Hyde Park has one of the heaviest tree canopies on the South Side. South of 51st Street, the mature oaks and maples drop leaves for six weeks straight in fall. Those leaves fill your gutters to the top. If you wait until all the leaves are down to clean, you're already too late. The gutters have been overflowing for weeks by then.
We recommend two cleanings for most Hyde Park homes. The first is in late October when the bulk of the leaves have fallen. The second is in late November after the last stragglers come down. If your property has a particularly heavy canopy, we may recommend a third visit in mid-summer. The oak tassels in spring and the seed pods in early summer also clog downspouts.
Oak tannins are the other Hyde Park problem. When wet leaves sit in your gutters, they leach tannins that stain the gutter exterior and the fascia board below. That brown streaking makes the house look unmaintained. We clean the gutters, then wash the exterior to remove the tannin stains. A regular gutter cleaning company won't do that. They scoop and leave. We bag the debris, flush the downspouts, and wash the visible staining.
The downspout flush is critical in Hyde Park. Oak leaves are tough and fibrous. They don't break down quickly. A clump of wet oak leaves in a downspout forms a plug that water can't push through. We run a hose down every downspout after cleaning to confirm water flows freely to the ground. If it's blocked, we clear it on the spot. We don't just scoop the trough and leave.
Hyde Park also has a lot of historic homes with box gutters, not the standard K-style aluminum gutters. Box gutters are built into the roofline and are harder to access and clean. We know the difference. We have the right ladders and stabilizers for multi-story Hyde Park homes. We check the fascia and soffit for rot while we're up there. If the wood is soft or discolored, water has been getting behind the gutter. We flag it. Catching that early saves you thousands.
A typical Hyde Park gutter cleaning runs $200 to $400 depending on the house size and tree cover. Twice-a-year contracts get a discounted rate. We also offer a three-visit plan for properties with the heaviest canopies. Call us and we'll come look at the trees and give you the right schedule.
We're 15 minutes from Hyde Park. We're there fast, and we know the neighborhood.
Hyde Park is about 15 minutes from our shop in Bridgeport.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should Hyde Park gutters be cleaned?
Twice a year for most homes, late October and late November. Properties with heavy oak canopies may need a third visit in mid-summer for seed pods. The canopy south of 51st Street is dense. Waiting until all leaves are down means you're already overflowing.
What are the brown stains on my gutters and fascia?
Oak tannins. Wet leaves sitting in gutters leach tannins that stain the gutter exterior and fascia board brown. We clean the gutters and wash the exterior to remove the staining. A regular gutter company won't do that. They scoop and leave.
Can you clean box gutters on historic Hyde Park homes?
Yes. Box gutters are built into the roofline and harder to access than standard K-style gutters. We have the right ladders and stabilizers for multi-story historic homes. We also check the fascia and soffit for rot while we're up there.