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Seasonal Roof & Gutter
Cleaning Checklist
The complete maintenance checklist for every season — spring, summer, autumn and winter. Enter your email below and we’ll send the full printable PDF straight to your inbox.
A roof and gutter cleaning schedule depends on your climate and tree coverage, but most homes need cleaning in spring and autumn at minimum. Use this seasonal checklist to ensure nothing is missed — and get the PDF sent free to your email below.
Clean gutters in spring and autumn for most homes. Add a third clean in midsummer for heavy tree coverage. Clean the roof once a year in spring for most climates — twice a year in humid states. Use our schedule generator for a personalised calendar.
Seasonal Roof and Gutter Cleaning Checklist
Spring is the most important clean of the year — clear all winter debris before heavy spring rainfall arrives.
- Chimney, pipe boots, valleys, ridge
- Prevents summer regrowth
- Indicates aging shingles
- Sign of winter overflow damage
Check gutters after any major storm or high-wind event regardless of the regular schedule.
- Before wet season begins
Timing matters: Clean late October to mid-November — AFTER peak leaf fall, not before. Cleaning in September misses the majority of leaves.
- Clear before it holds moisture over winter
- Rubber degrades after 10–15 years
- The most important clean of the year
Do not clean gutters or roofs in freezing conditions. Monitor from ground level only — ice on ladders causes serious falls.
- Indicates blockage or poor attic ventilation
- Sign of heat loss from attic — ventilation issue
- Sign of repeated overflow
- Check downspout discharge points
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How often should you clean your roof and gutters?
Frequency varies by trees, climate and roof type. This table gives you the right starting point.
| Situation | Roof cleaning | Gutter cleaning |
|---|---|---|
| No trees, dry / arid climate | Every 2–3 years | Once a year |
| Few trees, temperate climate | Once a year | Twice a year |
| Heavy deciduous trees | Once a year | 3 times a year |
| Pine / evergreen trees | Once a year | 4 times a year |
| Humid / subtropical (FL, Gulf) | Twice a year | 3–4 times a year |
| Cold / continental climate | Once a year — spring | Twice a year |
| Cedar shake roof | Twice a year | Twice a year |
| Micro-mesh gutter guards | — | Once a year (flush) |
Warning signs your gutters and roof need cleaning immediately
These signs mean clean now — regardless of when you last completed a scheduled clean.
Gutter is blocked — water backing up and potentially damaging fascia and foundation.
Organic debris has been sitting long enough to support plant growth — a significant blockage.
Weight of debris and standing water is pulling gutters from the fascia — act before structural damage occurs.
Algae or moss actively degrading shingles — needs a professional soft wash.
Active interior leak — call a professional immediately, this is not a cleaning issue.
Shingles are aging faster than expected — often accelerated by biological growth.
Not sure what you’re seeing? Use our free 27-point roof inspection checklist to identify and document issues before deciding on the right cleaning approach.
Get a personalised version of this schedule
The checklist above covers all homes. The generator below builds a 12-month calendar specific to your roof type, climate zone and tree coverage — with the right months pre-selected for your situation.
What type of roof do you have?
Different materials accumulate growth and debris at different rates.
Do you have gutter guards installed?
Guards reduce cleaning frequency but don't eliminate it — they still require maintenance.
What best describes your climate?
Climate is the biggest driver of how often cleaning is needed.
How much tree coverage is around your home?
Trees are the primary driver of gutter cleaning frequency.
When were your roof and gutters last cleaned?
This helps us set the right starting point for your schedule.
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