Gutters and downspouts play an integral role in the overall functionality of your home’s exterior, especially during rainfall.
That’s because gutters channel water away from your house to protect against mold, leaks, and other problems caused by standing water. It’s important to have them installed correctly at the correct height.
If you’re curious about how high the gutters are on a 2-story house, keep reading this article for more information about this topic.
The usual gutter height for a two-story home is approximately 5.8 meters (19 feet) above the ground. Your two-story building’s gutter height may vary from that of another based on the roofing material, roof pitch, and gutter style you choose to install. However, to protect your property, you must ensure that the gutters are properly installed.
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How High Are the Gutters on a Two-story House?
In a two-story house, the gutters you install should be about 5.8 meters (19 feet) from the ground.
However, this can vary depending on a few factors, such as the pitch, gutter type, and roofing materials.
For example, if your roof has a steeper pitch, you may need to increase the height of your gutters. The height of your gutters may also depend on where you live.
Higher gutter heights are recommended in areas with severe weather or strong winds to help keep water away from your home.
In drier climates, however, you may get away with lower gutter heights since there’s less risk of rainwater backing up around your foundation.
The table below shows factors that can affect the gutter’s height.
| Factors | Details |
|---|---|
| Slope. | Place gutters higher on a steep roof to prevent water overflow. Gutters carry more water from a steeper roof. |
| Gutter type. | The type of gutter you install affects the height if it’s half-round or a k-style gutter. |
| Roofing material. | Roofing materials, i.e., shingles or metal, determine the gutter height. Shingles have a small overhang that protects gutters from debris. |
When installing gutters, it’s important to talk to a professional to ensure they are the right height for your home.
They have the skills and expertise to ensure that your gutters are high enough and an accurate measurement for your home.
Is It Ok to Lean a Ladder on the Gutter of a Two-story House?
No, it isn’t ok to lean your ladder on the gutter of a two-story house. That’s because you must ensure that you lean your ladder against something strong that can hold it up, and a gutter isn’t that strong.
So if you lean on the ladder, you might damage the gutter or put yourself in danger plus, if the ladder slips, you could fall and seriously injure yourself.
When you are working on your two-story home, keep your ladder and other tools off of the gutter.
If you must use a ladder while working in your backyard, attach it to an exterior wall to avoid damaging your home’s gutter.
However, you can lean a ladder on the gutter of a house under 10 years because the gutter of a house can remain strong for 10 years and may be able to withstand the pressure of the ladder.
If it’s been more than 10 years, it is risky for you to do so. Also, you can lean a ladder on a gutter if it is a lightweight ladder or you use a ladder standoff.
While it is not ok to lean your ladder against your gutter, there are several safe ways to work with it. First, attach your ladder to an exterior wall so you don’t have to worry about potential damage.
To keep yourself safe, ensure your ladder is secure and not touching any part of your home or neighbors’ homes.
It would help if you also leaned it at an angle against a roof or support beam rather than resting it straight up and down. Also, don’t forget, always wear shoes with non-slip soles!
What Height Ladder Do I Need to Clean Gutters?
Most two-story homes have gutters of 5.8 meters (19 feet). To safely and effectively clean your gutters, you’ll need a tall ladder to reach the gutter.
Plus, you’ll need to be able to lean the ladder against the house at a 45-degree angle.
That means you’ll need a ladder at least 19 feet tall. Your ladder should be the right height to reach the gutter.
However, it is always best to err on the side of caution and get a ladder a few feet taller than the height of the gutters. This way, you will not have to worry about the ladder slipping or falling over.
If you need to work at a height of 19 feet, you should choose a 24 to 26-foot extension ladder and adjust it to your working height.
Also, the ladder angle rule must be followed when setting up an extension ladder. To keep the right angle every 4 feet, you need to put your ladder 1 foot away from your house wall.
If leaves are in the gutter, it is almost impossible to clean them well. Due to this, you should choose a gutter taller than your house to do the job without any problems.
You should also ensure that your ladder is lightweight and easy to carry and move around.
A heavier ladder will make cleaning your gutters more difficult and could lead to injuries if you’re not careful.
That means you’ll want to look for ladders made of aluminum or fiberglass rather than wood. The last thing you want to do is try to clean your gutters from a ladder that’s too short.
That can cause you to lose your balance and fall, resulting in broken bones or other serious injuries. So, remember: when it comes to cleaning gutters, size matters!
How Do You Clean Gutters on a Two-Story House?
There are numerous methods for cleaning the gutters of a two-story home. Although the risks of cleaning a two-story house are much higher than those of a story building, there are ways you can clean it, which I’ll explain below.
#1. Telescoping Gutter Cleaning Pole
These wands clean gutters well. They are not pricey, and you don’t need anything else to make them function.
These poles fit any garden hose, and the telescopic poles can be extended so that you can clear the gutter from the ground.
#2. Robot
These gutter-cleaning tools fit the tiny gutter and pass through it as its auger mechanism does all dirt splitting, breaking, brushing, and cleaning.
The robots run on batteries, while some are remote-controlled. You can clear the gutter and control the robot from the ground with one button.
#3. Gutter Cleaning Ladder
This tool’s telescoping handle enables gutter access without a ladder or walking on your roof. It can fit in small places because you can move the foot pads.
Only buy this product if your roof has no loose shingles, as the vibrations may cause harm.
#4. Attachments
Some gutter tools don’t need water. You can use your vacuum and leaf blower to clean your gutters well.
For example, they can easily clean a home’s gutters with two stories. Connect the adapters to your leaf blower or vacuum, unlike on the telescoping pole, where you use a hose.
#5. Gutter Brush
This gutter-cleaning brush removes trees and moss from gutters without ruining them. In addition, its large handle lets you reach hard-to-reach roof places.
#6. Gutter Scraper
This brush’s wide blade makes it possible to clean the moss from gutters without causing damage.
Due to its reflective handle and orange blade, you can use it in a low-light situation or at night. It is extremely light!
At a glance: Icicles Between Gutter And Fascia
Conclusion
In a two-story house, gutters should be 5.8m (19 feet) from the ground. It is important to know how high the gutters on your 2-story house are so that you can catch most of the rain and protect your home from water damage, but not so high that they are hard to clean or keep up.
