Roof gutter cleaning is a daunting springtime chore

Q: Ugh, I hate cleaning out the roof gutters every year! Can I install something to make the mess easier to deal with, or make it go away? — Trisha in North Carolina

A: When debris dams up the gutters and downspouts edging the roof, cleanup — a tedious affair anyway — can get downright disgusting, making the job much more difficult.

There are products available to help reduce or prevent large debris (or a large amount of small debris) from filling the gutters. Many do-it-yourselfers purchase wire screening — with a wider mesh than window screens, to make sure rain water gets through easily — cut it to size and attach it securely over the gutters. This is fairly inexpensive but labor-intensive, since the screens need to be detached to do any cleaning or patching of gutters.

Next up are hinged gutter covers, available at home improvement stores. They also screen out large junk, but can be lifted up during maintenance for quick access to the gutters. Solid gutter covers completely close up the tops of the gutters and claim to eliminate the need to clean gutters. Both can be installed on existing gutter systems.

No matter which system you choose to install, a twice-yearly gutter inspection is still important to your home’s health. It’s best to do any gutter work from a ladder, rather than the roof, with a partner steadying the ladder and handing up any tools. Even if the covers or screens keep out large gunk, the gutters can be torn or knocked away from the roof by big branches striking them. Metal gutters (less common these days) suffer from rust, especially at joints and drilled attachment holes. And you’ll still probably need to clean away accumulated debris from the tops of downspouts, where a screen is typically installed.

During spring rainstorms, walk around the perimeter of the house, looking up at the gutters. Note any trouble spots, and look at where the water is draining from the downspouts — water should drain quickly away from the house. If it pools or runs toward or along the building, install a downspout extension or dig a small channel away from the spout, lining the channel with gravel.

Home Tip: Thin spots of grass or depressions in the dirt right underneath gutters could indicate a blockage or a leak that needs to be fixed quickly.