What is Gutter Pitch?
Rain gutters are installed at a slight angle so that water drains out of them instead of sitting stagnant. Gutters don’t look slanted because installation companies know exactly what they’re doing, but we assure you they are.
Gutters should have a specific slope based on this formula:
¼ of an inch of drop per 10 feet of horizontal gutter
This calculation tells your gutter installer right where to attach the downspout so that heavier amounts of rain can flow unobstructed from your roof. The side of your home’s roof where the downspouts are located is the side that should be lower.
Long sections of gutter, like across the front of a home, require a downspout on both sides. When this is happening, the rain gutters will need to be pitched from the middle, which means that the middle of the roofline will be the absolute highest point, and both downspouts should be lower than this center point.
Gutter Pitch Problems
If gutters are installed incorrectly or if they have become loose or bent at all, it can create problems that can be costly and complex to fix.
When your gutter pitch is wrong, it can cause water to back up in your gutter channels. Water is a typical problem around the home, as it can lead to all of the issues below:
- Rain inside of the gutters can cause roof damage because of the standing water. When it doesn’t flow from the gutters, water can get underneath the shingles and cause damage to the fascia, sub-roofing and even leak inside your home.
- Standing water is one way mildew and mold can grow on of your roof, gutters or siding. Removing mold is a difficult project, especially when it appears on your roof. Mold is known for destroying organic materials (many of which are common in your home) and even making people feel ill.
- The weight of blocked water inside your gutters can cause them to tear away from your home. The gutters can tear out fasteners from the walls, damaging your vinyl or other exterior material. It can also destroy landscaping and windows.
Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?
To make sure your gutters are properly pitched, here are a few things you can check:
Look for Hanging Spots
Like we said before, you shouldn’t be able to notice the slope of your rain gutters. If you can noticeably identify where the low point is, this is a sign that your gutter has been damaged or that it is getting old.
You should be able to notice a dip in the gutters from the ground, so this is a safe job that homeowners can do on their own, with their 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. Try to check the gutters right after rainfall so you can see the flow of the water.
This could require you to climb a ladder, so be careful. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you can have a local handyman or a gutter specialist from Premiere Plainfield Gutters check it out for you.
Inspect for Shingle Particles
Any small granules remaining in the gutters from your shingles are a sign that the gutters might not have enough slope, so the water can’t carry these materials out. Grit or sludge inside of your gutters is more common after having a new roof installed because it will tend to lose a lot of excess granules in the first couple of years.
You can climb up a ladder and look, or you might see some of the particles flowing out of your gutters from the downspouts. If you see 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 usually caused by a blockage, but it can also be the result of incorrect gutter pitch. If rain water is flowing the wrong direction, know as “back pitch,” you will see water overflowing at the end cap. This can problems for your roof, gutters and landscaping.
To remove the possibility of blockage, schedule gutter cleaning at least once a year or install gutter guards. If you know the gutters are clean but there are still signs of overflow, it’s another indicator that your gutter pitch may be wrong.
Professional Gutter Damage Repair
When your gutter pitch is distorted, it can result in several problems for your house. All of the issues above can let you decide if your gutter pitch is not right.
No matter if your gutters were damaged or if they were installed incorrectly to begin with, they need to be re-pitched in order to prevent significant home repairs, including siding damage, leaks and landscape damage.
Gutter Repair in Plainfield
The first option will be repairing the existing gutters so the proper pitch is restored. If the gutters are in good condition and undamaged, this should be the route Premiere Plainfield Gutters encourages.
To restore gutter pitch, Premiere Plainfield Gutters will loosen the gutter, but they won’t have to take it completely down. This lowers labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and calculate the correct pitch and reinstall the gutters, adjusting fasteners if necessary, to fit the correct measurements.
Gutter Installation in Plainfield
If your rain gutters are severely damaged, or if they are starting to rust or wear down with age, Premiere Plainfield Gutters may recommend to replace them instead of re-pitching them. This will be more economical in the long run and time-saving.
If your gutters have to be replaced with new ones, they will include new fasteners, hardware and downspouts. The installer will set the gutters at the correct pitch. You can reference our tips in this blog post to make sure the new installation was done correctly.