Change Gutter Slope

Use a level to make sure that the existing gutter slopes down toward the downspout.

Change gutter slope.

To correct this yourself you ll need to measure from the peak to the downspout. The gutter should have a quarter inch of slope per 10 feet. This means that your gutter should be a half inch lower in height at every 10 foot mark until you reach the downspout. The gutter slope also called the pitch is the amount the gutter tilts down to let rainwater flow out of it.

Measure from the roof edge at both ends of the gutter if you want to be sure. 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. Put a temporary screw at the back to adjust the pitch. For example if the gutter is 16 feet long the end near the down spout must be 1 inch lower than the starting end.

Snap a chalk line between the two and find the spots where the gutter is out of alignment. The standard slope for rain gutters is half of an inch for every 10 feet. Use a hammer and crowbar to loosen the gutter. Granade roofing on another awesome seamless gutter project adjusting a section of gutter to get the proper flow of water.

If gutters slope too severely they don t hold water and water could splash over the sides in heavy rain. Step 2 test old gutters for slope. 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. A good guideline is that the pitch should cause a decrease somewhere between 1 to 2 inches over a 40 foot run.

If you re changing out to a bigger gutter you only need make sure that the side that mounts is about the same size as your current gutters in order to use the old gutter as a guide. Most contractors tend to set the slop at one quarter inch per ten feet of guttering. You want at least a quarter inch of slope for every 10 feet. The amount of collected water increases until it spills over the sides of the gutter.

To get started measure the side of the house directly under the gutter to determine its length in feet. Once the gutter is properly pitched re install the gutter. If there s standing water it s not pitched properly. Drop the gutter to the desired angle sloping it toward the downspout.

If gutters don t slope water gathers in them. Loosen the drip edge with a screwdriver. Most gutters are either 5 or 6 gutters. Get on a ladder after a rainstorm and look in the gutter.

So what s the ideal amount of slope for your gutters. 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. To adjust the slope of the gutter wearing gloves pop out the gutter pegs on the side and around the corners.