Change Gutter Slope

If gutters slope too severely they don t hold water and water could splash over the sides in heavy rain.

Change gutter slope.

For example if the gutter is 16 feet long the end near the down spout must be 1 inch lower than the starting end. For gutter runs longer than 40 feet it s best to pitch the gutter down from the middle to a downspout at each end. Multiply the number of feet by 1 16 inch to determine the total slope the gutter requires. The standard slope for rain gutters is half of an inch for every 10 feet.

Measure from the roof edge at both ends of the gutter if you want to be sure. This means that your gutter should be a half inch lower in height at every 10 foot mark until you reach the downspout. If gutters don t slope water gathers in them. To ensure that gutters drain properly make certain they slope inch for every 10 feet toward a downspout.

Put a temporary screw at the back to adjust the pitch. Pull the gutter down about 3 quarters of an inch lower than it originally was. So if you have a 25 foot section of guttering you should set the downspout end of the gutter 5 8 of an inch lower 1 4 x 2 5 5 8 than the other end. Or you can slope the gutters down from each end toward a single downspout placed in the middle of the run.

The amount of collected water increases until it spills over the sides of the gutter. So what s the ideal amount of slope for your gutters. A good guideline is that the pitch should cause a decrease somewhere between 1 to 2 inches over a 40 foot run. Home centers sell a gutter apron in 10 ft.

You may have to temporarily remove your hangers as you go or you can notch out the apron around them. If your gutters don t slope then you only need to adjust the hangers and lower them slightly where necessary to achieve the correct slope. Most contractors tend to set the slop at one quarter inch per ten feet of guttering. To get started measure the side of the house directly under the gutter to determine its length in feet.

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. Once the gutter is properly pitched re install the gutter brackets.