What is Gutter Pitch?
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All gutters are fastened at a slight angle so water flows out rather than remaining stagnant. Gutters don’t appear slanted because installation companies know what they’re doing, but we assure you 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 a gutter installation technician where to attach the downspout so that even heavy amounts of precipitation can flow unobstructed from your roof. The side of your roof where the downspouts are located is the side that should be lower.
Longer sections of gutter, like across the front of a home, require a downspout on each side. When this is the situation, the gutters will need to be pitched from the middle, which means that the center of the roofline will be the highest point, and both downspouts need to be lower than this center point.
Gutter Pitch Problems
If your gutters are installed the wrong way or if they have become loose or bent at all, it can cause problems that can be costly and difficult to repair.
When there is something wrong with your gutter pitch, it can make water back up in your gutter channels. Water is a common issue around the house, as it can lead to all of the following issues:
- Water inside of the gutters can cause roof damage because of the standing water. When it backs up in the gutters, water can seep under the shingles and cause harm to the fascia, sub-roofing and even get inside your house.
- Pooling water is one way mildew and mold can grow on sections of your roof, gutters or siding. Removing mold is a challenging project, especially when it appears on your roof. Mold is known for destroying organic materials (many of which exist in your home) and even making people feel ill.
- The weight of standing water in your rain gutters can lead them to tear away from your house. The gutters can tear out fasteners from the walls, damaging your vinyl or other exterior material. It can also destroy surrounding landscaping and windows.
Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?
To make sure your gutters are correctly pitched, here are a some of the things you can do:
Look for Hanging Spots
Like we said before, you shouldn’t be able to see the slope of your rain gutters. If you can noticeably tell where the low spot is, it is an indication that your gutter is damaged or that it is getting worn out.
You should be able to notice 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
Rain water follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water in your gutters is a problem. If possible, inspect the gutters immediately after rainfall so you can see the draining of the water.
This could force 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 Oak Park Gutter Cleaning check it out for you.
Inspect for Shingle Particles
Any small granules left behind in the gutters from your roof shingles means the gutters may not have enough pitch, so the water can’t carry these materials away. Grit or sludge inside of your gutters is common after having a new roof installed because it will tend to shed excess granules in the first couple of years.
You can climb up a ladder and look, or you may see some of these particles flowing 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 the result of incorrect gutter pitch. If water is flowing the wrong direction, know as “back pitch,” you will probably see water overflowing at the end cap. This can problems for your roof, gutters and surrounding landscaping.
To stop 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 indicator that your gutter pitch may be wrong.
Professional Gutter Damage Repair
When your gutter pitch gets distorted, it can create many problems for your house. All of the problems above can let you determine if your gutter pitch is off.
No matter if your rain gutters were damaged during a storm or they were installed incorrectly in the first place, they need to be re-pitched in order to avoid major home repairs, including damage to siding, leaks and landscape damage.
Gutter Repair in Oak Park
The most affordable option will be repairing the existing gutters so the correct pitch is restored. If the rain gutters are in excellent condition and undamaged, this should be the route Oak Park Gutter Cleaning encourages.
To restore gutter pitch, Oak Park Gutter Cleaning 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 calculate the correct pitch and reinstall the gutters, relocating fasteners if necessary, to fit the correct measurements.
Gutter Installation in Oak Park
If your rain gutters are severely damaged, or if they are starting to rust or wear down with age, Oak Park Gutter Cleaning may recommend that you replace them rather than 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 proper pitch. You can use our tips in this blog post to make sure the new installation was done the right way.