The spring seed fall, and the gutter check that goes with it

Autumn gets the attention, but in our book spring is the season that catches people out. The leaves are long gone, the gutters were cleaned in November, and nobody thinks to look up.

Meanwhile three things are landing in the run. Sycamore and maple keys come down in thousands in May. Birch catkins and lime flowers follow. And the moss that grew on the north slope of the roof over the winter dries out in the first warm spell and slides off the tiles in clumps, straight into the gutter.

Who needs a spring clean

Not everyone. If your house is in open ground with no trees within twenty metres, a yearly clean in late autumn is enough. But if any of these apply, a second clean in late May or June is worth it:

• a sycamore, maple, birch or lime near the house,
• a north-facing roof slope with visible moss,
• a flat or shallow roof that drains into the gutter,
• a history of overflowing in summer storms.

Moss on the roof

We do not clean roofs, and we would think twice about anyone who offers to pressure-wash one: it lifts the surface of clay and concrete tiles and drives water under them. What we do is clear what the moss drops into the gutter and tell you, with photos, if a slope is shedding enough to be worth a roofer’s look.

Birds

Spring is nesting season. House sparrows, starlings and jackdaws all nest in and around gutters, and an active nest is protected by law. If you can see birds going in and out of the same spot on your roofline, tell us when you book. We will plan around it and come back after the young have fledged.