What is Gutter Pitch?
Rain gutters are installed at a slight angle so that water drains out instead of remaining stagnant. They don’t look slanted because installation companies know what they’re doing, but they are.
Gutters have a specific slope based on this formula:
¼ of an inch of drop per 10 feet of horizontal gutter
This formula tells a gutter installation technician where to fasten the downspout so that heavy amounts of precipitation can flow unobstructed from your roof. The side of your roof where the downspouts are is the side that should be lower.
Longer sections of gutter, like across the front of a house, require a downspout on each side. When this is happening, the rain gutters will need to be pitched from the middle, meaning that the center of the roofline will be the absolute highest point, and both of the downspouts should be lower than this middle point.
Gutter Pitch Problems
If your gutters are installed the wrong way or if they have become loose or bent, it can cause problems that can be costly and difficult to repair.
When there is something wrong with your gutter pitch, it can cause water to back up in your gutters. Water is a typical problem around the home, as it can lead to all of the following issues:
- Rain inside of the gutters can lead to roof damage because of the standing water. When water doesn’t flow from the gutters, water can seep under the shingles and cause damage to the fascia, sub-roofing and even leak inside your house.
- Pooling water is one way mildew and mold can grow on sections of your roof, gutters or siding. Removing mold is a very hard task, especially when it grows on your roof. Mold is known for ruining organic materials (many of which are common in your house) and making people feel ill.
- The weight of pooling water in your rain gutters can lead them to pull away from your roof. The gutters can tear out fasteners from the siding, destroying your vinyl or other exterior material. It can also ruin landscaping and windows.
Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?
To be confident your gutters are correctly pitched, here are a few things you can do:
Look for Hanging Spots
Like we mentioned before, you shouldn’t be able to notice the slope of your rain gutters. If you can visibly identify where the low spot is, this is a sign that your gutter has been damaged or that it is getting worn out.
You should still be able to see a dip in the gutters from the ground, so this is a safe job that homeowners can do on their own, with both feet on the ground.
Check for Standing Water
Water naturally follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water inside of your home’s gutters is a problem. If possible, check the gutters right after rainfall so you can see the flow of the water.
This might force you to climb a ladder, so be careful. If you aren’t comfortable doing this, you can have a handyman or a gutter specialist from Ready Clean Gutters check it out for you.
Inspect for Shingle Particles
Any tiny granules remaining in the gutters from your roof shingles means the gutters may not have enough pitch, so the water can’t carry these heavier materials away. Seeing grit or sludge inside of your gutters is common after having a new roof installed because it will tend to shed excess particles in the first couple of years.
You can climb up a ladder and take a look, or you might see some of these particles flowing out of your gutters from the downspouts. If you notice a little in these areas, there is a good chance there is more that can’t make its way out.
Why is There Overflow?
Gutter overflow is sometimes caused by a blockage, but it can also be because of incorrect gutter pitch. If rain water is flowing the wrong way, know as “back pitch,” you will see water overflowing at the end cap. This can cause damage to your roof, gutters and surrounding landscaping.
To remove the possibility of a blockage, schedule gutter cleaning at least once a year or install gutter guards. If the gutters are clean but there is still overflow, it’s another sign that your gutter pitch may be wrong.
Professional Gutter Damage Repair
When your gutter pitch is distorted, it can create a lot of problems for your house. All of the issues above can let you know that your gutter pitch is off.
No matter if your gutters were damaged during a storm or they were installed incorrectly in the first place, they need to be re-pitched if you want to prevent major home repairs, including damage to siding, leaks and landscape damage.
Gutter Repair in Roseville
The first option will be repairing the existing gutters so the pitch is restored. If the rain gutters are in prime condition and undamaged, this should be the route Ready Clean Gutters recommends.
To re-establish gutter pitch, Ready Clean Gutters will loosen the gutter, but they won’t need to take it all the way down. This saves labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and determine the correct pitch and reinstall the gutters, adjusting fasteners if necessary, to fit the correct measurements.
Gutter Installation in Roseville
If your gutters are severely damaged, or if they are rusting or wearing down with age, Ready Clean Gutters may recommend to replace them rather than re-pitching them. This can be more economical in the long run and time-saving.
If your gutters need to be replaced with new ones, they will include new fasteners, hardware and downspouts. The installer should set the gutters at the proper pitch. You can use the tips in this blog post to make sure the new installation was done correctly.