What is Gutter Pitch?

Gutters are installed at a slight angle so water drains out of them rather than sitting stagnant. They don’t look slanted because installation pros know exactly what they’re doing, but we assure you they are.

Gutters should have a specific slope based on this formula:

¼ of an inch of drop per 10 feet of gutter

This formula tells your gutter installation technician where to fasten 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 located is the side that should be the lower end.

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

Gutter Pitch Problems

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

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

• Rain in the gutters can cause roof damage due to the standing water. When water backs up in the gutters, water can seep under the shingles and cause damage to the fascia, sub-roofing and even leak inside your home.
• Pooling rain water is one way mold and mildew can grow on of your roof, gutters or siding. Removing mold is a difficult task, especially if it grows 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 pooling water in your gutters can cause them to pull away from your house. The gutters can pull fasteners from the walls, destroying your vinyl or other exterior material. It can also destroy landscaping and windows.

Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?

To ensure your gutters are correctly pitched, here are a few things you can check:

Look for Hanging Spots

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

You should still be able to notice 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 home’s gutters is an issue. If possible, examine the gutters right after rainfall so you can see the flow of the water.

This might require 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 Better Beaverton Gutters check it out for you.

Inspect for Shingle Particles

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

You can climb up a ladder and take a look, or you may 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 the result of incorrect gutter pitch. If rain water is flowing in the wrong direction, know as “back pitch,” you will see water overflowing at the end cap. This can problems for your roof, gutters and 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 one more indicator that your gutter pitch may be wrong.

Professional Gutter Damage Repair

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

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

Gutter Repair in Beaverton

The most affordable option will be repairing the existing gutters so the correct pitch is restored. If the gutters are in prime condition and undamaged, this will be the route Better Beaverton Gutters encourages.

To correct gutter pitch, Better Beaverton Gutters will loosen the gutter, but they won’t have to take it completely down. This saves labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and calculate the pitch needed and reinstall the gutters, moving fasteners if necessary, to fit the specific measurements.

Gutter Installation in Beaverton

If your rain gutters are severely damaged, or if they are rusting or wearing down with age, Better Beaverton Gutters may recommend to 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, 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 is done the right way.