ask for a quote and we’ll include it.
Do I need to be in for the gutters to be cleared?
No. As long as we can reach the gutters from outside and there’s access to the back, you don’t need to be at home.
In short
- Moss from the roof always ends up in the gutters.
- On a roof clean, we clear the gutters of what comes off.
- Treating the roof means less moss arrives in future.
- Leaking or sagging gutters need repair, not clearing.
- Overflows in heavy rain are the easiest sign of a blockage.
- Corners and valley ends are where blockages start.
Next step
Send a photo of the roof and gutters with your postcode, and we’ll quote. More on what’s included in our roof cleaning.
