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dmitchstevens · Guest

RE: Simple Gutter Cleaning

guest

hoovermaneuver wrote:

On the ones that were 2 stories and to steep I would have two 32' extension ladders. While I was up on one ladder my help would place the other ladder about 2' away so I could just step over onto it. So on and so on until we got to the end.
I also have an electric leaf blower that sucks like a mofo with a bagger attachment. I've never thought about it until now. It has a 6" round opening at the end of the suction pipe/tube. Which you can easily press into a 3 or 4" oval so it will concentrate all its suction over the gutters and suck it right into the bag that is hanging on your shoulder, as you walk down the gutter.
David

-- Edited by hoovermaneuver on Wednesday 4th of August 2010 03:44:32 PM

Scaled down picture size, to prevent forum from stretching.

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Pro Greensboro NC (336)362 7659 on Wednesday 4th of August 2010 03:59:32 PM

David that is a great idea about the two ladders, I can't believe I didnt think of that because that's the way I spray paint two story houses lol, but when it came to gutter cleaning my it didn't click.

Thanks David!

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Aug 4, 2010

Absolutely its discussed. I dont want to name ethnicities but we have a very diverse mix of people in central Jersey, many who consistantly look to trip you up into free work. We have bandit signs everywhere advertising gutter cleaning "any house $65-$95". In most cases I can do it as an add on for this price. As for hopping from one ladder to the next, Im sure it works brother. Your puttin your life on the line for it. You should be getting $500.00 for doin the Ladder Hop. I say they make gutters like an Ice cream scooper. You just flip the lever and "Chiching", all the crap comes out. Yeah... Im a dreamer I know

Roof Cleaning Raleigh NC · Aug 4, 2010

Your welcome:) I'm here to please!

gutterdog · Aug 4, 2010

Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 wrote:

gutterdog wrote:

we use a leaf blower too. The back pack we havent used in years and growing dust. This dude in the video didnt clean the downspouts. its an up charge to bag the debri. we blow off the whole roof test and clean each downspout, when done on the roof blow off patios, ac units driveways etc.

My guys like hand held blowers better then backpacks Mike.

The hand held we use is made for cleaning gutters it seems? Tried many, even has a convient hook to hook to the gutter. Can dig with it too, for heavy dirt and trees growing in the gutters. Its red, I posted a pic of it somewhere a long time ago. Forgot who makes it. I buy them at lowes. Currently using "dog" 13 and 14. Thats how many leaf blowers that weve gone through in the past 6 years! The colors match our company colors too! The leaf blower is red, black and white! cost is uhhh 130- 150 bucks.

Anyone want to buy my back pack? half price!

guest

Ed the ladder hopping isn't as bad as it sounds especially when you use good ladders, you just basically put them about a foot apart and hop from ladder to ladder this prevents you from having to go up and down, which is very time consuming not to mention all the freakin climbing. yes of course it can be dangerous but then again any thing related to climbing ladders and heights are dangerous.

gutterdog · Aug 4, 2010

Roof Cleaning New Jersey wrote:

What about the high roofs that are not walkable? Who's doin what? I dont see any other way but a large extension ladder and move it along the gutter every 5 feet. But that blows and its dangerous. I've thought of everything. I entertained the thought of a sewer jet, snake it through the gutter, turn up the juice and pull it back. I know its rediculous but when it's not walkable and 2-3 floors up, what else can you do?

You would be suprised at what can be walked, I cant recommend it so i'm not gonna discuss that, To lessen the sets with the ladder get a painters extension poll. Take a piece of metal, a hidden hangar works, bend it in an L shape and duck tape it to the end of the pole. Pull the debris to you. scoop it out and get some more! You can cover 20 foot sections at a time. 10 on each side. set the ladder at each down spout to test or clean it.

gutterdog · Aug 4, 2010

Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 wrote:

Roof Cleaning New Jersey wrote:

What about the high roofs that are not walkable? Who's doin what? I dont see any other way but a large extension ladder and move it along the gutter every 5 feet. But that blows and its dangerous. I've thought of everything. I entertained the thought of a sewer jet, snake it through the gutter, turn up the juice and pull it back. I know its rediculous but when it's not walkable and 2-3 floors up, what else can you do?

A long vacuum pole ?
These things can have 40 ft suction tubes I am told

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Pro Greensboro NC (336)362 7659 on Wednesday 4th of August 2010 03:55:07 PM

I'm sorry I dont see the vaccuums working. There is a franchise here.. uhhhh yellow trucks.... I cant remember the name right now but how does a vaccuum clean the downspouts? It cant! I get solid like rock dirt out of them from time to time. some have to be taken apart and cleaned.

I started Gutterdogs watching many companies clean the gutters but not the downspouts. That was my edge. Now everyone claims to include the downspouts.

gutterdog · Aug 4, 2010

Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 wrote:

It is my opinion that gutter cleaning is a natural add on for us roof cleaners.
It is a SEPERATE service with yearly repeat potential.
The people who give it away with roof cleaning are short changing themselves.
We all need to put our heads together on this, and find what works best for cleaning gutters.

I agree Chris. I'll do everything I can to teach how I clean them. My pricing structure as well. Clean gutters aint chit with clogged downspouts.

Roof Cleaning Raleigh NC · Aug 4, 2010

4.5 gallons a min. @ 3500 PSI using a 0* tip pretty much clears out all down spouts. biggrin

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Aug 4, 2010

I agree that 0 degree takes care of a downspout. Hopefully the elbows are rivoted or screwed together. No Brainer! But that brings us back to the tough ones. I like the idea of Gutterdogs scooper. I would like to see a pic of that. Please dont make us dig through your posts Sir. Bring it on, let's see it. I've heard many different good ideas here. I'm not always with a helper to do the ladder hop and I only carry one extension ladder.

gutterdog · Sep 12, 2010

Roof Cleaning New Jersey wrote:

Absolutely its discussed. I dont want to name ethnicities but we have a very diverse mix of people in central Jersey, many who consistantly look to trip you up into free work. We have bandit signs everywhere advertising gutter cleaning "any house $65-$95". In most cases I can do it as an add on for this price. As for hopping from one ladder to the next, Im sure it works brother. Your puttin your life on the line for it. You should be getting $500.00 for doin the Ladder Hop. I say they make gutters like an Ice cream scooper. You just flip the lever and "Chiching", all the crap comes out. Yeah... Im a dreamer I know

That is already out. I recieved a postcard to install them. Forgot what its called

Grizzly · Guest

I guess nobody has heard of JG Cleaners? They offer a pretty slick gutter vac at a much more reasonable price than Gutter Keeper. Looks like a solid piece. What do you guys think?

www.jgcleaners.com

-- Edited by Grizzly on Sunday 12th of September 2010 09:44:01 PM

Roof Cleaning Severna Park MD · guest

That looks pretty cool. I would worry about how I am supposed to know if I missed a spot or not.. I'd also think that it wouldn't be able to actually clean the downspouts if there were a deeper clog, which would mean we'd have to get a ladder up there anyway to check it and clear it out with the power washer and a 0 degree nozzle.

Roof Cleaning Cleveland (216) 323-0552 · Sep 14, 2010

That's the way I do it as well. I love my paint poles.

ClancysGutterCleaning · Guest

You guys would be suprised what you can walk. Even on houses with a steep pitch I can almost always find at least a couple of spots where I can get on the roof and maneuver around. I take my Stihl backpack blower up and sometimes my homemade gutter cleaning poles. I walk up the valleys and across peaks and get as much done as I can by blowing and sliding my 10 foot PVC pipes down the gutters to jar the debris loose while I'm shooting the blower at it. Any spots I can't reach I get down and work off a ladder. My pricing structure is based on square footage of the house, pitch of roof, and difficulty. I average $100 an hour. And for those saying that it makes a mess, it takes about 10 minutes to clean up on the ground using my blower and sometimes a rake.

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

ClancysGutterCleaning wrote:

You guys would be suprised what you can walk. Even on houses with a steep pitch I can almost always find at least a couple of spots where I can get on the roof and maneuver around. I take my Stihl backpack blower up and sometimes my homemade gutter cleaning poles. I walk up the valleys and across peaks and get as much done as I can by blowing and sliding my 10 foot PVC pipes down the gutters to jar the debris loose while I'm shooting the blower at it. Any spots I can't reach I get down and work off a ladder. My pricing structure is based on square footage of the house, pitch of roof, and difficulty. I average $100 an hour. And for those saying that it makes a mess, it takes about 10 minutes to clean up on the ground using my blower and sometimes a rake.

If your walking steep roofs in the valleys are you using a harness?

gutterdog · Sep 16, 2010

Bill the valleys and ridges are the safest to walk.

Guest

We blow in the summer sometimes. Mostly we use a pole 4-8ft pole with a gutter spoon. One ladder placement can clean 16ft of gutter at a time. Most homes are less than 15 ladder placements. We also prefer backpack blowers and use the Stihl BR600. After we are done we clean the yard, blow the grass and it looks perfect everytime.

NICHOLAS · Guest

I agree get a nice big black 55 gal bag and go to work!

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

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"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"