What goes wrong with gutters & downspouts if you wait
Overflowing gutters and rotten fascia
Leaves, fir needles and moss build up and block the flow. Water spills over the front or, worse, behind the gutter, soaking the fascia board until it rots and the gutter pulls away.
Wet crawlspaces and basement leaks
A downspout that dumps beside the foundation saturates the soil right where your basement or crawlspace wall is. Over a rainy winter that turns into damp, musty crawlspaces, efflorescence on concrete and leaks through cracks.
Sagging runs and broken hangers
A gutter full of wet debris is heavy. Old spike-style hangers work loose, the gutter loses its slope, and water pools in the low spots instead of draining. Standing water also breeds mosquitoes.
Ice and damaged soffits in a cold snap
During winter cold snaps, a clogged gutter can freeze solid. Ice adds even more weight and can force water back under the roof edge and into the soffits.
Common jobs we take on
- Gutter cleaning and flushing
- Clogged downspout clearing
- Sagging gutter re-hanging
- Leaking gutter seams resealed
- Downspout extensions and splash blocks
How Lower Mainland weather affects gutters & downspouts
Coquitlam, Port Moody and the rest of the Tri-Cities sit against the North Shore mountains, so they get noticeably more rain than many other parts of Metro Vancouver. Most of it falls between October and April, often in long heavy bursts from Pacific storms and atmospheric rivers. A gutter that is half blocked in October can be overflowing by the first big storm.
The trees make it worse. Douglas firs, western red cedars and big maples are everywhere in the Tri-Cities, and needles are small enough to pack down into a dense, wet mat that moss happily grows on. If you have tall conifers nearby, twice-a-year cleaning is the minimum.
Warning signs to watch for
- Water spilling over the gutter edge during rain
- Plants or moss growing in the gutters
- Gutters that sag, lean or have pulled away from the fascia
- Stains or streaks on the siding below the gutters
- Pooling water or washed-out soil near downspouts
- A damp or musty smelling crawlspace or basement
Maintenance tips
- Clean gutters in late fall after the leaves drop and again in spring
- Flush downspouts with a hose to make sure they run freely
- Use extensions or splash blocks so water lands at least a metre from the foundation
- Check hangers and re-secure any loose sections before winter
- Trim back branches that hang over the roof
How G2 Home Services handles gutters & downspouts
We hand-clean every gutter, bag the debris and flush each downspout to make sure it runs clear. Loose runs get new hidden hangers screwed into solid wood, low spots are re-sloped, leaking seams are sealed, and downspouts get extensions so the water lands well clear of your foundation. If the fascia behind the gutter is soft, we show you photos and quote the repair before touching it.
Every job is backed by our written promise: a locked-in price before we start, we redo anything you are not happy with, and a one-year workmanship guarantee.
Gutter Cleaning & Downspout Repair near you
We are based in Coquitlam and take on these jobs across the Tri-Cities, Burnaby, New Westminster, Vancouver, Richmond and the North Shore. Got other small jobs too? Add them to the list and we will do them in the same visit. See small jobs & odd jobs.
Gutter Cleaning & Downspout Repair: frequently asked questions
How often should gutters be cleaned in the Lower Mainland?
At least twice a year, in late fall and spring. Homes under tall firs or cedars often need a third cleaning in mid-winter.
Do gutter guards work with fir needles?
Some do better than others. Fine mesh guards keep most needles out but still need occasional brushing off. We can talk through options once we have seen your roof and trees.
Can you fix a gutter that is pulling away from the house?
Yes. Usually the hangers have loosened or the fascia behind has softened. We re-secure the gutter with new hangers, and replace any rotten fascia first if needed.
