Gutter Slope Repair

For spans longer than 40 feet it s wise to have a downspout on each end and start the high spot of the gutter in the center.

Gutter slope repair.

Mark the locations of all the rafter tails on the. Multiply the number of feet by 1 16 inch to determine the total slope the gutter requires. The ideal slope is 1 4 inch to 1 2 inch decline for every 20 feet of gutter running toward the downspout. Start on the end of the gutter farthest from the downspout and measure the space from the roof edge to the top of the gutter.

If gutters slope too severely they don t hold water and water could splash over the sides in heavy rain. If gutters don t slope water gathers in them. Use a level to make sure it s sloping downward. The gutter slope also called the pitch is the amount the gutter tilts down to let rainwater flow out of it.

The standard slope for rain gutters is half of an inch for every 10 feet. Luckily most common gutter problems are easy for homeowners to fix themselves. Wire brush the metal thoroughly to get rid of rust and to give the tape a clean. Or you can slope the gutters down from each end toward a single downspout placed in the middle of the run.

Put a temporary screw at the back to adjust the pitch. Drive one screw through the rear center of the gutter to hold it in place. For gutter runs longer than 40 feet it s best to pitch the gutter down from the middle to a downspout at each end. Prepare the gutter by scraping out as much old tar or caulk as possible.

To fix this detach the hangers and adjust the gutter to get the correct slope for proper water flow. Pull down on the end of the gutter to create the proper pitch toward the downspout. Unscrew and discard the old gutter brackets. For example if the gutter is 16 feet long the end near the down spout must be 1 inch lower than the starting end.

Measure the length of the gutter that you plan to adjust. The amount of collected water increases until it spills over the sides of the gutter. Drive in one screw to hold the gutter in position. How to fix gutter slope.

And it s worth the effort. If you notice standing water this means your gutter isn t correctly pitched. Gutters are one of those things where routine maintenance and inspecting them can really prevent bigger problems down the road says jason stutzman director of home maintenance and repair for brothers redevelopment in denver. This means that your gutter should be a half inch lower in height at every 10 foot mark until you reach the downspout.

A gutter over 30 feet needs two downspouts. Once the gutter is properly pitched re install the gutter brackets. To ensure that gutters drain properly make certain they slope inch for every 10 feet toward a downspout. The gutter should have a quarter inch of slope per 10 feet.

If your gutter is still basically sound the easiest way to stop the leak is by covering the damaged area with roof and gutter repair tape available at home centers and hardware stores. It should pitch from the middle toward the downspouts at each end.