when do you usually tackle gutter cleaning?

I’ve wondered about this too, especially since I started looking into green roofs a couple years back. The idea of less gutter cleaning sounded great at first, but after reading up and talking to a couple folks who actually have them, it’s definitely not as hands-off as I thought. Like you said, it’s just a different kind of mess—less about leaves, more about organic buildup and even the occasional weed or moss chunk making its way into the drains.

I live in the Pacific Northwest, so we get a ton of rain and moss is basically a given. My house doesn’t have a green roof, but even with just regular shingles and a few big maples nearby, I’m usually up there twice a year—late fall and then again in spring. Fall is for the leaves, obviously, but spring always surprises me with how much moss and gunk builds up over winter. I’ve heard from a neighbor with a sedum roof that he still has to check his scuppers every few months, especially after heavy storms. He mentioned soil runoff being a pain, which I hadn’t really considered before.

One thing I’m curious about: does anyone actually see less overall debris in their gutters after switching to a green roof, or is it just trading one problem for another? Also, with the extra weight from wet soil and plants, do you have to reinforce the structure first? I’ve read conflicting advice on that—some say it’s fine for most modern homes, others say you need an engineer to check it out.

I totally get what you mean about picking your battles. For me, the idea of dealing with roots or soil in the drains sounds like a hassle, but maybe it’s less frequent than scooping out wet leaves every November. Either way, I don’t think there’s a true “set it and forget it” option when it comes to gutters—unless you’re living in the desert with no trees for miles.

I’ve worked on a couple green roofs during my apprenticeship, and honestly, the maintenance is just... different. You’re right about the organic buildup—sedum sheds, and you still get moss or even bits of soil in the drains after a heavy rain. One client had to reinforce their rafters before installation because the saturated weight was way more than standard shingles. I’d never call it “less” debris, just a different flavor. For my own place (asphalt shingles, lots of fir needles), I’m up there every spring and late fall too. No shortcuts, unfortunately.

That’s pretty much my experience too—people think green roofs are “self-maintaining,” but it’s just a different set of problems. Sedum clogs up the scuppers, and if you get a few dry weeks, you’ll see windblown seeds sprouting in weird places. I had to dig a tiny maple out of a client’s roof drain last fall. Never thought I’d be weeding gutters, but here we are.

I’m with you on the weight issue. The first time I saw how soaked those layers get after a storm, it made sense why structural upgrades are non-negotiable. It’s not like asphalt where you’re just dealing with needles or leaves—here it’s soil, roots, and whatever else blows in. I still think fir needles are worse for clogging than sedum though. Maybe that’s just because of where I live (Pacific Northwest), but those things mat together and turn into cement if you leave them too long.

Curious—do you ever do mid-winter checks? I’ve noticed that after a big windstorm or freeze-thaw cycle, there’s always something extra in the gutters, even if I cleaned them in November. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth climbing up there again when it’s cold out, or if I’m just being paranoid about ice dams and overflow. Or maybe that’s overkill unless you’ve got a really flat roof?

I get what you’re saying about fir needles turning into cement, but honestly, I’d take those over sedum roots any day. At least with needles, you can scoop them out in clumps. Sedum gets all tangled up in the mesh and you end up picking it out piece by piece. Maybe it’s just the type of green roof installs I’ve seen, but the maintenance is way more fiddly than regular gutters.

About the mid-winter checks—personally, I think it’s a bit much unless you’ve got a history of ice damming or your roof is dead flat.

“Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth climbing up there again when it’s cold out, or if I’m just being paranoid about ice dams and overflow.”

But yeah, green roofs are definitely not “set and forget.” People really underestimate how much random stuff ends up growing where it shouldn’t.

Totally agree about sedum being a pain—those roots get everywhere. I’ve seen folks assume green roofs are low-maintenance, but honestly, they can be just as much work as regular gutters, sometimes more. I’m with you on skipping mid-winter checks unless there’s a real risk of ice dams or a flat roof. One thing I’d add: if you’ve got overhanging trees, even a good fall clean doesn’t always cut it. I’ve had to go up after a big windstorm in January more than once... not my favorite job, but sometimes it’s the only way to avoid a mess come spring.