Seasonal Roof & Gutter
Cleaning Checklist
The complete maintenance checklist for every season — spring, summer, autumn and winter. Print it, save it as PDF, or bookmark this page as your annual reference.
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 at each maintenance interval — and download the PDF to keep it on hand year-round.
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
- 1
- 2Chimney, pipe boots, valleys, ridge
- 3
- 4Prevents summer regrowth
- 5Indicates aging shingles
- Sign of winter overflow damage
- Before wet season begins
- Clear before it holds moisture over winter
- Rubber degrades after 10–15 years
- The most important clean of the year
- Indicates blockage or poor attic ventilation
- Sign of heat loss from attic — ventilation issue
- Sign of repeated overflow
- Check downspout discharge points
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 before the seasonal checklist above tells you when.
| 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.
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.