Home › Service Areas › Ramsey › Gutter Cleaning
ANOKA COUNTY, MN
Gutter cleaning in Ramsey, MN
Cleared by hand, flushed to confirm they flow, and every bag of debris hauled away.
Ramsey trees fill gutters with leaves, seeds and needles, and a packed gutter cannot carry rain away from the roof. Glass House clears the gutters, flushes them and hauls the debris away.
Carson Brenny, the owner, quotes and cleans every gutter himself. His ladders carry padded standoffs, so nothing rests on or marks the gutters, and levelers that keep them steady on soft ground.
A SECOND SET OF EYES
Any damage we notice on your roof, gutters or fascia is photographed, noted and shown to you.
★ Rated 4.9 on Google · 44 reviews
Insured to $2M
Owner-operated
Based in Ham Lake
RAMSEY SPECIFICS
What gutter cleaning means in Ramsey
The local conditions that shape how Glass House approaches gutter cleaning in Ramsey, and the standards it holds to on every visit.
TREES
Sandy soil, oaks and ash
Ramsey's soils are typically sandy, and the city advises residents not to prune oaks from April through July, when oak wilt spreads most easily. Since 2022, ash infested with emerald ash borer have appeared throughout the city. Oak shade keeps roofs and siding damp, which algae and moss need, and oak leaves fill gutters each fall. Infested ash turn brittle and drop limbs and twigs onto roofs and into gutters. Leaves and seeds from trees like these are what pack gutters between visits.
HOMES
A median home built in 1996
The median Ramsey home was built in 1996, and about 41% of homes date from the 1990s and 2000s. After about three decades of sun, vinyl siding and painted trim break down at the surface into a chalky film, a process called oxidation. Rain running over the chalk leaves streaks, and the roughened surface gives dirt and algae a better grip. Gutters that age can sag or pull loose, and any we find are photographed and reported, not repaired.
RIVERS AND PARKS
Between the Rum and the Mississippi
Surface water in Ramsey drains toward the Rum and Mississippi Rivers, and the city is home to the Mississippi West and Rum River Central regional parks. Air near the rivers holds more moisture, so roofs, siding and decks dry slowly after rain and morning dew. Algae, mildew and moss take hold on surfaces that stay damp, usually starting on the shaded north side. Overflow on damp lots keeps fascia and siding wet, feeding algae and rot.
ANY SEASON
Clogged is reason enough
Gutter cleaning is worth doing any time the gutters are clogged, not only on a spring and fall schedule. A gutter that cannot flow puts stress on the roof edge, stains the siding where it spills over and becomes a breeding ground for insects, so a clog found in midsummer is worth clearing then.
Sources: City of Ramsey, Oak Wilt, Emerald Ash Borer and Odd/Even Water Restrictions; Point2Homes, Ramsey demographics (U.S. Census ACS 2019-2023); City of Ramsey, Stormwater; Anoka County Parks.
HOW WE CLEAN GUTTERS
One standard, with the method matched to each gutter
01
Clear it the right way
Packed leaves and needles come out by hand, and a blower or a flush handles the rest when that is the better tool that day. The choice depends on what is in the gutter, how it is built and whether it has guards.
Three things never vary: your gutters end up flowing, your walkways end up clean, and the debris leaves with us.
GUTTER GUARDS: THE HONEST ANSWER
Gutters with guards can be cleaned with a blowout or a flush, but we guarantee only the gutter, not the guard. Around here, guards pack with pine needles that must be picked out by hand, and in our experience most guards make cleaning harder. We never remove, install or lift guards.
02
Clean every surface below
Walkways, patios, decks, driveways and every other surface people walk on are left free of debris. Whatever falls during the work is collected along with what comes out of the gutters, so nothing is left behind in the yard.
03
Bag it and haul it away
All debris is bagged and hauled away with us. It does not go into your yard or your trash bin, so there is nothing left for you to carry off or dispose of after the visit.
04
Flush gutters and downspouts
Water is run through every gutter and downspout to confirm it flows. If water does not come out the bottom of a downspout, there is a blockage inside. We clear what we can reach, and because we never take downspouts or gutter hardware apart, a deeper clog is located and reported to you.
05
Photos and a damage report
Before and after photos are attached to your receipt. Most homeowners never climb up to see their own gutters or roof, so anything we notice while we are up there, from a loose hanger to damaged fascia, is documented and shown to you.
FOR RAMSEY HOMES
What to know before your visit
SPRING
Clear winter debris
Seeds, needles and the debris that sat under the snow come out before spring rain, so the water drains through the downspouts instead of spilling over onto the siding.
AT HOME
Kids and pets welcome
Kids and pets are welcome at home during the visit. We ask only that they are not underfoot while the work is underway and debris is coming down.
TREES
Trim with care
Trimming overhanging branches reduces gutter debris, but check the timing on oaks first. Ramsey asks residents not to prune oaks from April through July.
BEFORE WE COME
Outside spigot on
The flush runs on your outside spigot, so it needs to be on and reachable rather than shut off at the inside valve or behind a locked gate.
HOW PRICING WORKS
Priced by your home, confirmed before we start
YOUR GUTTER SERVICE, AT A GLANCE
QUOTE FIRST
Gutter cleaning
Quoted
Cleared, flushed, downspouts checked and debris hauled away
Gutter brightening
Quoted
Tiger stripes removed from the outside face
Brightening Guarantee
No charge
If the stripes do not come off, there is no charge
Before and after photos
Included
Attached to your receipt when the job is done
Priced by the size of your home
Quote first
Gutter cleaning and gutter brightening are priced by the size of your home, and Carson confirms the exact price before any work starts. Tell us about your home or send a photo, and we will prepare your quote.
THE OWNER
Ramsey gutters under oak and ash
Glass House is Carson Brenny's business, and he does the work himself, with no crews, subcontractors or handoffs. He quotes each gutter job, clears and flushes the gutters and walks the finished job with the homeowner. Based in Ham Lake, he has worked full-time in exterior cleaning for six years, and Ramsey is a regular part of his route.
Emerald ash borer has turned up throughout Ramsey since 2022. Dying ash drop twigs and limbs into gutters already packed with oak leaves. The median home was built in 1996, old enough for gutters to sag or pull loose. Carson clears and flushes every run and photographs anything he notices. Most homeowners never see their own gutters, so the photos show them what he saw.
IN CARSON'S WORDS
“It's my neighbors' homes: their biggest investment, one of the places they spend the most time, and where the people they care about most live. It's something everyone should enjoy, and I believe that.”
Carson Brenny, owner
✓
Every gutter and downspout flushed to prove it flows
✓
Sagging or loose gutters photographed and reported
✓
Walkways and patios left free of debris
WHAT IS INCLUDED
What gutter cleaning includes, and what it does not
Gutter cleaning empties the inside of the gutter and confirms the water runs. These lists show exactly where the service starts and stops.
INCLUDED
In every gutter cleaning
• Cleared by hand, blown out or flushed, whichever suits the gutter
• Every gutter and downspout flushed to confirm it flows
• Reachable downspout clogs cleared, and deeper ones reported
• Gutters with guards cleaned with a blowout or a flush
• Walkways, patios and decks left free of debris
• Debris bagged and hauled away with us
• Before and after photos, with notes on anything we notice
NOT INCLUDED
Outside a gutter cleaning
• Repairs, re-pitching, sealing leaks or new hangers
• Taking downspouts or gutter hardware apart
• Removing, installing or lifting gutter guards
• Debris packed into the guards themselves
• Tiger stripes on the face, removed by gutter brightening
• Underground drain repair and heat cable work
EQUIPMENT AND METHODS
The right method for that gutter, that day
Packed debris comes out by hand, and a blower or a flush handles the rest when that is the better tool that day. Water from your outside spigot is then run through every gutter and downspout to confirm it flows. Every ladder carries padded standoffs that hold it off the gutter, and levelers for soft ground. Gutter brightening, described below, is a separate service with its own chemistry and a carbon fiber pole that works from the ground.
RAMSEY QUESTIONS
Gutter Cleaning in Ramsey: FAQ
When should Ramsey gutters be cleaned in the fall?
After the leaves are down and before the first hard freeze, so wet debris does not freeze in place over the winter. That window closes earlier some years than others, so booking in early fall keeps a place on the schedule before the cold arrives.
Do you serve all of Ramsey?
Yes, every neighborhood in Ramsey. Glass House is based in Ham Lake, and Ramsey is part of its regular north metro service area, so there is no trip fee. Carson quotes, cleans and walks every job himself, wherever in Ramsey your home is.
How often should gutters be cleaned in Minnesota?
Most north metro homes need gutter cleaning twice a year, in spring and fall. Minnesota's sharp seasonal swings pile debris into gutters faster than in most of the country, and gutters are usually packed full again six months after a cleaning, which surprises many homeowners.
Do you haul the debris away?
Yes, on every job. All debris is bagged and hauled away with us, so it does not end up in your yard or your trash bin. Walkways, patios, decks and driveways are also left free of anything that fell during the work.
Do you clean the downspouts?
Yes. Every gutter and downspout is flushed after cleaning to confirm it flows, and blockages we can reach are cleared. If water does not come out the bottom of a downspout, there is a clog inside. We never take downspouts or gutter hardware apart, so a deeper clog is located and reported to you.
Will cleaning remove the black streaks on my gutters?
No. Gutter cleaning empties the inside of the gutter. The black streaks on the outside face are tiger stripes, carbon residue from the shingles bonded to the aluminum, and they are removed by gutter brightening, a separate service. If the stripes do not come off, there is no charge.
