Eavestroughs in Ottawa: cleaning, repair and new runs
Say whether the troughs need cleaning, fixing or replacing, how high the house is and where the downspouts drain. One local company gets the work order and calls you with a price.
In short
- 01Eavestrough cleaning in Ottawa: about $100–$250 a job on one HomeStars page; another lists flat fees of $150–$500 or $60–$100 an hour.
- 02Small repairs such as leaks and loose sections: about $150–$400 a job in Ottawa.
- 03New or replacement troughs: about $5–$15 per linear foot in Ottawa; downspouts $100–$300 each.
- 04Demand for cleaning peaks in spring and fall, per HomeStars.
- 05The City of Ottawa recommends draining downspouts to permeable ground 3 metres from the foundation, and Rain Ready Ottawa can rebate part of a downspout redirection in priority areas.
Typical ranges
Source Ottawa: HomeStars, gutter and eavestrough companies in Ottawa and HomeStars, eavestrough cleaning in Ottawa, both seen 29.10.2026. Canada-wide: HomeStars, eavestrough installation and replacement cost, updated 21.08.2026, seen 29.10.2026. Downspouts and rebates: City of Ottawa, What is Rain Ready Ottawa? and Rain Ready Ottawa rebates, seen 29.10.2026. Ice dams and troughs: CAA-Quebec, seen 29.10.2026. The company that calls you quotes its own price.
What to ask before you book
- Q1Is cleaning a flat price for my house, by the hour, or per foot?
- Q2Do you flush the downspouts and bag the debris, or leave it on the lawn?
- Q3For new troughs: what material and size, and one piece per wall, or joined sections?
- Q4Are removal and disposal of the old troughs in the price?
- Q5Will you check the fascia board behind the troughs and price any rot before you start?
Before the visit
- Storeys and the highest point a ladder has to reach.
- The rough length of trough, or the house footprint, and the number of downspouts.
- Photos of the problem spot: overflow, a sagging run, a joint that drips, a split downspout.
- Where each downspout drains now: onto a splash pad, into a pipe in the ground, onto the driveway.
- Trees over the roof, and a clear path for a ladder along each wall.
Cleaning, repair or new troughs
Tell the company which of three jobs you want priced:
- Cleaning. Leaves and grit out of the troughs, downspouts flushed. Say how long since the last cleaning and whether trees hang over the roof.
- Repair. A dripping joint, a run pulling away from the fascia, a split or crushed downspout. Photos of each spot help.
- Replacement or new runs. Whole sides or the whole house. Give the house footprint or a rough length, the number of downspouts and the material you want.
Choose Eavestroughs in the work order for any of the three. If the roof edge itself looks damaged, say so: the shingles and the drip edge may need a roofer too.
How Ottawa companies price the work
Cleaning is sold three ways in Ottawa: a flat price per house, an hourly rate or a price per linear foot. Steep roofs, tight side yards and complex rooflines add time. HomeStars notes that demand peaks in spring and fall, which can push prices up; an off-peak booking may cost less.
Installation is priced per linear foot or as a project. HomeStars’ Canada-wide guide lists aluminum at about $5–$15 a foot, steel $10–$24, copper $18–$40 and up, and one-piece runs without joints $10–$20 and up. Removal and disposal of old troughs, scaffolding for tall walls and downspout extensions can sit outside the base price. Ask for each to be named in the quote.
Downspouts and the basement
Eavestroughs exist to move roof water away from the house. The City of Ottawa recommends redirecting downspouts to permeable areas 3 metres from the foundation to help prevent wet basements. If a downspout drops into a pipe in the ground, mention it in the work order; the company may want to see where it goes.
Rain Ready Ottawa, a City program for homes in priority eligibility areas, pays part of rainwater projects. Downspout redirection gets 75% of eligible costs, up to $1,000 per redirection. New eavestroughs are outside the rebate. You must apply and have the project approved before work starts, so check ottawa.ca/rain before you book the job.
Winter and the troughs
Ice dams form when heat from the house melts snow on the roof and the water freezes again at the cold eaves. The ice can make eavestroughs sag or deform, and water held behind the ice can get under the shingles. New troughs on the same roof can fail the same way, so ask the company whether the roof edge and attic need a look as well.
Who you are dealing with
Ottawa Roofing Desk passes your work order to one independent local company that does eavestrough work. That company calls you, prices the job and does it.
Questions
01What does eavestrough cleaning cost in Ottawa?
One HomeStars page puts it at about $100–$250 a job. Another lists flat fees of $150–$500 for a standard house, $60–$100 an hour, or $1.00–$2.50 per linear foot. Height, roof shape and how full the troughs are move the price.
02Should I repair the troughs or replace them?
Small leaks and loose sections cost about $150–$400 to fix in Ottawa. Replacement runs about $5–$15 per linear foot. Ask the company to price both if the troughs sag in several places or leak at many joints.
03Where should my downspouts drain?
The City of Ottawa recommends redirecting downspouts to permeable ground 3 metres from the foundation to help prevent wet basements. Mention any downspout that runs into a pipe in the ground.
04Can the City help pay for downspout work?
Rain Ready Ottawa covers downspout redirection at 75% of eligible costs, up to $1,000 per redirection, for homes in a priority eligibility area of Ottawa. New eavestroughs are outside the rebate. The City pays only for projects approved before work starts.
05Why did my eavestroughs bend over the winter?
Ice dams at the roof edge can load and deform eavestroughs. The cause usually sits in the attic, where heat loss melts the snow above, so mention the winter damage in the request.