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Gutters · Safety

Cleaning from a ladder alone

Falls from ladders are among the most common serious home-maintenance injuries. If the gutter is above single-storey, or the ground is soft, this is not a job to do alone or improvise.

Quick answerCleaning a single-storey gutter from a ladder is a reasonable DIY job if the ladder is sound, the ground is firm and level, and someone is home with you. If the gutter is above single-storey, or the ground is soft or sloped, don’t do it alone and don’t improvise. Most ladder falls happen on short, routine jobs where people take shortcuts.

This page is about not getting hurt. There’s no contractor call here on purpose. If someone has fallen, call 911.

Safety. No contractor call.

If someone falls or is hurt, call 911 or see a doctor. Don’t move a person who may have a head, neck or back injury. The right call here is emergency help, and putting a contractor number on this page would be indefensible.

1Before you go up

  1. Check the heightSingle-storey eave on flat ground: a careful DIY job. Anything higher, or a ladder that has to stand on a slope: don’t do it alone.
  2. Check the groundSoft lawn, wet soil, gravel and decks all let a ladder foot sink or slide. Use a wide board under the feet or move the ladder.
  3. Check the ladderUse one rated for your weight plus tools. Look for bent rails, loose rungs and worn feet. Fully open a step ladder and lock the spreaders.
  4. Tell someoneHave another adult at home who knows you are on the ladder. Better, have them foot it.
  5. Check the weatherSkip it in wind, rain or when the roof edge is icy.
A black metal ladder leaning against a white wall
Check the rails, rungs and feet before every climb, and set the ladder on firm, level ground. Photo by Lance Grandahl on Unsplash.

2On the ladder

  • Three points of contact. Two feet and a hand on the ladder at all times. Use a bucket hook so your hands stay free.
  • Don’t overreach. Keep your belt buckle between the rails. Climb down and move the ladder instead of stretching.
  • Don’t lean on the gutter. A ladder stabilizer that bears on the wall keeps weight off the gutter and gives a wider base.
  • Don’t stand on the top rungs. Follow the ladder’s labels for the highest standing level.
  • Watch for power lines. Keep metal ladders well clear of the service drop where it meets the house.

3Ways to avoid the ladder

From the ground

  • Telescoping gutter wands that attach to a hose or leaf blower
  • Flushing downspouts from the bottom
  • Trimming branches that overhang the roof (from the ground, or by a tree service)

Don’t do it alone

  • Second-storey eaves
  • Ladders on slopes, decks or soft ground
  • Anything that means stepping onto the roof
  • Gutters above a glass roof, steps or a drop-off

Gutter guards don’t remove the need to check gutters. See gutter guards sold as maintenance-free.

4Questions

How often do gutters need cleaning?

It depends on the trees around the house. Under heavy tree cover, check after leaves and seeds drop. On an open lot, a yearly look may be enough.

Can I clean gutters from the roof?

Walking a roof edge is more dangerous than using a ladder properly. Don’t do it alone, and not at all on a steep or wet roof.

What should I check while I’m up there?

Loose hangers, standing water, and whether the outlet drains. See gutter pulling away from the fascia and standing water in the gutter.

Written by Jaylan Jones. I Like To Exterior Services earns a referral fee when a call connects to a contractor. See our business-model disclosure.