What is Gutter Pitch?
All gutters are fastened at a slight angle so that water flows out rather than sitting stagnant. Gutters don’t appear slanted because installation pros know 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 heavier amounts of precipitation can flow unobstructed from your roof. The side of your roof where the downspouts are is the side that should be lower.
Long areas of gutter, like across the front of a house, may require a downspout on each side. When this is the situation, the rain gutters will be pitched from the middle, which means that the center of the roofline will be the absolute highest point, and both downspouts should be lower than this center point.
Gutter Pitch Problems
If gutters are installed incorrectly or if they have become loose or bent, it can cause problems that might be costly and complex to fix.
When your gutter pitch is wrong, it can cause water to back up in your gutters. Water is a typical problem around the home, as it can cause all of the following issues:
- Rain inside of the gutters can cause roof damage because of the standing water. When water doesn’t flow from the gutters, water can get underneath the shingles and cause harm to the fascia, sub-roofing and even get inside your home.
- Standing water is one way mildew and mold can grow on sections of your roof, gutters or siding. Removing mold is a difficult project, especially when it grows on your roof. Mold is known for ruining organic materials (many of which exist in your house) and even making people feel ill.
- The weight of blocked water inside your gutters can cause them to tear away from your home. The gutters can tear out fasteners from the walls, damaging your vinyl or other exterior materials. It can also destroy surrounding landscaping and windows.
Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?
To ensure your gutters are properly pitched, here are a some of the things you can check:
Look for Hanging Spots
Like we mentioned above, you shouldn’t be able to see the slope of your rain gutters. If you can noticeably tell where the low spot is, this is an indication that your gutter is damaged or 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 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 an issue. If possible, check the gutters immediately after rainfall so you can see the flow of the water.
This could force 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 Iowa City Gutter Solutions do it for you.
Inspect for Shingle Particles
Any tiny granules remaining in the gutters from your shingles means the gutters may not have enough slope, so the water can’t carry these materials away. Grit or sludge inside of your gutters is common after getting 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 may see some of the particles flowing out of your gutters from 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 sometimes 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 see water overflowing from the end cap. This can damage to your roof, gutters and landscaping.
To remove the possibility of 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 one more indicator that there is a gutter pitch problem.
Professional Gutter Damage Repair
If your gutter pitch is distorted, it can result in a lot of problems for your house. All of the issues above can let you know that your gutter pitch is not right.
Regardless of whether your gutters were damaged or they were installed incorrectly in the first place, they need to be re-pitched in order to prevent significant home repairs, including siding damage, leaks and landscape damage.
Gutter Repair in Iowa City
The first option will be repairing your existing gutters so the correct pitch is restored. If the gutters are in prime condition and undamaged, this will be the route Iowa City Gutter Solutions recommends.
To re-establish gutter pitch, Iowa City Gutter Solutions 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 calculate the proper pitch and reinstall the gutters, moving fasteners if necessary, to fit the correct measurements.
Gutter Installation in Iowa City
If your gutters are permanently damaged, or if they are starting to rust or wear down with age, Iowa City Gutter Solutions 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 will set the gutters at the correct pitch. You can reference the tips in this blog post to ensure the new installation was done correctly.