What is Gutter Pitch?

correcting gutter pitch

Rain gutters are installed at a slight angle so water flows out rather than remaining stagnant. They don’t look slanted because installation pros know exactly what they’re doing, but they are.

Gutters have an angled slope based on this formula:

¼ of an inch of drop per 10 feet of gutter

This formula tells your gutter installation technician where to place the downspout so that even heavier amounts of rain can flow smoothly from your roof. The side of your home’s roof where the downspouts are is the side that should be the lower end.

Longer sections of gutter, like across the front of a home, may 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 highest point, and both downspouts should be lower than this middle point.

Gutter Pitch Problems

If gutters are installed the wrong way or if they are loose or bent, it can cause problems that might be costly and complex to repair.

When there is something wrong with your gutter pitch, it can cause water to back up in your gutter channels. Water is a typical problem around the home, as it can result in all of the following issues:

  • Water inside of the gutters can lead to roof damage due to the standing water. When water backs up in the gutters, water can get underneath the shingles and cause harm to the fascia, sub-roofing and even leak inside your house.
  • Standing rain water is one way mold and mildew can grow on areas of your roof, gutters or siding. Removing mold is a challenging project, especially when it grows on your roof. Mold is known for ruining organic materials (many of which exist in your home) and making people feel ill.
  • The weight of pooling water inside your rain gutters can lead them to pull away from your home. The gutters can tear out fasteners from the walls, destroying your vinyl or other exterior material. It can also destroy surrounding 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 do:

Look for Hanging Spots

As we mentioned before, you shouldn’t be able to see the slope of your gutters. If you can visibly identify where the low point is, it is an indication that your gutter is damaged or that it is getting old.

You should still 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 follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water inside of your gutters is an issue. Try to examine the gutters right after rainfall so you can see the draining of the water.

This could require you to climb a ladder, so exercise caution. If you aren’t comfortable doing this, you can have a handyman or a gutter specialist from Folsom Gutter Service do it for you.

Inspect for Shingle Particles

Any little granules remaining in the gutters from your roof shingles are a sign that the rain gutters might not have enough pitch, so the water can’t carry these heavier materials out. Grit or sludge inside of your gutters is common after having a new roof installed because it will tend to lose excess granules in the first couple of years.

You can climb up a ladder and take a look, or you might notice some of these particles making their way out of your gutters through the downspouts. If you see a small amount in these areas, chances are 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 the result of incorrect gutter pitch. If rain water is flowing in the wrong direction, know as “back pitch,” you will probably see water overflowing from the end cap. This can problems for your roof, gutters and nearby landscaping.

To eliminate 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 is still overflow, it’s one more sign that there is a gutter pitch problem.

Professional Gutter Damage Repair

When your gutter pitch is distorted, it can cause a lot of problems for your house. All of the problems above can let you know that your gutter pitch is not right.

Regardless of whether your rain gutters were damaged or they were installed incorrectly in the first place, they need to be re-pitched if you want to prevent major home repairs, including siding damage, leaks and landscape damage.

Gutter Repair in Folsom

The first option will be repairing your existing gutters so the proper pitch is restored. If the gutters are in good condition and undamaged, this will be the route Folsom Gutter Service encourages.

To re-establish gutter pitch, Folsom Gutter Service will loosen the gutter, but they won’t need to take it totally down. This saves labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and determine the proper pitch and reinstall the gutters, adjusting fasteners if necessary, to fit the specific measurements.

Gutter Installation in Folsom

If your rain gutters are severely damaged, or if they are rusting or wearing down with age, Folsom Gutter Service may recommend to replace them instead of re-pitching them. This can be more economical over time and time-saving.

If your gutters have to be replaced, they will come compete with new fasteners, hardware and downspouts. The installer will set the gutters at the proper pitch. You can reference the tips above to ensure the new installation was done the right way.

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