What is Gutter Pitch?

Rain gutters are fastened at a slight angle so water flows out instead of sitting stagnant. Gutters don’t look slanted because installation pros know exactly what they’re doing, but we assure you they are.

Gutters have a specific slope based on this formula:

¼ of an inch of drop per 10 feet of horizontal gutter

This formula tells your gutter installer right where to place the downspout so that heavy amounts of rain can flow smoothly from your roof. The side of your roof where the downspouts are is the side that should be the lower end.

Long areas of gutter, like across the front of a house, require a downspout on each side. 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 downspouts need to be lower than this center point.

Gutter Pitch Problems

If gutters are installed the wrong way or if they have become loose or bent, it can cause problems that can be costly 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 following issues:

• Rain in the gutters can lead to 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 leak inside your house.
• Standing water is one way mold and mildew can grow on of your roof, gutters or siding. Getting rid of mold is a challenging task, especially if it grows on your roof. Mold is known for ruining organic materials (many of which exist in your house) and making people feel ill.
• The weight of pooling water inside your gutters can lead them to pull away from your roof. The gutters can pull fasteners from the siding, damaging your vinyl or other exterior material. It can also destroy landscaping and windows.

Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?

To be confident your gutters are correctly pitched, here are a some of the things you can do:

Look for Hanging Spots

As we mentioned before, you shouldn’t be able to notice the slope of your rain gutters. If you can visibly tell where the low spot is, this is a sign that your gutter has been damaged or it is getting worn out.

You should be able to see a dip in the gutters from the ground, so this is a safe job that you can do on your 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 an issue. If possible, examine the gutters right after rainfall so you can see the draining of the water.

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

Inspect for Shingle Particles

Any little granules remaining in the gutters from your roof shingles means the gutters may not have enough pitch, so the water can’t carry these heavier materials away. Seeing grit or sludge in your gutters is common after getting a new roof installed because it will tend to shed a lot of excess granules in the first couple of years.

You can climb up a ladder and take a look, or you might notice some of the particles flowing out of your gutters through the downspouts. If you see a little in these areas, chances are 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 because of incorrect gutter pitch. If 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 eliminate the possibility of 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 incorrect, it can create many problems for your house. All of the issues above can let you determine if your gutter pitch is not right.

Regardless of whether your rain gutters were damaged or if they were installed incorrectly in the first place, they need to be re-pitched in order to avoid expensive home repairs, including siding damage, leaks and landscape damage.

Gutter Repair in Ann Arbor

The first option will be repairing the existing gutters so the pitch is restored. If the gutters are in prime condition and undamaged, this should be the route AllClean Ann Arbor Gutters encourages.

To re-establish gutter pitch, AllClean Ann Arbor Gutters will loosen the gutter, but they won’t need to take it totally down. This lowers 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 specific measurements.

Gutter Installation in Ann Arbor

If your rain gutters are severely damaged, or if they are rusting or wearing down with age, AllClean Ann Arbor Gutters may recommend that you replace them rather than re-pitching them. This can be more economical in the long run and time-saving.

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