· by Michael Blair, Nashville's Window Cleaning
Gutters and windows share the same access equipment and the same twice-yearly rhythm, and doing them in the wrong order wastes one of them.
Why do gutters get cleaned before windows?
Clearing gutters throws debris and dirty water down the wall and across the glass. Windows cleaned first get done again.
The same applies to any roof or soffit work — anything above the windows happens before them.
Shared access
Both are ladder work at the same heights, so combining them saves setup time and usually money. Most companies price a combined visit below two separate ones.
On a two-story Nashville house that access is most of the cost.
- Gutters and roof work before windows
- Combine visits to share the ladder setup
- Screens out and washed at the same time
- Check gutter fixings while up there
- Twice a year suits both here
The same schedule suits both
Late spring after the pollen and seed drop, and autumn after leaf fall. That is the right interval for gutters in Middle Tennessee and it works for windows too.
Under heavy canopy, a third gutter visit mid-autumn is worth adding.
What else is worth checking while the ladder is up?
While a ladder is up, it is worth checking gutter fixings, looking at the fascia for rot, and checking soffit vents are clear rather than painted over.
Those are all things that get noticed years late otherwise, and the marginal cost of looking is nothing.
FAQ
Why Gutters and Windows Get Done Together — questions
Should gutters or windows be cleaned first?
Gutters, without exception. Clearing them sends debris and dirty water down the wall and across the glass, so windows cleaned first simply get dirty again. The same applies to any roof or soffit work — everything above the windows happens before them.
Is it cheaper to book them together?
Usually, because both are ladder work at the same heights and the access setup is most of the labor on a two-story house. Most companies price a combined visit below two separate ones, and it saves you a second day of someone on site.
How often do both need doing in Nashville?
Twice a year suits both — late spring after the pollen and seed drop, and autumn after leaf fall. Under heavy tree cover a third gutter clearing mid-autumn is worthwhile, since our spring drop of maple seeds and oak catkins blocks gutters as reliably as leaves do.
Do window cleaners clean gutters?
Many do, because both jobs use the same ladders at the same heights and suit the same spring and fall schedule. When one visit covers both, the gutters are cleared first so their runoff cannot streak finished glass, and the combined visit is usually priced lower than two separate ones. Ask whether a quote includes both.