Cleaning eavestroughs at second-storey height is a different job from a bungalow, not just a taller one. Before you try, run the height and ladder numbers, then check five conditions that must all be a yes.
In This Article
Start with the numbers: height, angle and reach
Many two-storey eaves sit around 5 to 6 metres (16 to 20 ft) above the ground. Measure yours instead of guessing. Then work out three things.
- Ladder angle. The usual guide is one unit out for every four units up. At an eave 5.5 m high, the base sits about 1.4 m from the wall. That is a lot of clear, firm ground beside the house.
- Working height. The ladder label sets the highest rung you may stand on. You cannot climb higher to reach a stretch you cannot get to, so the eave must sit within a comfortable reach of that rung.
- Number of moves. Each ladder position covers only about an arm's length either side, and your belt buckle must stay between the rails. If each position covers 1.5 m, a 30 m run of eave takes 20 positions. Each one means climbing down, moving a long, heavy ladder and climbing back up.
That last figure is the one people forget. The danger builds with every repeated climb, especially when you are tired at the end of the day. Fall injuries at this height can be serious.
Five conditions that must all be a yes
- Is the ground under every ladder position firm and level? Decks, stairs, garden beds, window wells and slopes all fail this test. Two-storey houses often have a deck or walkout directly under the eave.
- Is every overhead wire and the service mast well clear? The Electrical Safety Authority advises keeping ladders and tools at least 3 metres from overhead powerlines. On many houses the mast sits close to the eave.
- Is a second person available to foot the ladder and watch you? A helper cannot stop a fall at this height, but can steady the base and call for help.
- Is the ladder long enough and rated for you plus your tools? Check the duty rating, and use a standoff so the rails do not rest on the trough.
- Is the day dry, calm and bright, with hours to spare? Wind is stronger at eave height than at the ground, and a wet rung is a slip risk.
If any answer is no, the job is not for you today. Two-storey work does not have a weaker version.
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Ground-based options and their limits
Pole systems that reach a second-storey eave exist, including hose-fed wands and vacuum kits on extension poles. They keep your feet on the lawn, and that is a real advantage. Their limits are just as real.
- You cannot see inside the trough, so you clean by feel and guess what is left.
- Long poles flex and are heavy at arm's length. Debris drops on you, your windows and your siding.
- Packed, wet material at the outlet often needs a hand, not a wand.
- Near a powerline, a long pole is as risky as a ladder. Keep it 3 m away too.
Poles suit light, loose debris, such as maple seed pods in late spring. They rarely handle November's wet, compacted muck. For choosing among tools, see the guide to DIY gutter cleaning tools.
Places you should never work from
- The roof. Shingles are slippery when damp, frosty or mossy, and the edge has nothing to stop you.
- An upstairs window or balcony. Leaning out to reach a trough turns a window sill into a fall point.
- A deck rail, a chair or a stack of anything. Only a ladder built for the job belongs under you.
- The top rungs. Stay below the standing height printed on the label.
Our gutter cleaning safety for two-storey homes post walks through the full set-up if you decide to go ahead. For basics, see ladder safety for exterior home maintenance.
What a crew brings to a two-storey job
A professional crew brings more people, several ladder set-ups and daily practice at working at height. Ontario has Working at Heights training for workers. It is not a homeowner requirement, but it reflects how the trade treats the risk. D&D Home Services carries $2 million in general liability insurance and its crew members are Working at Heights certified. Its gutter cleaning starts at $125 for a typical Kitchener-Waterloo home, with the final price in a free written quote before work starts. Tell them about decks, slopes or wires when you call.
Key Takeaways
- Measure your eave height, set the ladder at about one unit out per four up, and count how many ladder moves the whole run needs.
- Firm level ground, clear wires, a helper, the right ladder and calm weather must all be a yes, or you do not go up.
- Pole tools keep your feet on the ground but suit only light debris, and they leave you guessing about the trough.
- Never work from the roof, an upstairs window, a deck rail or the top rungs of a ladder.
Sources & References
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