What is Gutter Pitch?

Rain gutters are installed at a slight angle so that water drains out instead of remaining stagnant. Gutters don’t appear slanted because installation companies know what they’re doing, but they are.

Gutters should have an angled slope based on this formula:

¼ of an inch of drop per 10 feet of gutter

This calculation tells your gutter installer right where to attach the downspout so that even heavy amounts of rain can flow smoothly from your roof. The side of your home’s roof where the downspouts are located is the side that should be lower.

Longer sections of gutter, like across the front of a house, 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 downspouts should be lower than this middle point.

Gutter Pitch Problems

If gutters are installed the wrong way or if they are loose or bent at all, it can lead to problems that might be expensive and difficult to repair.

When there is a gutter pitch problem, it can make water back up in your gutters. Water is a common problem around the home, as it can result in all of the following issues:

• Rain inside of the gutters can lead to roof damage due to the standing water. When water doesn’t flow from the gutters, water can get underneath the shingles and cause damage to the fascia, sub-roofing and even leak inside your house.
• Standing water is one way mold and mildew can grow on areas of your roof, gutters or siding. Removing mold is a very hard task, especially if it appears on your roof. Mold is known for ruining organic materials (many of which are common in your house) and making people feel ill.
• The weight of blocked water in your gutters can lead them to tear away from your house. The gutters can tear out fasteners from the siding, destroying your vinyl or other exterior material. 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 check:

Look for Hanging Spots

As 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, it is an indication that your gutter has been damaged or it is getting old.

You should be able to see 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

Water follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water inside of your gutters is a problem. Try to check the gutters right 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 PRO Arvada Gutters do it for you.

Inspect for Shingle Particles

Any small granules remaining in the gutters from your roof shingles are a sign that 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 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 and take a look, or you might see some of these particles flowing out of your gutters by way of 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 rain water is flowing the wrong way, called “back pitch,” you will see water overflowing from the end cap. This can problems for your roof, gutters and surrounding landscaping.

To eliminate 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 you are still seeing overflow, it’s one more sign that there is a gutter pitch problem.

Professional Gutter Damage Repair

If your gutter pitch is distorted, it can result in many problems for your house. All of the issues above can let you determine if your gutter pitch is wrong.

Regardless of whether your rain gutters were damaged during a storm or they were installed poorly to begin with, they need to be re-pitched if you want to avoid major home repairs, including damage to siding, leaks and landscape damage.

Gutter Repair in Arvada

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 will be the route PRO Arvada Gutters recommends.

To restore gutter pitch, PRO Arvada Gutters will loosen the gutter, but they won’t have to take it totally down. This saves labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and calculate the proper pitch and reinstall the gutters, relocating fasteners if necessary, to fit the specific measurements.

Gutter Installation in Arvada

If your gutters are severely damaged, or if they are rusting or wearing down with age, PRO Arvada Gutters 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, they will include 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 is done the right way.