What is Gutter Pitch?

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

Gutters should have a specific slope based on this formula:

¼ of an inch of drop per 10 feet of gutter

This formula tells a gutter installation technician where to place the downspout so that 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 lower.

Longer sections of gutter, like across the front of a house, may require a downspout on each side. When this is the situation, the gutters will be pitched from the middle, which means that the middle of the roofline will be the absolute highest point, and both of the downspouts need to be lower than this center point.

Gutter Pitch Problems

If gutters are installed incorrectly or if they have become loose or bent, it can lead to problems that can be expensive and difficult to fix.

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

• Water in the gutters can lead to roof damage because of the standing water. When it 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 home.
• Standing water is one way mold and mildew can grow on sections of your roof, gutters or siding. Getting rid of mold is a challenging task, especially if it appears on your roof. Mold is known for ruining organic materials (many of which are common in your home) and making people feel ill.
• The weight of standing water in your gutters can cause them to pull away from your house. The gutters can tear out fasteners from the siding, damaging your vinyl or other exterior materials. It can also destroy landscaping and windows.

Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?

To ensure your gutters are correctly pitched, here are a some of the things you can do:

Look for Hanging Spots

Like we mentioned above, you shouldn’t be able to notice the slope of your rain gutters. If you can noticeably identify where the low spot is, it is a sign 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 you can do on your 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 home’s gutters is an issue. Try to check the gutters immediately after rainfall so you can see the draining of the water.

This may 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 Clean Home Gutters do it for you.

Inspect for Shingle Particles

Any little granules remaining in the gutters from your 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 and take a look, or you may notice some of the particles flowing out of your gutters through 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 sometimes caused by a blockage, but it can also be due to incorrect gutter pitch. If rain water is flowing the wrong direction, called “back pitch,” you will see water overflowing from the end cap. This can cause 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 is still overflow, it’s another indicator that there is a gutter pitch problem.

Professional Gutter Damage Repair

When your gutter pitch gets incorrect, it can result in many problems for your house. All of the issues above can let you determine if your gutter pitch is off.

No matter if your 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 damage to siding, leaks and landscape damage.

Gutter Repair in Hamilton

The first option will be repairing your existing gutters so the proper pitch is restored. If the gutters are in excellent condition and undamaged, this should be the route Clean Home Gutters recommends.

To correct gutter pitch, Clean Home Gutters 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, moving fasteners if necessary, to fit the specific measurements.

Gutter Installation in Hamilton

If your gutters are severely damaged, or if they are rusting or wearing down with age, Clean Home Gutters may recommend to replace them rather than re-pitching them. This will be more economical over time and time-saving.

If your gutters have to be replaced with new ones, they will come compete with new fasteners, hardware and downspouts. The installer will set the gutters at the correct pitch. You can reference the tips above to make sure the new installation was done correctly.