What is Gutter Pitch?

All gutters are installed at a slight angle so that water drains out rather than remaining stagnant. Gutters don’t look slanted because installation companies 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 horizontal gutter

This formula tells your gutter installer where to place the downspout so that heavy amounts of rain can flow unobstructed from your roof. The side of your 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, require a downspout on both sides. When this is happening, the rain gutters will need to be pitched from the middle, which means 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 gutters are installed incorrectly or if they are loose or bent at all, it can lead to problems that can be costly and complex to fix.

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

• 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 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. Removing mold is a very hard task, especially when it grows on your roof. Mold is known for destroying organic materials (many of which are common in your home) and even making people sick.
• The weight of blocked water inside your rain gutters can cause them to tear away from your house. The gutters can tear out fasteners from the siding, destroying your vinyl or other exterior materials. It can also destroy surrounding landscaping and windows.

Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?

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

Look for Hanging Spots

Like we said above, you shouldn’t be able to see the slope of your rain gutters. If you can noticeably tell where the low point is, it is a sign that your gutter is damaged or it is getting worn out.

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 naturally follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water in your gutters is an issue. Try to check the gutters immediately after rainfall so you can see the draining of the water.

This might require you to climb a ladder, so be careful. If you aren’t comfortable doing this, you can have a local handyman or a gutter specialist from Cranston Gutters do it for you.

Inspect for Shingle Particles

Any little granules left behind in the gutters from your shingles are a sign that the gutters might not have enough slope, so the water can’t carry these heavier materials out. Grit or sludge inside of 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 few years.

You can climb up and take a look, or you may see some of the particles flowing out of your gutters by way of the downspouts. If you see 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, know as “back pitch,” you will see water overflowing from the end cap. This can problems for your roof, gutters and landscaping.

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

Professional Gutter Damage Repair

If your gutter pitch gets incorrect, it can cause a lot of problems for your home. All of the issues above can let you decide if your gutter pitch is off.

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 avoid major home repairs, including damage to siding, leaks and landscape damage.

Gutter Repair in Cranston

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

To correct gutter pitch, Cranston Gutters will loosen the gutter, but they won’t need to take it completely down. This saves labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and determine the correct pitch and reinstall the gutters, relocating fasteners if necessary, to fit the correct measurements.

Gutter Installation in Cranston

If your gutters are severely damaged, or if they are starting to rust or wear down with age, Cranston Gutters may recommend that you replace them instead of 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 will set the gutters at the proper pitch. You can use the tips in this blog post to make sure the new installation was done the right way.