What is Gutter Pitch?

All gutters are fastened at a slight angle so that water drains out rather than remaining stagnant. Gutters don’t look slanted because installation companies know what they’re doing, but we assure you they are.

Gutters should have an angled slope based on this formula:

¼ of an inch of drop per 10 feet of gutter

This formula tells a gutter installation technician where to attach the downspout so that heavy amounts of precipitation 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.

Long sections of gutter, like across the front of a house, require a downspout on each side. When this is the case, the rain gutters will need to be pitched from the middle, meaning that the middle of the roofline will be the absolute highest point, and both downspouts need to be lower than this middle point.

Gutter Pitch Problems

If gutters are installed incorrectly or if they are loose or bent, it can create problems that can be expensive and complex to repair.

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

• Water inside of the gutters can lead to roof damage because of the standing water. When rain backs up in the gutters, water can get underneath the shingles and cause harm to the fascia, sub-roofing and even leak inside your house.
• Standing rain water is one way mold and mildew can grow on sections of your roof, gutters or siding. Removing mold is a very hard task, especially if it appears on your roof. Mold is known for destroying organic materials (many of which are common in your home) and even making people feel ill.
• The weight of blocked water inside your gutters can cause them to tear away from your house. The gutters can pull fasteners from the siding, destroying your vinyl or other exterior material. 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

As we mentioned above, you shouldn’t be able to notice 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 old.

You should still 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 their feet on the ground.

Check for Standing Water

Rain water naturally follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water inside of your home’s gutters is a problem. If possible, inspect the gutters right after rainfall so you can see the draining of the water.

This might require you to climb a ladder, so exercise caution. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you can have a local handyman or a gutter specialist from TruClean Troy Gutters check it out for you.

Inspect for Shingle Particles

Any small granules left behind in the gutters from your roof shingles are a sign that the gutters may not have enough pitch, so the water can’t carry these materials away. Grit or sludge inside of your gutters is more common after having a new roof installed because it will tend to shed 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 through the downspouts. If you notice a little 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 due to incorrect gutter pitch. If rain water is flowing in the wrong direction, know as “back pitch,” you will see water overflowing from the end cap. This can problems for your roof, gutters and nearby landscaping.

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

Professional Gutter Damage Repair

When your gutter pitch gets incorrect, it can create several problems for your house. All of the problems above can let you know that your gutter pitch is wrong.

No matter if your gutters were damaged or if they were installed incorrectly to begin with, they need to be re-pitched in order to prevent major home repairs, including damage to siding, leaks and landscape damage.

Gutter Repair in Troy

The first option will be repairing the existing gutters so the proper pitch is restored. If the gutters are in good condition and undamaged, this should be the route TruClean Troy Gutters recommends.

To re-establish gutter pitch, TruClean Troy Gutters 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 determine the pitch needed and reinstall the gutters, adjusting fasteners if necessary, to fit the specific measurements.

Gutter Installation in Troy

If your gutters are severely damaged, or if they are rusting or wearing down with age, TruClean Troy Gutters may recommend that you replace them instead of re-pitching them. This will be more economical in the long run and time-saving.

If your gutters need to be replaced, they will come compete with new fasteners, hardware and downspouts. The installer will set the gutters at the proper pitch. You can use the tips above to make sure the new installation was done the right way.