A Tale Of Gutter Growth
This is a no-brainer, but it needs to be said … The best functioning gutters are those free of plant life.

Imagine you’re driving along a side road off North Division Street on your way to a Friday night football game with a car full of kids and one consistently observant backseat rider shouts and points out the side window, “Hey! Look at that tree growing out of the gutter!” Everyone in the car turns to look, including you as the driver, and even if you only catch a quick glimpse as you’re passing by, you do in fact see a towering, leafy thing growing out of somebody’s gutter. “How does that happen?” you might ask yourself. Well, believe it or not, growth in gutters occurs quite frequently. But that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing!
Think about your gutters like the facemask to your roof (your roof is the rest of the football helmet). The helmet wouldn’t be as functional, or as safe, without those gutters there to protect what’s underneath the roof – your living space!
Your gutters should be free of debris such as leaves, muck, and dirt so that water can flow through the channels to your downspouts without running into a left tackle (branch with leaves) or the offensive line (pine needles mixed with dirt turned into a thick sludge).
When your gutters are full of water, dirt particles and other debris get moved around and pushed along. But when the water is gone, the soil and debris often remain. Therefore, it is important to do a cleaning of your gutter channels and downspouts from time to time.
If you don’t clean out your gutters, you’ll get plant growth. Anywhere you have a little soil, sunlight, and a bit of water, plants find a way to thrive. If you see green starting to sprout in your gutters, it’s time for a much-needed cleaning. And, if you see saplings growing in someone else’s gutters, know that when it rains or there’s a bit of snow melt, they’re at risk of fissure drips, leaks, exterior siding staining, and possible basement flooding as a result.
If you have questions about gutter debris or how to clean your gutters properly, the team at Rainman Seamless Rain Gutters can help. While we do not take on cleaning jobs, we are able to refer you to a different company to assist you to get the job done.
Founded in 1992 as a local family owned and operated business, Rainman Seamless Rain Gutters protect you and your investment with a strong business that backs up our 20-year workmanship warranty on the gutter and 10 years on the corners. As lifelong residents of Spokane, we are active in the community through business, civic and charitable involvement and support. Contact our team if you would like more information on any of the services we offer!









