Why gutters need more attention in Cairns
The dry isn't fully dry
Cairns still averages 4.2 to 7.2 rain days a month from June to September (1991 to 2020 normals). Gutters never get months to dry out and crust over, so sludge stays wet and heavy, and it's harder on the steel.
Seven months of wet
Wikipedia describes a wet season of heavy monsoonal downpours from November to May. Cyclones affecting Cairns usually form in the same window, so a gutter that's half full in December has a long season ahead of it.
Trees come down in storms
In Cyclone Larry, most of Cairns' damage came from trees and power lines falling on houses. Even a smaller storm strips leaves and twigs into gutters, so look along them from the ground after any strong wind.
A year of gutters in Cairns
September or October
Full clean, downpipes flushed and valleys cleared. Ask for photos of any rust or loose clips so they can be fixed before November.
January or February
A mid-wet check if you're under trees. Look from the ground for water spilling over the front or back during heavy rain.
After a cyclone or big storm
Wait until it's safe, then have the gutters checked along with the roof. Clear debris from ground-level drains and downpipe grates yourself.
Any time water spills inside the eaves
That's a gutter or downpipe problem, not just a clean. Get a roof plumber to look at capacity and fall.
Ladder and asbestos safety
Safe Work Australia says falls are the main cause of death and injury in roof work, and that covers small jobs like gutters. Never clean gutters in the rain or step onto the roof. If the roof is old grey fibro sheeting, leave the gutters alone: ASSEA says gutters under asbestos cement will likely collect debris that should be treated as friable. After storms or floods, ASSEA also warns against pressure-washing damaged asbestos.
What to ask the cleaner
- Do you flush the downpipes, and what happens if one's blocked?
- Are valleys included?
- Will you take the waste away?
- Will you photograph any rust, splits or sagging?
- Are you insured if something goes wrong on the job?
Our take
Treat the September clean as fixed, like a car service, and add a January check if trees overhang the roof. If the cleaner keeps finding the same rusty joint or sagging run, stop paying to clean it and get the gutter replaced in the dry.
Want a roofer to take a look?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.
Send us your suburb and how many storeys. Where we have a licence-checked roofer who does gutter cleaning in your part of Cairns, we'll pass it to them; if not, we'll tell you so. More on our main gutter cleaning page and the Cairns hub.