What is Gutter Pitch?

All gutters are fastened at a slight angle so that water drains out of them instead of sitting stagnant. Gutters don’t look slanted because installation pros know exactly what they’re doing, but they are.

Gutters should have an angled slope based on this formula:

¼ of an inch of drop per 10 feet of gutter

This formula tells a gutter installer where to place the downspout so that heavy 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 the lower end.

Long areas of gutter, like across the front of a home, require a downspout on both sides. When this is the situation, the gutters will need to be pitched from the middle, meaning 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 your gutters are installed incorrectly or if they are loose or bent at all, it can cause problems that might be expensive and difficult to repair.

When there is a gutter pitch problem, it can make water back up in your gutters. Water is a typical issue around the house, as it can result in all of the following issues:

• Water in the gutters can cause roof damage because of the standing water. When it doesn’t flow from the gutters, water can seep under the shingles and cause harm to the fascia, sub-roofing and even leak inside your home.
• Standing rain water is one way mildew and mold can grow on of your roof, gutters or siding. Removing mold is a very hard task, especially if it grows on your roof. Mold is known for destroying organic materials (many of which are common in your house) and even making people sick.
• The weight of pooling water in your rain gutters can cause 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 damage surrounding landscaping and windows.

Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?

To make sure your gutters are correctly pitched, here are a few things you can do:

Look for Hanging Spots

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

You should be able to see a dip in the gutters from below, 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 gutters is a problem. Try to inspect the gutters right after rainfall so you can see the draining of the water.

This might 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 PRO Roswell Gutters check it out for you.

Inspect for Shingle Particles

Any small granules remaining in the gutters from your roof shingles means the gutters might not have enough slope, so the water can’t carry these heavier materials away. Grit or sludge inside of your gutters is more common after getting a new roof installed because it will tend to shed a lot of excess particles in the first couple of years.

You can climb up a ladder and look, or you may notice some of these particles making their way out of your gutters from the downspouts. If you notice 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 typically 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 probably see water overflowing from the end cap. This can problems for your roof, gutters and landscaping.

To stop the possibility of a 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 one more sign that your gutter pitch may be wrong.

Professional Gutter Damage Repair

If your gutter pitch gets distorted, it can cause several problems for your home. All of the issues above can let you determine if your gutter pitch is not right.

No matter if your rain gutters were damaged during a storm or 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 Roswell

The first option will be repairing the existing gutters so the correct pitch is restored. If the gutters are in excellent condition and undamaged, this should be the route PRO Roswell Gutters recommends.

To correct gutter pitch, PRO Roswell 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 calculate the correct pitch and reinstall the gutters, moving fasteners if necessary, to fit the specific measurements.

Gutter Installation in Roswell

If your gutters are permanently damaged, or if they are starting to rust or wear down with age, PRO Roswell Gutters may recommend that you replace them instead of re-pitching them. This can be more economical over time and time-saving.

If your gutters have to be replaced with new ones, they will include new fasteners, hardware and downspouts. The installer should set the gutters at the correct pitch. You can reference our tips in this blog post to make sure the new installation is done correctly.