The Home Crew · Northern Johannesburg
Gutter cleaning in Johannesburg
Removal of leaves and debris from gutters and downpipes across our Johannesburg service area. The quote depends on gutter length, building height, access and whether repairs are needed.
What gutter cleaning costs
| Single-storey gutter cleantypical 15–20 m run | R450–R1,000 |
|---|---|
| Per-metre rate | R30–R80/m |
| Double-storeyheight surcharge | R50–R80/m + R200–R600 |
| Downpipe unblocking | R50–R150 each |
| Call-out and inspection | R350–R500 |
| Full inspection and written quote | R450 |
These are market-sourced guide ranges, not closed quotes. We confirm the final price after seeing the roof: a photo on WhatsApp usually gets you a guide price before an inspection. See the review date in the guide above.
What gets cleared out
A gutter that overflows is rarely broken; it’s full. This is what comes out of the northern-suburb runs we clear:
- Leaves and twigs: the bulk of it, swept in from tree canopies and neighbouring roofs.
- Roof granules and silt: the fine grit that washes down off aging tiles and settles into a hard layer at the bottom. A clean that brings down a lot of granules is telling you about the roof, not the gutter; that grit is the tile’s protective coating, and when it washes out faster than it should, the roof is aging faster than the gutters are filling, and that’s when the conversation moves from this page to roof repairs, before the granules become a leak.
- Bird and insect nests: built in the quiet corners where water was already standing.
- Sand and builders’ rubble: left behind after roof work, and heavy enough to hold water where it shouldn’t sit.
Every clean includes clearing the debris out of the gutters, clearing and flushing the downpipes so water actually reaches the ground, and taking the debris away, not leaving it in a heap at the downpipe.
Single-storey and double-storey homes
Single- and double-storey gutters require an access assessment. The guide separates job rates, per-metre work and possible height charges; agree one pricing basis and safe access arrangements before booking. If another roof-level service is needed, ask for a combined quote.
When to book it
Twice a year is the norm: once after the autumn leaf-fall has finished (around May), and once before the first heavy summer rains. The pre-summer clean is the one that matters: a gutter that holds water through the storm season is the one that overflows.
Homes with large trees overhanging the roof may need it more often. If twice a year is what your roof needs, we put you on the route and call when the clean is due. No contract: if the gutters are still running clear when we call, you skip the visit. If they are already spilling over the edges in a normal rain, don’t wait for the next season; that water is going somewhere.
Why overflow is worth fixing
A blocked gutter doesn’t just dump water over the edge; it dumps it in the same spot every time. Repeated overflow against the same wall soaks into the brickwork and pools at the foundation, which shows up indoors as damp patches and stained plaster. Clearing the run is cheaper than the wall repairs it prevents.
One thing a clean will not fix
A gutter that overflows at one corner while the rest of the run runs free is not blocked; it has lost its fall. Water only travels along a gutter because the run slopes toward the outlet, and one bracket that has let go, or a fascia board that has sagged behind it, is enough to tip a section the wrong way. Cleaning that gutter again changes nothing: the water still sits at the low end and still spills over it. Every run we clean gets its fall checked from the ladder, and if lost fall is the real problem, that is what we tell you instead of selling you a second clean.
Book it with other exterior work
Our exterior crew does gutter cleaning on the same visit as other exterior jobs. Book pressure washing for the driveway, patio or boundary walls together with the gutters and ask for a combined quote with any shared setup costs shown. If leaves are the underlying problem, a garden cleanup to thin the overhang cuts how fast the gutters fill again, and garden waste removal takes the cuttings away in one load.
How the job runs
You WhatsApp a photo of the gutters and we quote from it: usually a guide price before an inspection, or a quick roof-level look when a photo can’t show us the fall. On the day, the crew clears the full run, clears and flushes every downpipe, then water-tests each one from the ladder before packing up, so you know water reaches the ground instead of taking our word for it.
Before we leave you get the before-and-after in plain terms: what came out, which downpipes passed the water test, and anything we found that needs attention. Debris goes onto the bakkie, not into your bin.
Where we clear gutters
Coverage includes Fourways, Douglasdale and Lone Hill, three of the leafiest patches in the north, plus everywhere else we work. Minor faults found on the day (a loose downpipe bracket, a detached fascia batten) go into the report and can usually be fixed on the spot by the same crew. To confirm a price for your roof, send us the details or call.
Questions we get asked
What does gutter cleaning cost?
The guide separates whole-job and per-metre pricing, downpipe work and access charges. Agree one pricing basis and the included gutter length, flushing and disposal before booking.
How often should gutters be cleaned?
Twice a year for most homes: after the autumn leaf-fall and before the summer rains. If big tree canopies hang over your roofline, twice may not be enough; the crew will tell you what they see.
How do I know my gutters need cleaning?
Water spilling over the edge in a normal rain, a run that is visibly sagging or pulling away from the fascia, or seedlings growing out of the gutter: all three mean the run is full and the water has nowhere to go. Stains down the wall below a gutter usually mean the same thing further along.
Do you clean gutters on double-storey homes?
Yes, subject to a safe access assessment. The guide lists the double-storey rate and possible height surcharge. Your quote confirms the equipment and whether access charges are already included.
Can I clean the gutters myself instead?
Gutter work involves a fall risk even on single-storey homes. Use ground-level observations to describe the problem and arrange suitable access equipment for the work. Avoid wet roofs or unstable ladders.
Can I combine gutter cleaning with other work?
Ask whether gutter cleaning can be booked with pressure washing or panel cleaning. Access equipment, weather and the scope determine whether one visit is practical; confirm the combined price before booking.
Before you book
From ground level, note overflow points, leaking joints and where downpipes discharge. Avoid climbing a wet roof or using an unstable ladder to investigate.
Scope in detail
Illustrated comparison
Leaves and loose debris removed from the existing gutter and outlet.
Generated illustrations explain the work shown. They are not photographs of completed customer jobs.
Gutter cleaning in your area
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