What is Gutter Pitch?

All gutters are installed at a slight angle so water drains out rather than sitting stagnant. Gutters 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 calculation tells your gutter installation technician 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 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 each side. When this is the case, the gutters will need to be pitched from the middle, meaning that the middle of the roofline will be the highest point, and both of the downspouts need to be lower than this middle point.

Gutter Pitch Problems

If your gutters are installed incorrectly or if they are loose or bent, it can lead to problems that might be expensive and complex to fix.

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

• Rain in the gutters can cause roof damage because of the standing water. When water backs up in the gutters, water can seep under the shingles and cause damage to the fascia, sub-roofing and even get inside your house.
• Standing water is one way mold and mildew can grow on 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 exist in your home) and even making people sick.
• The weight of pooling water inside your rain gutters can cause them to tear away from your house. The gutters can tear out fasteners from the walls, damaging your vinyl or other exterior materials. It can also damage surrounding landscaping and windows.

Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?

To make sure your gutters are properly pitched, here are a some of the things you can do:

Look for Hanging Spots

Like we mentioned before, you shouldn’t be able to notice the slope of your gutters. If you can visibly tell where the low point is, it is a sign that your gutter has been damaged or that it is getting old.

You should still be able to see 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 in your home’s gutters is a problem. If possible, check the gutters immediately after rainfall so you can see the flow of the water.

This might force 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 Stockton Gutter Specialists do it for you.

Inspect for Shingle Particles

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

You can climb up and look, or you might see some of these particles flowing out of your gutters by way of the downspouts. If you see a little in these areas, chances are 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 due to 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 cause problems for your roof, gutters and nearby landscaping.

To prevent the possibility of a blockage, schedule gutter cleaning at least once a year or install gutter guards. If the gutters are clean but you are still seeing overflow, it’s another sign that there is a gutter pitch problem.

Professional Gutter Damage Repair

If your gutter pitch is distorted, it can cause many problems for your house. All of the problems above can let you decide if your gutter pitch is wrong.

No matter if your rain gutters were damaged or they were installed poorly in the first place, they need to be re-pitched if you want to prevent significant home repairs, including damage to siding, leaks and landscape damage.

Gutter Repair in Stockton

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 should be the route Stockton Gutter Specialists recommends.

To restore gutter pitch, Stockton Gutter Specialists will loosen the gutter, but they won’t need to take it completely down. This lowers labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and determine the pitch needed and reinstall the gutters, adjusting fasteners if necessary, to fit the specific measurements.

Gutter Installation in Stockton

If your gutters are permanently damaged, or if they are rusting or wearing down with age, Stockton Gutter Specialists may recommend that you replace them rather than re-pitching them. This can be more economical in the long run 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 will set the gutters at the appropriate pitch. You can use our tips in this blog post to make sure the new installation was done correctly.