Gutter cleaning in Cape Town is priced per running metre. For most homes, expect to pay about R150 to R300 per metre for the gutter itself, depending on whether the house is single or double storey. Downpipe unblocking, repairs and awkward access can push the total higher.
At Mshankwe Investments we’ve been cleaning gutters for more than 8 years. Below is what the work costs, what affects the price, and how to spot a quote that looks cheap but isn’t.
We charge by the running metre of gutter, so the cost scales with the size of your roofline.
| Service | Price per running metre |
|---|---|
| Gutter cleaning, single storey | R150 – R200 |
| Gutter cleaning, double storey | R200 – R300 |
| Gutter cleaning with downpipe unblocking | R250 – R350 |
| Gutter and/or fascia board repair | R150 – R250 |
Debris removal and disposal is included in our price at no extra charge.
To help you budget, here are rough estimates from our per-metre rates. They cover gutter cleaning only, with no downpipe work or repairs.
| Home | Gutter length | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Single storey | 15m | R2,250 – R3,000 |
| Single storey | 20m | R3,000 – R4,000 |
| Double storey | 20m | R4,000 – R6,000 |
| Double storey | 30m | R6,000 – R9,000 |
Your actual quote depends on how blocked the gutters are and whether the downpipes need attention.
Here are two jobs we’ve done, so you can see how the numbers work in practice.
This was a single storey house with 15m of gutter. We charged R200 per metre. The total cost to the client came to between R2,800 and R4,000, depending on the work involved. Even on a small single storey home, the job took two days.
This double storey home had 30m of gutter, charged at R300 per metre. The total came to between R8,000 and R10,000, because the downpipes also had to be unblocked. That is the clearest example of why the final price can sit well above the base per-metre rate.
The per-metre rate is only the starting point. These are the things that move the final number.
Double storey homes cost more because the work is harder and riskier. Roof access takes more care, and the job takes longer.
Downpipes are the biggest variable. We charge extra for downpipe cleaning, and the cost depends on the type of blockage. Sometimes it’s compacted sand. Sometimes it’s something stuck inside, like a ball. When downpipe unblocking is included, our rate is R250 to R350 per running metre.
The most common things we pull out of Cape Town gutters are sand, leaves, plants and tennis balls. A gutter that’s been neglected for years takes more time to clear than one cleaned every year.
If the gutter or fascia board needs fixing, we charge R150 to R250 per running metre for the repair. We quote this separately from the cleaning.
Most homes need their gutters cleaned about once a year, though it depends on where your house is. If your home is surrounded by trees, plan on at least twice a year.
You also don’t have to wait for a particular season. Any time of year is suitable for gutter cleaning, so you can book it when it suits you rather than waiting for the rains.
Blocked gutters don’t stay a small problem. When they fill up, water has nowhere to go and overflows toward the ceiling. That can leave damp stains, and in the worst cases it can cause the ceiling to collapse. A blocked gutter can also get heavy enough to pull away and fall off the roof.
Fascia boards are not usually affected by blocked gutters, so the real risks are damp, ceiling damage and the gutter coming loose. Set against a ceiling repair, a yearly cleaning is cheap.
Our process is built around safety first, then a thorough clean.
1. We check whether the house is single or multi storey.
2. We check that the roof is strong enough and not slippery for our team to walk on.
3. We locate the water source we’ll be working with.
4. We check our first aid kit and safety equipment.
5. We climb up on a step ladder.
6. We pressure wash the gutter from the roof.
7. We flush the downpipes with water, connecting the pressure washer directly to them.
The time it takes depends on how much cleaning is needed. The 15m job in Sitari Country Estate took two days.
You’ll find operators who quote well below the going rate. In our experience, cheap jobs usually cut corners in the same places.
1. They don’t unblock downpipes. The gutter looks clean, but water still backs up.
2. They use a regular hosepipe. Ordinary tap pressure won’t shift packed sand and debris the way a pressure washer does.
3. They have no safety gear or first aid kit. Roof work carries real risk.
4. They skip the risk assessment. Nobody checks the roof, the access or the hazards before starting.
When you compare quotes, ask each contractor how they clean the downpipes, what equipment they use and whether they do a safety check. The answers will tell you a lot more than the price.
One more thing most homeowners don’t know: even a spotless gutter will overflow if it wasn’t installed properly on the fascia board. If it isn’t fixed correctly, the water won’t flow, and it spills over the edge no matter how clean the gutter is.
So if your gutters overflow right after a cleaning, the problem is probably the installation, not the cleaning. This is why we also repair gutters and fascia boards, so we can fix the cause rather than just the symptom.
Gutter cleaning costs less than most homeowners expect, and far less than repairing a damaged ceiling. Because we price per running metre, it’s easy to get an estimate once we know your gutter length and whether your home is single or double storey.
Contact Mshankwe Investments for a quote, and we’ll tell you honestly what your gutters need.
Gutter cleaning in Cape Town typically costs between R150 and R300 per running metre, depending on whether your home is single or double storey. If downpipe unblocking is required, the rate ranges from R250 to R350 per running metre. Repairs to gutters or fascia boards are charged separately.
The cost depends on your home's size, the total length of the gutters and the work required. For example, cleaning 15 metres of gutters on a single-storey home costs approximately R2,250 to R3,000, while cleaning 30 metres on a double-storey home costs around R6,000 to R9,000. These estimates exclude downpipe unblocking and repairs.
Downpipe unblocking is an additional service because the cost depends on the type and severity of the blockage. Sand, compacted debris and objects such as tennis balls can prevent water from draining properly. Gutter cleaning with downpipe unblocking costs R250 to R350 per running metre.
Yes. At Mshankwe Investments, debris removal and disposal are included in our gutter cleaning price at no extra charge.
Blocked gutters can cause rainwater to overflow towards your ceiling, leading to damp patches and potentially serious ceiling damage. The weight of accumulated debris and water can also cause gutters to pull away from the roof. Regular cleaning helps prevent these problems and reduces the risk of expensive repairs.
