Gutters are extremely important in keeping your home safe from moisture issues and water damage. With many tutorials online, you may start to think that installing gutters is easy to do. However, this is not the case because there are problems that can be created due to improper installation. Pechacek’s General Contracting is here to explain why determining gutter pitch, placement and hanger spacing is best left in the hands of professionals.
You may be thinking that your gutters are installed completely parallel to the roofline of your home. However, professional gutter installation contractors make sure that there is a slight inclination that will cause rainwater to flow straight to the downspout. Without this slope, there will not be proper drainage. Your contractor will make sure that the pitch of your gutters is not too moderate, nor too sharp, but just enough to lead water to the downspouts.
Not doing this step will prevent the gutters from doing their job. Your gutters may end up not draining well or looking unpleasant with a pitch that is too sharp.
Many homeowners believe that their gutters are attached right on their roofline. However, this would cause a lot of damage to your home in the long run. Contractors will never attach your gutters on your roofline. Instead, they will place your gutters a few inches lower on the roof. This way, rainwater does not enter the underside of the roof. You would want to make sure that rainwater stays in your gutters and downspouts, and away from your home’s walls and roofing.
It’s important to make sure that your gutter hangers have enough spacing. The spacing will be determined by the general climate in your area. If there is improper spacing between your hangers, this may create gutter sag in certain spots. Eventually, rainwater, snow and ice will collect in these sags and the weight will be too much for your hangers. You would then see your gutters detach from your home.