Gutter Cleaning Twice a Year vs. Installing RainDrop® Gutter Guards

If your home sits under trees (hello, Connecticut!), you’ve probably wondered: keep paying for seasonal gutter cleanings, or invest once in guards and get off the ladder for good
 
Why this matters
Clogged gutters cause fascia rot, foundation cracks, basement leaks, ice dams, landscape washouts, and interior damage. Whether you choose cleanings or guards, the mission is the same: keep water moving away from your home.
Eddie Griffin, Owner: “When gutters overflow, water always finds the most expensive path. Stopping clogs is the cheapest insurance you’ll ever buy.”
 
Option A: Pay for cleanings
Typical CT pricing: $150–$400 per visit for an average single-family home, depending on size, height/pitch, tree density, and access. Most homes need two cleanings per year (late spring + late fall).
•    Annual cost: ~$300–$800
•    10-year cost: ~$3,000–$8,000
•    Hidden costs/risks: last-minute storm cleanups, minor gutter repairs, your time coordinating visits, and ladder safety (if DIY).
Dennis Danley, General Manager: “Even with perfect cleanings, the week a storm knocks down oak tassels or needles, you can be clogged again. Timing and weather don’t always cooperate.”

Option B: DIY – The Risks
•    Falls from ladders or roofs
Most gutter injuries come from overreaching, slippery rungs/shoes, or unstable ground. Even a 6–10 ft fall can mean broken bones or worse.
•    Electrocution
Wet aluminum ladders + overhead service drops (or extension cords, metal tools) are a bad mix. You must keep at least 10 ft from any power line.
•    Stings, bites, and wildlife surprises
Wasps, hornets, spiders, squirrels, and birds love gutters. Startling a nest while you’re on a ladder is a common fall trigger.
•    Cuts and eye injuries
Sheet-metal edges, hidden nails/screws, and blown debris can slice hands and hit eyes.
•    Respiratory exposure
Decomposing leaves can hold mold spores; droppings can harbor pathogens. Dry sweeping can aerosolize dust.
•    Muscle strains & heat stress
Awkward reaches, heavy debris buckets, summer roofs that hit 140°F, and dehydration add up.
•    Roof & gutter damage
Walking shingles, prying guards, or using pressure washers/leaf blowers can break seals, bend hangers, or force water under shingles.
•    Water intrusion you don’t notice
Flushing downspouts with too much pressure can pop seams indoors (soffits/walls) and go unnoticed until mold shows up.
•    Hidden structural issues
Rotten fascia, loose spikes, or sagging sections can fail under your weight or the ladder’s load.
•    Liability & warranty concerns
DIY damage may not be covered; some product warranties require professional service or can be voided by misuse.

 
Option C: RainDrop® Gutter Guards (installed by Brown Roofing)
RainDrop is a high-flow, durable guard that blocks leaves, twigs, oak tassels, helicopter seeds, and most pine needles while letting heavy rain and snowmelt pass.
Benefits you’ll notice:
•    Fewer clogs, less maintenance — often reduces cleanings to quick checkups.
•    High-flow surface — handles intense downpours.
•    Winter friendly — helps prevent freeze-thaw blockages that contribute to ice issues.
•    Protects the system — less standing water = less sagging and seam failure.
•    Safety — goodbye, ladders.
•    Curb appeal & longevity — cleaner fascia/soffits; gutters last longer when not overflowing.
Eddie Griffin: “We like RainDrop because it moves water fast without becoming a maintenance nightmare. It’s tough, simple, and it works in real Connecticut weather.”
 

What maintenance remains with guards?
No system is truly “set-and-forget.” With RainDrop, most homeowners only need occasional rinsing of exposed edges and downspout outlets—often during an annual roof/gutter checkup. Heavy pine areas or complex valleys may collect surface debris; a quick sweep usually clears it.
Bill Healy: “We tune hangers, pitch, seams, and outlets before we install guards. That prep is why they perform—guards can’t fix a mis-pitched gutter.”
 
Why Brown Roofing?
•    Since 1972, family-owned in CT
•    Licensed & fully insured
•    Detail-driven install: We correct pitch, reinforce hangers, seal seams, and right-size outlets/splash zones before guards go on.
•    One accountable partner: If we spot minor issues, we address them on the same visit.
•    “Brown Won’t Let You Down.” We stand behind our work.
Eddie Griffin: “Our job is simple—move water off your roof and away from your home, every season. If a guard won’t help your situation, we’ll tell you straight.”
 
Which option fits you?
Choose biannual cleanings if you have minimal tree coverage, easy single-story access, and you don’t mind scheduling service twice a year.
Choose RainDrop® guards if you want long-term savings, fewer appointments, better storm performance, and safer, ladder-free living.
 
Ready for an exact quote?
We’ll measure your gutters, assess tree coverage and rooflines, and give you firm pricing for RainDrop® or a seasonal cleaning plan—whichever makes the most sense for your home.
Call 1-475-255-7400 or visit BrownRoofing.org to schedule your free assessment.
Serving Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven Counties. Brown Won’t Let You Down!