What is Gutter Pitch?

All gutters are set at a slight angle so water drains out rather than remaining stagnant. They don’t look 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 calculation tells your gutter installation technician where to fasten the downspout so that even heavy amounts of precipitation can flow smoothly from your roof. The side of your roof where the downspouts are located is the side that should be lower.

Longer areas of gutter, like across the front of a house, may require a downspout on each side. When this is the case, the gutters will be pitched from the middle, meaning that the center 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 have become loose or bent at all, it can lead to problems that might be costly and complex to repair.

When there is something wrong with your gutter pitch, it can cause water to back up in your gutters. Water is a common issue around the home, as it can cause all of the issues below:

• Water in the gutters can cause roof damage because of the standing water. When it backs up in the gutters, water can get underneath the shingles and cause harm to the fascia, sub-roofing and even get inside your house.
• Pooling rain water is one way mildew and mold can grow on areas of your roof, gutters or siding. Removing mold is a challenging task, especially if it appears on your roof. Mold is known for destroying organic materials (many of which exist in your home) and making people sick.
• The weight of blocked water inside your rain gutters can cause them to pull away from your roof. The gutters can pull fasteners from the siding, damaging your vinyl or other exterior materials. It can also ruin surrounding landscaping and windows.

Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?

To be confident your gutters are properly pitched, here are a few 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 visibly tell where the low point is, this is an indication that your gutter is damaged or that 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 inside of your gutters is a problem. If possible, examine the gutters immediately after rainfall so you can see the flow of the water.

This could force you to climb a ladder, so exercise caution. If you aren’t comfortable doing this, you can have a local handyman or a gutter specialist from Seattle Gutter Solutions do it for you.

Inspect for Shingle Particles

Any little granules remaining in the gutters from your roof shingles means the rain gutters might not have enough pitch, so the water can’t carry these materials out. Grit or sludge inside of your gutters is common after getting a new roof installed because it will tend to lose excess granules in the first few years.

You can climb up a ladder and look, or you may notice some of the particles making their way out of your gutters through the downspouts. If you see a little in these areas, chances are there is more that is unable to make its way out.

Why is There Overflow?

Gutter overflow is usually caused by a blockage, but it can also be the result of incorrect gutter pitch. If rain water is flowing the wrong way, know as “back pitch,” you will see water overflowing at the end cap. This can cause damage to 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 you are still seeing overflow, it’s another indicator that there is a gutter pitch problem.

Professional Gutter Damage Repair

If your gutter pitch is incorrect, it can create several problems for your house. All of the problems above can let you decide if your gutter pitch is off.

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

Gutter Repair in Seattle

The most affordable option will be repairing the existing gutters so the pitch is restored. If the gutters are in good condition and undamaged, this should be the route Seattle Gutter Solutions recommends.

To restore gutter pitch, Seattle Gutter Solutions will loosen the gutter, but they won’t have to take it completely down. This lowers labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and calculate the correct pitch and reinstall the gutters, adjusting fasteners if necessary, to fit the specific measurements.

Gutter Installation in Seattle

If your rain gutters are permanently damaged, or if they are rusting or wearing down with age, Seattle Gutter Solutions may recommend to 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 with new ones, they will come compete with new fasteners, hardware and downspouts. The installer should set the gutters at the correct pitch. You can reference the tips in this blog post to make sure the new installation is done correctly.