ArcaMax

We don’t know anyone who enjoys cleaning and repairing gutters — we sure don’t — but it’s an important job that carries rain and melting ice and snow away from the house and foundation. A working gutter system prevents soil erosion and water damage to the siding, and the low cost of repairing a faulty gutter system is nothing when compared to the high cost of water damage.

As water accumulates in gutters it flows to downspouts that carry it away from the house so keeping the system clear is the first line of defense against water damage. This is no-brainer “grunt work” that even a first-time homeowner can do; and it’s also the easiest, albeit unpleasant job.

When the downspouts are free of leaves and other debris that accumulate in them, look for signs of sagging gutters, often the result of a buildup of snow and ice weighing them down. You’ll find inexpensive straps at a hardware store or home center to replace the old ones that hold gutters and downspouts in place. It’s a simple repair, and so is patching leaks at the joints that need to be resealed with caulk.

A gutter repair service will charge $231, which includes includes labor and material, to clean 200 linear feet of gutters and make minor repairs on a one-story house. You can do the job in a few hours, spend $35 for repair materials and save 85%. You’ll need a ladder, a garden hose, a bucket and rubber gloves to clean them. The job goes quickly with two workers, one up top on the ladder scooping debris into a bucket to clear the gutter, followed by a spray of water from a hose to flush it out. A helper on the ground can hold the ladder and dump the bucket into a garbage bag for disposal.

Pro Cost: $231 — DIY Cost: $35 — Pro time: 3.5
DIY Time: 4.5 — DIY Savings: $196 — Percent Saved: 85%

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To find more DIY project costs and to post comments and questions, visit www.diyornot.com and m.diyornot.com on smartphones.

©2025 Gene and Katie Hamilton. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.