Entry 02

Learning the Hard Way:

My First Gutter Job in Woodland

Today, I was going through my photo album and found pictures from the very first gutters I ever cleaned here in Woodland, CA — back when I teamed up with my mentor Alex at AlexClean. Honestly, I had no idea what I was doing. I wasn’t dressed right, I didn’t have the right gear, and everything about the job felt brand new.

Facing Heights and Learning the Hard Way

I remember climbing up to that two-story home, scooping out debris and sediment by hand, trying to figure out the fastest and safest way to work without falling while also conquering my fear of heights. No one tells you how intimidating gutter work can be until you’re the one standing on that ladder. It wasn’t perfect, and I probably took two or three times longer than I should have — but I learned. When I finished and rinsed everything out, I felt proud. That moment showed me how much I enjoyed the process: the work, the challenge, and the satisfaction of seeing a clean system finally flow. And of course, the customer’s headache disappearing made it even better.

A Reminder of How Far I’ve Come

Looking back at those photos reminded me of the beginning — the learning curve, the progress, and how Rooftop View Gutter & Window started from moments exactly like that. Step by step, job by job, I began building this brand from the ground up.

More to come.

— Richard Martinez
Rooftop View Gutter & Window