What is Gutter Pitch?

Gutters are fastened at a slight angle so that water drains out rather than remaining stagnant. Gutters don’t appear 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 a gutter installer where to attach the downspout so that heavy amounts of rain 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 areas of gutter, like across the front of a house, require a downspout on both sides. When this is the situation, the rain gutters will be pitched from the middle, which means 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, it can cause problems that can be expensive and complex to repair.

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

• Rain in the gutters can lead to roof damage because of the standing water. When it doesn’t flow from the gutters, water can seep under the shingles and cause damage to the fascia, sub-roofing and even get inside your house.
• Pooling 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 when it appears on your roof. Mold is known for ruining organic materials (many of which exist in your house) and making people sick.
• The weight of pooling water inside your rain gutters can lead them to tear away from your home. The gutters can tear out fasteners from the walls, destroying your vinyl or other exterior material. It can also ruin landscaping and windows.

Do You Have a Gutter Pitch Problem?

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

Look for Hanging Spots

As we mentioned before, you shouldn’t be able to notice the slope of your gutters. If you can visibly identify where the low point is, it is an indication that your gutter has been damaged or that it is getting worn out.

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 their feet on the ground.

Check for Standing Water

Rain water naturally follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water in your home’s gutters is an issue. Try to inspect the gutters right after rainfall so you can see the flow of the water.

This could 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 LikeNew Lawton Gutters check it out for you.

Inspect for Shingle Particles

Any little granules remaining in the gutters from your roof shingles are a sign that the rain gutters might not have enough pitch, so the water can’t carry these heavier materials away. 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 couple of years.

You can climb up and take a look, or you may notice some of the particles flowing out of your gutters from the downspouts. If you notice 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 usually caused by a blockage, but it can also be due to incorrect gutter pitch. If rain water is flowing 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 prevent 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 sign that your gutter pitch may be wrong.

Professional Gutter Damage Repair

When your gutter pitch is distorted, it can lead to many problems for your home. All of the issues above can let you know that your gutter pitch is off.

No matter if your gutters were damaged during a storm or they were installed poorly in the first place, they need to be re-pitched if you want to avoid significant home repairs, including damage to siding, leaks and landscape damage.

Gutter Repair in Lawton

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 LikeNew Lawton Gutters encourages.

To restore gutter pitch, LikeNew Lawton Gutters will loosen the gutter, but they won’t need to take it completely 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 correct measurements.

Gutter Installation in Lawton

If your rain gutters are severely damaged, or if they are starting to rust or wear down with age, LikeNew Lawton Gutters may recommend to replace them instead of re-pitching them. This can be more economical in the long run and time-saving.

If your gutters need to be replaced, they will include new fasteners, hardware and downspouts. The installer will set the gutters at the appropriate pitch. You can reference our tips in this blog post to make sure the new installation is done correctly.