Overview: Gutter Cleaning & Repair
In Canada it's usually called eavestrough cleaning, and it earns its money in two short seasons: after the leaves come down and when the snow melts. A trough packed with wet leaves holds water. That water freezes, the ice pulls hangers loose, and the next melt pours down the wall instead of the downspout. It soaks the soil beside the foundation, and from there it finds the basement.
A proper visit is more than scooping. The crew clears the troughs by hand or with a vacuum, checks that the downspouts run clear, and takes the mess away. A stubborn downspout clog and the small fixes are usually priced on top: sealing joints that drip, re-pitching a run that holds water, and swapping loose spikes for screw-in hangers. Ask which downspouts the visit includes.
Winter leaves its own marks. Ice in a full trough bends lengths out of pitch and pries them off the fascia, so a spring visit often turns into a repair job. We'd book the main clean for late fall, after the last leaves drop and before the first hard freeze.
Our listings show what each eavestrough company states on its own website. Pick your province, then your city, to find eavestrough crews that work your area.
What does gutter cleaning cost in Canada?
Compare cleaning by access and gutter length, then separate repairs and guards from the basic service.
| Service | Planning budget | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| One-storey gutter cleaning | C$100–C$200per visit | Accessible standard one-storey home with ordinary debris; gutter runs and total length confirmed.Confirm the measured gutter length and what happens if a downspout remains blocked after the included cleaning.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Debris removal; Downspout flow check Budget separately or confirm: Repairs; Guard removal |
| Two-storey gutter cleaning | C$200–C$275per visit | Standard two-storey home with ordinary debris and ladder access; gutter length confirmed.Ask whether guards, inaccessible rooflines or lift access change the quoted total.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Debris removal; Downspout flow check Budget separately or confirm: Lift rental; Repairs |
| Stubborn downspout clog add-on | C$25–C$50per downspout | Extra work to clear one accessible stubborn downspout blockage during an existing cleaning visit.Ordinary clearing may already be included. Approve an extra charge only after the contractor identifies the additional work required. Add this only when it is needed and is not already included in the agreed package.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Quoted extra flushing, rodding or disassembly Budget separately or confirm: Standalone callout; Replacement parts or underground drain repair |
| Isolated gutter joint repair | C$50–C$300per defined repair item | An accessible leaking joint resealed or a minor connection secured; extent agreed before work.The repair item may be subject to a visit minimum or separate diagnostic fee. Request the complete payable total, especially for a single small repair.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Repair labour and specified small materials Budget separately or confirm: Separate diagnosis or callout; Rotten fascia and section replacement |
| Standard mesh gutter guards fitted | C$5–C$15per linear foot | Supply and fit standard mesh guards to sound accessible gutters; material, product and preparation agreed.Premium micro-mesh and proprietary systems are separate products. Guards still need inspection and cleaning; confirm removal access.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Specified guard; Installation Budget separately or confirm: Gutter repairs; Future cleaning |
What changes the price
- Storey height, roof access and whether a lift is required.
- Heavy debris, blocked downspouts and existing guards that must be removed.
- Gutter length, disconnected sections and damaged fascia behind the brackets.
Ask before accepting a quote
- Does this include removing debris from the property and checking every downspout?
- What is the extra charge for guards, inaccessible sections or a blocked downspout?
- Can you price cleaning and necessary repairs separately before starting?
Define what happens to a blocked downspout
- A flow check, routine flushing and dismantling a stubborn blockage are different scopes. Agree on which are included.
- Approve repair work separately, ideally with photographs and a complete added price.
Canadian context
For fall service, confirm scheduling and what happens if snow or ice makes access unsuitable.
Planning amounts in Canadian dollars. Published tax treatment varies; confirm applicable taxes and the final total in your written quote. Rows can be different services, alternative packages or separately priced extras. Add only work that is needed and not already included in your quote.
Frequently asked questions
How often do gutters need clearing?
Twice a year suits most houses. The visit that counts comes late in the fall, once the leaves are down and before the troughs freeze. Miss it and they spend the winter full of ice. A spring clean clears what blew in over the winter and shows whether the joints and hangers survived the thaw. Under spruce or pine, plan on more, since needles drop all year.
Do gutter guards end the job for good?
No. Good guards keep leaves out and stretch the time between cleanings, but grit and seed pods still get through and settle in the bottom. Some styles also hold a ledge of snow and ice at the roof edge, so ask how they cope with a freeze and thaw. Guards are often sold at the door. In Ontario and British Columbia, you usually get ten days to cancel a contract signed at home.
What if the crew has no workers' compensation coverage?
In British Columbia, you could end up paying for it. WorkSafeBC says a homeowner who hires a business that isn't registered, or is behind on its premiums, could be held liable for premiums owed on the job. Its clearance letter is free online and shows whether a company is in good standing. Get one before the ladder goes up and again before the final payment. Other provinces run their own boards.
Where is the water supposed to go?
Away from the house, and far enough that it doesn't run straight back. In Toronto, disconnecting downspouts from the city sewer is mandatory for every property owner. The water has to drain away from your foundation without harming a neighbour's property or running onto the sidewalk. Where that's unsafe or can't be done, you apply to the city for an exemption. Other cities set their own rules, so ask before anyone cuts a pipe.
Is this a job worth doing myself?
For a bungalow in dry weather with someone footing the ladder, maybe. The trouble is timing. Eavestroughs need clearing just when conditions are worst: wet leaves, cold hands, and soft or frozen ground under the ladder. A two-storey house in November is a different job. Crews do it daily, bring standoffs that keep weight off the trough, and should carry liability insurance. Price the risk honestly.
