How to Clean Your Gutters Safely (Or Just Call Us)

Published May 12, 2026 · By the Maxx Roofing team · 5–8 min read

Gutter cleaning kills more homeowners than wasps. Here's the right way — or skip the ladder and let us do it.

Why this matters in Oklahoma

We sit in the worst hail corridor in North America. The average roof in the Tulsa metro takes more storm damage in 5 years than a roof in most U.S. cities takes in its entire lifetime. So whatever this guide is about — pay attention. It's worth real money.

Step 1 — Look first, climb later

You can spot 80% of roof issues from your driveway with a good pair of binoculars. Granule loss patches, missing shingles, lifted tabs, bent flashing, sagging ridge lines — none of those require a ladder.

Step 2 — Check the gutters and downspouts

After a storm, your downspouts will be coughing up an unusual amount of asphalt granules. Granules in the splash blocks = your shingles are wearing fast. Black sediment on the lawn near the downspouts = same story.

Step 3 — Inspect from the inside

Go in the attic with a flashlight on the next sunny day. Pinpoints of daylight through the decking? Leak. Brown stains on insulation? Old leak. Wet rafters? Active leak. Take photos with your phone — they're priceless if you need to file a claim.

Step 4 — Document with photos and dates

Insurance companies care about when damage occurred. Photos with EXIF timestamps right after a storm event are worth thousands. Take wide shots and close-ups. Same day if you can.

Step 5 — Call a real local roofer, not a door-knocker

After every Oklahoma storm, out-of-state storm chasers descend on neighborhoods knocking doors. They're gone in 6 weeks. We're based at 2109 N. Yellowood in Broken Arrow and have served Green Country since 2014. Big difference when your warranty matters.

What we do during a free inspection

• Walk the roof and chalk every impact mark on a test square (the adjuster's standard).
• Photograph every face of the roof — north, south, east, west.
• Document soft-metal damage (vents, flashing, gutters) which is often the smoking gun for a claim.
• Send you a written report you can hand to your insurance company.

Bottom line

Don't wait for a leak. Schedule a free inspection by calling (918) 893-9595 or book online here. Most homeowners are inspected within 48 hours.