Photo Luego › Guides › Gutter cleaning
What to photograph on a gutter cleaning job: the clog, the flow and the damage
Gutter cleaning happens ten feet up, where the customer never looks. They pay for a job they cannot see, and the better the result, the less there is to show for it.
A short set of photos fixes that: what came out of the gutter, the downspouts running clear, and any damage you found on the way. The photo of the debris is as persuasive as the photo of the clean gutter.
Before you start
- Safety comes before the photo. Take photos from the ground or from a position you already use for the work, and never hold a phone while climbing.
- Walk the house first and count the runs and downspouts, so you photograph each one.
- Photograph any damage before you touch it.
- Keep a bag or tarp for debris, so you can photograph what you removed.
The shot list
11 photos, in the order to take them. For each one: what to shoot, how to frame it, and why it is worth the few seconds.
Before you start
- Each side of the house from the ground
How: A fixed spot per side, with a zoom if needed, showing the line of the gutter and the roof edge.
Why: It is the anchor for the after.
- Each run of gutter once you are set up
How: Along the gutter, from the end, so the debris shows in depth.
Why: It shows how full it was, which a photo from below hides.
- Downspouts and their outlets
How: The top opening and the bottom outlet, close up.
Why: A blocked downspout is the real problem and the most common reason for overflow.
- Sagging, loose or leaking sections
How: Close up of the brackets, the seams, the joints, and the end caps.
Why: It records damage found before cleaning, and supports a repair quote.
- Water staining and fascia damage
How: Wide shot of the board behind the gutter, and a close shot of any rot or staining.
Why: It shows what blocked gutters have already caused.
During the work
- The debris you removed
How: In the bag or on the tarp, with a bucket or a glove for scale.
Why: It is proof of work and the most persuasive photo in the report.
- Plant growth, seedlings and nests
How: Close up, before they go in the bag.
Why: It shows how long the gutters had been neglected.
After the clean
- The same runs from the same spots
How: Along the gutter from the end, same angle.
Why: The pair shows the change clearly.
- Water flowing through the downspout
How: Run a hose into the gutter and photograph the outlet.
Why: It is proof that everything is clear, in a single photo.
- Cleanup
How: The ground, beds and walks under the gutters.
Why: It shows you left the property as you found it.
- Gutter guards, brackets and seams, if you checked them
How: Close up of what is fine and what is not.
Why: It sets up an honest recommendation.
Get the angle and the light right
- Photograph along the length of a gutter, not straight at it, so you see the whole run and the depth.
- Even light is best. Harsh sun creates deep shadows inside the gutter.
- A glove, a bucket or a hand shows the depth of the debris.
- Keep ladders and tools out of the after shot where you can.
Mistakes that make the result look smaller
- Taking photos while on a ladder.
- Photographing only the clean gutter and not what came out.
- Skipping the downspouts, which is where the problem usually is.
- Not recording damage before you start.
When it is not a standard job
A roof you cannot see well
Photograph from the ground with a zoom and note that it is a ground view. Do not climb onto a roof for a photo.
Gutters with guards
Photograph the guard on, then the gutter under it once removed. It shows the guard did not stop the clog, or that it did.
Heavy debris and seasonal repeat work
Photograph the first visit of the year as your baseline. A report from this fall makes next fall's booking easy.
Printable checklist: gutter cleaning
Tick each one before and after.
- Each side of the house from the ground
- Each run of gutter once you are set up
- Downspouts and their outlets
- Sagging, loose or leaking sections
- Water staining and fascia damage
- The debris you removed
- Plant growth, seedlings and nests
- The same runs from the same spots
- Water flowing through the downspout
- Cleanup
- Gutter guards, brackets and seams, if you checked them
photoluego.com/guides/gutter-cleaning-photo-checklist
From photos to proof
A folder of photos is not a report. Photo Luego for gutter cleaners lines up each before and after shot with a ghost of the first photo, pairs them for you, and turns the best pairs into a report with your logo, your review links and a pay button. It works in your phone's browser, and it has an always-free plan. New to it? Start with Getting started, then see how to send a report.
Questions
How do I photograph gutters safely?
From the ground, or from a stable position you already use for the work, and never while climbing. Many crews take a zoomed ground shot of each side, then close-ups once they are set up. Your safety comes before the photo.
What is the best proof that a gutter is clear?
Water running through the downspout. Photograph the outlet while you flush the gutter with a hose.
Should I tell the customer about damage?
Yes, with photos. Sagging sections, loose brackets, leaking seams and rotted fascia are worth reporting, and it is much easier to explain them with a picture.
General advice, not legal advice. Rules about photographing people and property vary by place, so check yours.