Gutters

Gutters only get noticed when they fail, and in Calgary they tend to fail in winter. A trough packed with leaves holds water, the water freezes, and the ice overflows as icicles, loads the hangers and dumps meltwater against the foundation. Chinooks repeat that melt-and-refreeze cycle all season.

This section covers keeping the system clear and draining properly: what a professional cleaning should include, how to clean a single-storey roofline safely yourself, and where the water has to go once it leaves the downspout. That last part is regulated — the City of Calgary’s Stormwater Bylaw sets how far downspouts must end from sidewalks and lanes.

Signs your gutters need attention

• Water spilling over the front edge during rain instead of reaching the downspouts.
• Plants or seedlings growing out of the trough.
• Sections sagging, or pulling away from the fascia board.
• Large icicles forming along one stretch of the roofline.
• Pooling or erosion next to the foundation below a downspout.

Cleaning prices here are compiled from local Calgary market pricing and dated by month.