What is Gutter Pitch?

All gutters are installed at a slight angle so water drains out of them rather than remaining stagnant. Gutters don’t appear slanted because installation pros know exactly what they’re doing, but we assure you 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 fasten the downspout so that even heavier amounts of rain can flow smoothly from your roof. The side of your roof where the downspouts are is the side that should be lower.

Longer areas of gutter, like across the front of a house, require a downspout on each side. When this is happening, the rain gutters will be pitched from the middle, meaning that the middle 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 gutters are installed the wrong way or if they have become loose or bent at all, it can create problems that can be expensive and difficult to fix.

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

• Rain in the gutters can lead to roof damage because of the standing water. When it doesn’t flow from the gutters, water can get underneath the shingles and cause harm to the fascia, sub-roofing and even leak inside your home.
• Standing water is one way mildew and mold can grow on areas of your roof, gutters or siding. Removing mold is a very hard task, especially when it appears on your roof. Mold is known for destroying organic materials (many of which are common in your home) and making people feel ill.
• The weight of blocked water inside your rain gutters can cause them to pull away from your house. The gutters can pull 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 ensure your gutters are correctly pitched, here are a some of the things you can check:

Look for Hanging Spots

Like we said before, you shouldn’t be able to see the slope of your rain gutters. If you can visibly identify where the low spot is, it is a sign that your gutter is damaged or 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 you can do on your own, with both feet on the ground.

Check for Standing Water

Water naturally follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water in your gutters is a problem. If possible, check the gutters immediately after rainfall so you can see the draining of the water.

This may require you to climb a ladder, so exercise caution. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you can have a handyman or a gutter specialist from Mentor Gutters & More! do it for you.

Inspect for Shingle Particles

Any little granules left behind in the gutters from your roof shingles means the gutters might not have enough slope, so the water can’t carry these materials away. Seeing grit or sludge inside of your gutters is common after having a new roof installed because it will tend to lose a lot of excess particles in the first few years.

You can climb up a ladder and take a look, or you might notice some of these particles flowing out of your gutters through 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 typically caused by a blockage, but it can also be due to incorrect gutter pitch. If water is flowing the wrong way, called “back pitch,” you will probably see water overflowing at 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 indicator that there is a gutter pitch problem.

Professional Gutter Damage Repair

When your gutter pitch gets distorted, it can cause many problems for your home. All of the problems above can let you decide if your gutter pitch is off.

Regardless of whether your gutters were damaged or they were installed poorly to begin with, they need to be re-pitched in order to prevent major home repairs, including damage to siding, leaks and landscape damage.

Gutter Repair in Mentor

The first option will be repairing your existing gutters so the pitch is restored. If the rain gutters are in good condition and undamaged, this should be the route Mentor Gutters & More! encourages.

To restore gutter pitch, Mentor Gutters & More! will loosen the gutter, but they won’t have to take it totally down. This lowers labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and calculate the pitch needed and reinstall the gutters, moving fasteners if necessary, to fit the specific measurements.

Gutter Installation in Mentor

If your rain gutters are permanently damaged, or if they are rusting or wearing down with age, Mentor Gutters & More! may recommend that you replace them instead of re-pitching them. This can be more economical over time and time-saving.

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