Start with the roofing agreement. Ask the roofer whether it includes removal of roofing debris from the gutters and downspouts. If it does, ask for that work before the roof job closes. If debris remains and gutter cleaning is outside the agreement, request a separate cleaning for the affected runs. This order gives you one clear owner for each task and avoids paying twice for the same cleanup.
The City of Seattle's roofing guide tells homeowners to make sure a roofer cleans debris from gutters after roofing work. A published Morgan County roof contract also names gutter and downspout cleanup before final acceptance. These are examples of written scope, not proof that every roof contract includes the work. Your own agreement decides what the roofer promised.
Roof-job handoff checklist
| Check | Ask or record | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Roofing agreement | Does the cleanup section name gutters, downspouts, and ground debris? | Ask the roofer to complete any included work. |
| Affected gutter runs | Which side or section received loose material? | Name only those runs in any separate cleaning request. |
| Visible downspout outlet | Does water leave an above-ground outlet, if you have observed it during rain? | Report a visible blockage without claiming the buried path is clear. |
| Gutter condition | Is a section bent, loose, separated, or leaking? | Ask for repair, not only cleaning. |
| Access | Is roofing equipment still in the yard? Are gates, driveways, or side paths blocked? | Choose a visit after the area is clear and safe. |
| Completion record | What did the roofer say was cleaned, and what still needs work? | Put the remaining task in one written scope. |
A ground-level photo of visible debris can help you show the remaining task. Keep the roofer's written cleanup answer with the photo.
When a separate cleaning makes sense
A separate request makes sense when the roofing agreement excludes gutter cleanup, when the roofer confirms it will not return for that task, or when unrelated leaves and debris remain in runs that need cleaning. State which case applies. This prevents a quote from silently covering the whole house when only one side needs work.
If a roof job is still open, tell the roofer about the debris first. Keep its written answer with the agreement. The Federal Trade Commission advises homeowners to get a written work description, completion date, and price from a contractor. That same written-scope habit helps when you compare a roof cleanup with a separate gutter-cleaning quote.
For a list of normal gutter-cleaning items, see what is included. For a record of structures, height, guards, and access, use the scope worksheet. Those pages help you ask for the work that is still open; they do not change the roofer's agreement.
What to send for the remaining job
Send the address, home height, affected sides, guards, and whether the roof project is complete. Note any detached garage and whether a downspout enters a buried pipe. Say whether the roofer has already removed some debris. This gives the provider a specific cleaning task rather than a whole-house assumption.
Scope and limits
Gutter cleaning can clear loose material from the agreed runs, flush accessible above-ground downspouts, and remove the debris. Roof defects, warranty questions, damaged gutters, and buried drains need separate work. Inspect from the ground; do not climb onto the new roof to document a cleaning request.
Get my price
Use the gutter cleaning request when a defined task remains. Put the affected runs and the roofer's cleanup answer in your notes. We confirm provider availability, scope, price, and a proposed window in a written quote before payment.
Any US ZIP. No contact details until you have seen the estimate.
Sources
- City of Seattle, Green Home Remodel roofing guide, https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/OSE/GreenHomeGuide-Roofing.pdf, verified 2026-10-30.
- Morgan County, roof replacement specifications, cleaning section, https://www.morgancountyga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2139, verified 2026-10-30. This is one public contract, not a standard for all homes.
- Federal Trade Commission, written estimates and contract scope, https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-home-improvement-scam, verified 2026-10-30.