Correct Gutter Slope

Roof gutters need to be pitched toward the downpipes for the water to flow properly.

Correct gutter slope.

So what s the ideal amount of slope for your gutters. If there s standing water it s not pitched properly. Gutters need to be pitched toward the downspouts for the water to flow properly. To ensure that gutters drain properly make certain they slope inch for every 10 feet toward a downspout.

To correct this yourself you ll need to measure from the peak to the downspout. As a general rule gutter slope is set at 1 4 inch per 10 feet of guttering. Get on a ladder after a rainstorm and look in the gutter. Most contractors tend to set the slop at one quarter inch per ten feet of guttering.

Slope calculation this is a critical aspect in any rain gutter installation. There are two factors that go into determining gutter position on the eave the pitch of the gutter and the roof slope. Gutter can be run level for appearance but addition downspout will be necessary see section on proper gutter and downspout sizing. 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.

When you look at a rain gutter system from the ground it looks like it was parallel to the roofline of the house but they are slightly inclined so rainwater can flow straight to the downspout without problems. This means that your gutter should be a half inch lower in height at every 10 foot mark until you reach the downspout. Gutter should be pitched 1 16 or greater per foot for proper drainage. The standard slope for rain gutters is half of an inch for every 10 feet.

Next place a ladder at the left side of the house and measure from the roof down to the gutter. 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 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. You want at least a quarter inch of slope for every 10 feet.

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. For example if you have 30 feet of guttering the calculation is 1 4 x 3 0 75 i e.