Reviewed November 3, 2026. Gutter Installation St. Louis is a referral service; independent contractors do the work.
Plan on two cleanings a year as a minimum: late spring, when seeds and flowers have dropped, and late autumn after the leaves are down and before freezing weather sets in. Houses under big trees may need more. A proper cleaning covers the troughs, the downspouts and a flush with water, and it's a chance to spot loose hangers and leaks.
- Good times
- Late spring and late autumn, more under heavy trees
- Should include
- Troughs, downspouts, a water flush, debris removed
- Ask about
- Roof access rules, and photos if you can't see up there
- Worth knowing
- A clogged gutter in December becomes a block of ice
Why timing matters here
St. Louis neighborhoods are known for mature street trees. Maples drop winged seeds in spring, oaks drop catkins and acorns, sweetgums shed spiky balls, sycamores shed bark, and everything lets go of its leaves in autumn. The wet months follow right behind: April, May and June each average about 4.5 to 4.8 inches at Lambert. A spring clog meets the heaviest rain of the year. An autumn clog meets the first freeze.
What a proper cleaning includes
- Scooping the troughs by hand, not just blowing the top layer off.
- Clearing each downspout, and checking the elbows where clogs like to sit.
- Flushing with a hose to confirm flow.
- Bagging or removing the debris, not tipping it into your beds.
- A note about loose hangers, leaking joints or soft wood, ideally with a photo.
Do it yourself?
A single-story house with a sound ladder is a reasonable DIY job. A tall brick house with a slate roof and a narrow gangway below isn't. Don't lean a ladder on a gutter, and don't walk on a roof you're not sure of. If you hire it out, ask if the crew carries insurance.
Beware of the storm-season doorstep offer
The Missouri Attorney General warns that scammers often go door to door after storms offering to inspect roofs or gutters, and advises asking for ID, checking the business and never paying cash (Missouri AGO). A cleaning offer from a stranger is usually innocent, but a cleaning that turns into urgent, expensive repairs deserves a second opinion.
Tired of cleaning?
Gutter guards reduce the work, though no guard ends it. Our maintenance calendar sets out a year's jobs.
What to ask the contractor
- What's included?Troughs, downspouts, flush, debris removal. Get it in writing, even in a text.
- How do you price it?Ask for a fixed figure after they've seen the house, and what would change it.
- Will you show me what you find?Ask for photos of the troughs and of any damage. Check the claim before paying for added repairs.
- Are you insured for ladder work?It's your house under that ladder. Ask for the certificate.
Cleaning around St. Louis
Each page covers that place's houses, trees and permit desk.
City of St. Louis
- Soulard
- Lafayette Square
- Benton Park
- Tower Grove South
- Shaw
- Central West End
- The Hill
- Dogtown
- St. Louis Hills
- Carondelet
St. Louis County
- Clayton
- University City
- Webster Groves
- Kirkwood
- Maplewood
- Ladue
- Creve Coeur
- Chesterfield
- Ballwin
- Affton
- Oakville
- Florissant
St. Charles County
Cleaning: questions
How often should gutters be cleaned in St. Louis?
Twice a year suits many houses: late spring and late autumn. Under big oaks, maples or sycamores you may need a third or fourth clean. Look in the gutter after a heavy leaf drop. It will tell you more than any rule.
What happens if I skip the autumn clean?
Wet leaves hold water, and water freezes. That blocks the outlet, so melt backs up and can run over or behind the trough, soaking trim and brick. Heavy ice can also pull hangers loose.
Can I clean gutters in winter?
Only on a mild, dry day, with no ice on the ladder footing or the roof. Don't chip at frozen gutters. You can damage the metal. Clear them once they've thawed.
Should downspouts be cleared too?
Yes. A clean trough with a plugged downspout still overflows. Flushing with a hose is the quick test. Water should come out strongly at the bottom.
Further reading
Related work
- Gutter Guards: Covers that keep most leaves and seeds out of the trough. They cut the work, but they don't end it.
- Gutter Repair: Leaking joints, sagging runs and downspouts pulling off the wall, and how to tell a small fix from a warning sign.
- Downspouts & Drainage: Getting roof water away from old foundations and out of the sanitary sewer, without sending it to the neighbor.