A tree growing in the rain gutter

debodun said:
I might ask a neighbor to come over and hold the ladder so it doesn't tip. With wobbly me, I don't feel confident going up a top-heavy step ladder more than 2 steps. If I ask an uninsured person to do it and he falls over, I'm liable. That happened to a cousin, but at least it was on his mother's property.
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your correct I did not think of liability!
 

debodun said:
I can't reach it with the equipment or tools (it's about 20 feet up) I have and to pay someone $200 just to pull it out seems excessive. Looks like it's growing right where the downspout is.

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If there's enough dirt and debris in your gutters to start growing weeds, then you need a gutter cleaning. You crawled around on the roof of your old house to clean the gutters, and was advised by folks here, including me, that you were taking a chance of serious injury.....you're not any younger now, Deb.

For many years, either myself or my husband would clean our gutters when needed. I now have a gutter cleaner come a couple of times a year to take care of it. I am older and wiser, not too cheap to pay to have it done. Too wise to keep climbing ladders and walking on roofs at this age.
 
Pepper said:
If I had a house I would get gutter guards where only the rain water gets in.
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The commercials say they guarantee that your gutters won't get clogged. The problem is, where I live anyway, wet oak leaves will build up on top of the gutters causing the water to run off the sides making them almost useless.
The gutters aren't clogged though!
So, you'll still have to blow them off the roof if you don't get enough wind to do the job.
 

Oh Deb, this is yet another reason I was hoping you'd buy a small condo and pay a reasonable, collective fee each month for gutter cleaning, mowing, fertilizing, hedge trimming, leaf blowing, trash removal, water, insect control, and the big one...snow removal.

But, Nooooooo! :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:

 
Most here know or have seen the pics of the house you moved from that was left to deteriorate, please don't be penny wise & pound foolish with this one.
Since you can't DIY then in order to keep the property in the good condition you bought it in, the advice to hire someone is spot on.
 
At least the lawn care guys can't run over it. ;)
More serious note, you've worked your whole life to have a good retirement. Keep your feet on the ground and pay someone to clean the gutters. You hit the ground and you won't have to worry about the gutters anymore.
 
I just received another quote for gutter cleaning. This is the same business that put a new valve in my toilet last month. They said for a job like that - a minimum of $300 if it doesn't involve more than just cleaning. If they find any problems they have to fix, it would be substantially more.
 
debodun said:
I just received another quote for gutter cleaning. This is the same business that put a new valve in my toilet last month. They said for a job like that - a minimum of $300 if it doesn't involve more than just cleaning. If they find any problems they have to fix, it would be substantially more.
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WOW!! I would be asking neighbors or people at church if they know someone who can help you out.
 
To me this looks like a branch propped upright. But, if you have trees nearby, your gutters probably need cleaning at least once a year. Take note during a heavy rain - are they overflowing?

You can eliminate this expensive maintenance with quality gutter guards, but this may cost you a thousand or more to have installed.
 
C50 said:
The only way a seed can germinate and sprout is if the gutters plugged up with accumulated gunk. There are devices available so you can scrape clean your gutters from the ground, I've also seen leaf blower attachments for gutter cleaning.

Blocked gutters cause bigger problems, roof issues, facia board issues, foundation issues, even water in the basement issues. If you can't figure out how to clean them yourself pay someone to do it. It's a job that needs doing.
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Yup
 
debodun said:
I just received another quote for gutter cleaning. This is the same business that put a new valve in my toilet last month. They said for a job like that - a minimum of $300 if it doesn't involve more than just cleaning. If they find any problems they have to fix, it would be substantially more.
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You don’t have many trees close by so probably don’t have to do it every year. How much did the fellow who specialized in gutter cleaning quote you?

If they find a problem, you’ll be avoiding bigger ones. You said you were going to keep this home well maintained to avoid problems like you had in your old place.

If you have it done, ask them to take some before and after photos. It’ll give you an idea how many years you can go between cleanings.
 
It does not have to be your church, other churches may have mens groups that help elderly/disabled and you can give a donation if you like. I know of a group here at a church (not ours) that helped us once and I made a donation to them.
 
We just had a quote and the man said it was so expensive because they must comply with OSHA regulations and tie themselves to the roof in case they fall. Any homeowner not using an insured person to do any work is leaving themselves open to huge liabilities, just ask you homeowner insurance agent if you aren't sure.
 
He indicated that he has a ladder that could reach. Maybe I can persuade him to hold it and then I can go up and see what's what. I just don't feel comfortable much above 8 feet up on an unsupported ladder. We've had so much rain, the ground is soft.
 
The man from church called at 5 pm last night and said he'd come over at 6 to look at the gutter. I had to get up and get dressed. He brought his wife and she held the ladder which barely reached to the edge of the roof. I'm not sure he helped that much. He grabbed the plant and and yanked it a few times, but couldn't seem to pull it out. He then asked me for a screwdriver. Then proceeded to poke the plant into the downspout. He said he hoped a good rain would wash it out. If it didn't I'd have to get a gutter company to clear the downspout. He looked more uncomfortable up on the ladder than even I would have been.

One good thing - he said my gutter was "squeaky clean".
 
debodun said:
The man from church called at 5 pm last night and said he'd come over at 6 to look at the gutter. I had to get up and get dressed. He brought his wife and she held the ladder which barely reached to the edge of the roof. I'm not sure he helped that much. He grabbed the plant and and yanked it a few times, but couldn't seem to pull it out. He then asked me for a screwdriver. Then proceeded to poke the plant into the downspout. He said he hoped a good rain would wash it out. If it didn't I'd have to get a gutter company to clear the downspout. He looked more uncomfortable up on the ladder than even I would have been.

One good thing - he said my gutter was "squeaky clean".
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Was kind of him to come by, hopefully the next rain will push it through and out. If your gutter was clean what was it attached too did he say.?
 
debodun said:
The man from church called at 5 pm last night and said he'd come over at 6 to look at the gutter. I had to get up and get dressed. He brought his wife and she held the ladder which barely reached to the edge of the roof. I'm not sure he helped that much. He grabbed the plant and and yanked it a few times, but couldn't seem to pull it out. He then asked me for a screwdriver. Then proceeded to poke the plant into the downspout. He said he hoped a good rain would wash it out. If it didn't I'd have to get a gutter company to clear the downspout. He looked more uncomfortable up on the ladder than even I would have been.

One good thing - he said my gutter was "squeaky clean".
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With the luck you have had in the past this man was decent & did show up & at the time he said he was going to. And at no cost to you. It's to bad you don't have a hose & water outlet close to where you could have used a hose to flush out the down spout.
 
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