What is Gutter Pitch?

All gutters are installed at a slight angle so water flows out of them instead of remaining stagnant. They don’t look slanted because installation companies 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 gutter

This calculation tells your gutter installation technician right where to place the downspout so that heavier amounts of precipitation can flow smoothly from your roof. The side of your home’s roof where the downspouts are is the side that should be the lower end.

Longer sections of gutter, like across the front of a home, 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 highest point, and both downspouts need to be lower than this center point.

Gutter Pitch Problems

If your gutters are installed incorrectly or if they have become loose or bent at all, it can create problems that might be costly and complex to fix.

When your gutter pitch is wrong, it can make water back up in your gutter channels. Water is a typical problem around the house, as it can result in all of the following issues:

• Water inside of the gutters can lead to roof damage because of the standing water. When water doesn’t flow from the gutters, water can get underneath the shingles and cause harm to the fascia, sub-roofing and even leak inside your home.
• Standing water is one way mold and mildew can grow on of your roof, gutters or siding. Getting rid of mold is a very hard task, especially when it appears on your roof. Mold is known for ruining organic materials (many of which are common in your house) and even making people sick.
• The weight of pooling water inside your rain gutters can lead them to tear 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 properly pitched, here are a some of the things you can check:

Look for Hanging Spots

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

You should still 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 their feet on the ground.

Check for Standing Water

Water naturally follows the path of least resistance, so any amount of water in your gutters is an issue. If possible, inspect the gutters immediately after rainfall so you can see the flow of the water.

This might 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 Minneapolis Gutter Solutions check it out for you.

Inspect for Shingle Particles

Any tiny granules left behind in the gutters from your roof shingles are a sign that the gutters may not have enough slope, so the water can’t carry these heavier materials away. Grit or sludge inside of your gutters is common after having a new roof installed because it will tend to lose a lot of excess granules in the first couple of years.

You can climb up a ladder and look, or you might see some of the particles making their way out of your gutters by way of the downspouts. If you notice a small amount 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 because of incorrect gutter pitch. If rain water is flowing in the wrong direction, know as “back pitch,” you will probably see water overflowing from the end cap. This can cause damage to your roof, gutters and landscaping.

To remove the possibility of a 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 one more indicator that your gutter pitch may be wrong.

Professional Gutter Damage Repair

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

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

Gutter Repair in Minneapolis

The most affordable option will be repairing your existing gutters so the proper pitch is restored. If the rain gutters are in excellent condition and undamaged, this should be the route Minneapolis Gutter Solutions encourages.

To restore gutter pitch, Minneapolis Gutter Solutions will loosen the gutter, but they won’t need to take it all the way down. This saves labor costs and time. Then the technician will measure and calculate the pitch needed and reinstall the gutters, adjusting fasteners if necessary, to fit the correct measurements.

Gutter Installation in Minneapolis

If your rain gutters are severely damaged, or if they are rusting or wearing down with age, Minneapolis Gutter Solutions may recommend that you replace them instead of re-pitching them. This will be more economical over time and time-saving.

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