Two-Story and High Gutter Cleaning in Rockford, IL

Why the second story costs more

On a ranch, one short ladder and a few moves cover the whole house. On a two-story colonial or a split-level with a tall back wall, the crew needs a 28 to 32 foot extension ladder, a standoff so it rests on the roof rather than crushing the gutter, and more time at every setup. Debris has to come down the ladder in a bucket instead of being tossed. That is why every guide prices height separately: Angi moves from $0.95 to $1.25 per foot at one story to $1.00 to $1.85 at two, and HomeGuide from $70 to $200 to $100 to $275.

In the Rockford area, two-story homes cluster in the post-2000 subdivisions of Roscoe, Poplar Grove and Machesney Park and in the older neighborhoods near downtown, where many houses from the 1920s and earlier are two full stories with steep roofs. Each town page shows how old its housing is.

Why it should not be a DIY job

CDC's NIOSH says more than 500,000 people are treated and about 300 die from ladder-related injuries in the U.S. every year. The Consumer Product Safety Commission adds that people 65 and older are 80 percent more likely than other adults to visit an emergency room for an injury involving a ladder or stool. A fall from a second-story roof edge is not one people walk away from. Our ladder safety guide covers the rules if you do go up.

What to ask for

Ask whether the price covers both stories, any lower porch or garage roofs, and flushing every downspout. Ask how the crew reaches gutters over a deck or a steep slope. On three-story and walkout homes, some crews use a lift, which they will price separately.