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How to Clean Gutters
Cleaning the gutters of a home involves the removal of debris from the rain gutters, including:
Dead leaves,
Muck,
Shingle grit,
Pine needles,
Other debris.
There are many techniques, but the main determining factor for efficient cleaning is the house style and the local landscape. Let’s take a look at some common gutter cleaning methods.
Manual Scooping
If you can walk across the roof safely, it’s easier to simply make your way around the roof perimeter and scoop out the debris by hand. But, take care. The pitch of the roof could cause you to lose your balance and fall. A way around this problem is to use a pole with an attached scoop on the end. This allows you to stay at the centre part of the roof to avoid reaching low and losing your balance. To stay safe you should always wear some fall arrest equipment and make sure you tie off properly before starting work.
The Ladder Technique
If the pitch of the roof is too steep you cannot walk on it safely and you may need to use the ladder technique. Access the perimeter of the roof via an extension ladder that needs to be at least 32 feet high. This will allow you to reach the rain gutters on a typical two storey home. If you have gutters at three storeys you would need a ladder of at least 40 feet which may be a little too high. Again, use the pole and scoop or move the debris by hand and collect the debris in a bucket. The most efficient way to work is to place several ladders around the home and move between them to clean.
A Leaf Blower
Many professional gutter cleaning companies use a leaf blower if the roof has a gentle pitch where you can walk safely. This is a very quick and efficient method and you may be able to clear all the dry debris from gutters in less than 15 minutes! But, most gutters have a mix of dry and wet debris and manual removal will still be required. Blowing debris out of a wet gutter will create a great deal of mess and you’re likely to upset your customers.
Whichever method you choose it’s important to understand that gutter cleaning is hard. This is a job that’s physically demanding, dirty and dangerous and you may have to work in wet and/or cold conditions outdoors. Gutter cleaning must be carried out before winter sets in and you will need to wear appropriate clothing to stay warm and dry. In the worst case scenario, you may have to work through a layer of ice or snow and you will need thick rubber gloves to work safely.
What Costs are Involved in a Gutter Cleaning Business?
It’s possible to start a new gutter cleaning business for under $2,000 and you may even have some essential items that you need already.
Let’s take a look at some of the equipment that you will need:
A reliable vehicle that can carry one or more ladders
One or more 24 or 32 foot extendable ladders
Ladder stabilizers (one for each ladder)
Heavy duty rubber gloves
Tarps and buckets (to collect debris)
A pressure washer (to clean downspouts)
A leaf blower (for dry debris)
If you don’t have an appropriate vehicle, you can rent a truck for the short gutter cleaning season, from Enterprise, Hertz etc. Later, if you get enough regular seasonal work it may be worth purchasing a larger vehicle that you can use for other business activities. The ongoing expenses include: maintenance, insurance and fuel costs.
How Much Can You Earn?
Most gutter cleaning companies charge their customers based on the linear feet of gutters on the property. Others calculate a flat rate for the entire job and it’s common practice to charge more for a job with a second storey.
As an example: Let’s say you want to charge $1.00 per foot on a first storey and $1.50 per foot on a second storey. If you cleaned the gutters on a second storey home with 90 feet of first storey gutters and 50 feet of second storey gutters the quote would be:
75 ft. x $1.00 = $75.00
50 ft. x $1.50 = $75.00
$75.00 + $75.00 = $150.00
Although gutter cleaning costs can vary there are some helpful benchmarks, for example: a garage would be $45.00, a standard two storey home would be $120.00 and a ranch home would be $75.00. If you’re still not sure what to charge, request some quotes from local competitors and use those as a guideline.
How to Start a Gutter Cleaning Business in 7 Steps?
Step 1 – First Get The Job Yourself
If you’ve not had any experience cleaning gutters, it is a good idea to get a job before considering setting up a business. This will allow you to get on the job training and discover if you can handle the work.
Step 2 – Do The Numbers
Any new business requires a business plan and budget, so you need to do the numbers for your enterprise. You’ll need to look at your start up costs and calculate your margins.
Remember that in addition to your initial expenses, you will need to cover your ongoing expenses. This includes fuel for your vehicle, replacement materials, such as gloves and your insurance costs.
Step 3 – Establish Marketing Strategy
Before investing any money, you will need to think about how you can attract customers. There are lots of marketing strategies that can be effective for a gutter cleaning business.
However, you’ll need to think about the costs involved and incorporate these figures into your budget.
Step 4 – Take Care of Legal Side
Firstly, you need to decide the type of business you’ll operate. The most common business structures are sole proprietorship or LLCs. A sole proprietorship is easier to set up, but you’ll be personally liable if there are any legal or financial issues resulting from your gutter cleaning business.
An LLC or limited liability company is a little more complicated to set up. But, it is a legal business entity that protects your personal assets if you are sued. Once you’ve decided on your type of company there are other legal issues you’ll need to take care of.
Register for taxes:
No one enjoys paying taxes, but you’ll need to register for state and federal taxes before opening for business. You’ll need to acquire an Employer Identification Number. You can get this for free from the IRA. This can be done online or by mail.
Open your business bank account:
It is essential to have a dedicated business bank account to keep your personal assets separate. You can speak to your current bank to open up a new account or shop around for offers and deals.
Obtain permits and licenses:
If you fail to acquire the necessary licenses and permits for your gutter cleaning business you could get a hefty fine. Speak to your county clerk’s office to check what permits and licenses are necessary to operate in your area.
Business insurance:
There are several forms of insurance that businesses should carry to operate safely. General liability insurance is crucial for a small business. But, if you plan on hiring people, it is a good idea to obtain workers’ compensation insurance. This is mandatory in many states.
Step 5 – Buy Equipment & Supplies
Once you have all your legal obligations taken care of, you can shop around for your equipment and supplies. Remember, if you’re trying to keep costs low, you could buy reconditioned or used equipment.
Step 6 – Find & Atract Customers
Now, is the time to implement your marketing strategies to find customers. I will go into this in more detail below.
Step 7 – Hire Team
Although you can start small, working by yourself, you may quickly grow to need a team. Just remember to research mandatory requirements in your area to ensure you comply.
How to Find Customers
Any business requires some basic marketing to spread the word and gutter cleaning is no exception, here are some common low cost methods to get started:
Social Media Groups
Facebook and other social media groups are a good way to cover your entire city or town and you can get the word out to a large number of people. Just make sure to post a month before the gutter cleaning season starts and people will have time to write down your number.
Deliver Flyers
Printing a few thousands flyers and distributing to homes in your area each month before the season starts can work well. This is a great way to fill up your schedule in advance and fill up your available time slots. Concentrate on those homes with plenty of mature trees and speak to people on the doorstep if they want to know more. This is an effective method but it can be very time consuming and many business owners outsource this work.
Google PPC
Google PPC can be an effective way to obtain visibility in your local area. Essentially, you’ll be paying for online ad each time someone clicks on it from the Google search page.
Online Classified Ads
Listing your services on local online classified sites such as Craigslist and Kijiji is a great way to get some extra business. This may not generate high volume but it is a free method and it only takes moments to create your free ad.
Safety Tips for Your Gutter Cleaning Business
Gutter cleaning is dangerous and you need to take precautions to prevent personal injuries. Walking on a roof or perching on a ladder is not recommended for people with a cavalier attitude to personal safety. It’s easy to make a mistake and this will be exacerbated considerably when working at height.
Invest in a fall protection course and some protective equipment to make your working environment safer. Familiarize yourself with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements and you will be on the right track.
Here are 6 basic gutter cleaning safety tips:
Don’t walk across a wet, icy, frosty or snow covered roof in the morning, let the surface thaw for a few hours after the sun hits the shingles.
Avoid working at height during high winds or if a storm is incoming.
Don’t walk on a roof with a pick above 4:12 and use the ladder technique instead.
If you are on a roof don’t lean down towards a gutter or stoop to scoop out debris or you can easily become overbalanced and fall.
Always wear heavy rubber gloves to protect your hands from materials, such as: feces, urine, bacteria, roofing nails, screws and other harmful items.
Don’t flush gutters with a hose from the roof because you will make the roof wet and dangerous to stand on. The water will mix with the gutter muck to create slippery surfaces that are very dangerous.
Ladder Safety
The safest way to clean most rain gutters is to use ladders but many people don’t use a ladder very often and they don’t understand how to use them correctly. Here are 6 safety tips to follow when using one or more ladders:
Look up for any overhead power lines before you place your ladders. Investing in fibreglass ladders which are non-conductive is a great way to improve safety.
Always place the ladder 1 foot away from the home for each 4 feet of height and ensure that the footing is level and solid. Purchasing a ladder levelling device is helpful and many modern ladders have a handy diagram printed on the side.
Don’t overreach when on a ladder, the bulk of your weight should not move anywhere outside the ladder side rails.
Always have three points on the ladder, in simple terms this would be three out of your four hands and feet. Obviously, the most stable configuration is two feet and one hand but this is not possible when climbing into position.
If you access a roof from a ladder the top must protrude by at least three rungs beyond the roof edge. Many falls occur during a transition from a ladder to a roof and vice versa so extra care is needed.
Before you commit to performing a gutter cleaning service carry out a physical estimate first. If the roof and/or gutters are in poor shape it may be a better idea to pass on the job for safety reasons.
Is Gutter Cleaning Business Worth it?
While it may be tough, seasonal work, a gutter cleaning business is worth consideration. Since most work is necessary over a short period, you can either treat it as a side hustle or integrate it into another home maintenance or cleaning business.
This will help you to maximize your income and increase your customer base.