I was taught years ago to hang gutters level.
In recent discussion and reading I’ve been told or read, gutters should have pitch.
Not that this doesn’t make sense but water can’t go any higher than level no matter how fast the water may be moving.
Any thoughts?
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About an 1/8" per foot is good, so if and when they may sag from weight, they don't backflow or hold water that can freeze or make skeeters.
Often on a long run of fascia we'd have to have some section at level or the run would run out of fascia by the tim eyou reached the drop. So pitch, level, pitch, level, pitch is acceptable.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
Thanks, function definitly out weighs looks I just see so many gutters out there that make a beautiful house look crooked.
Heres one we did that don't.
View Image
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
Edited 4/2/2009 6:47 pm ET by Sphere
Now that's art!~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netSee my work - TedsCarpentry.com
That was a HUGE job, most gutter on one house I think I've ever hung, funky hangers, square tail fascia, and seemed like miles of downspout.
View Image
View Image
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
Edited 4/2/2009 8:04 pm ET by Sphere
Edited 4/2/2009 8:05 pm ET by Sphere
They really stand out when shiny new like that. Almost have to put on my sunglasses.
Nice job, there. ~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netSee my work - TedsCarpentry.com
Gotta wonder, who designs roofs like that? More damm water flow than Niagra, and 4" pipe.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
Did you do the front door too?
Yeah, the gutter cost so much, OSB was all they could afford.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
Those look awesome. Will they stay shiny or develop the classic copper patina in time?Scott.
That was about 2 yrs ago, I'd say they have turned brown by now. No treatments or anything applied.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
sphere, what source did you use for the copper gutters? If you look mine are from Classic Gutters but I spaced my hangers ever 2 feet rather than ever 4 feet which you seemed to have..
Ever find a screen or leaf protector that works for the gutter?
They're on 32" centers (every other rafter tail) and the hangers and some of the other pieces came from Classic. The gutter & downspout were acquired locally.>>>>>>Ever find a screen or leaf protector that works for the gutter? Yes. This stuff works great and looks even better, since you can't see it from the ground:https://www.guttersupply.com/p-GutterFill.gstmlhttp://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
That's brillant!
Thanks a ton! finally a solution!
>This stuff works great and looks even better, since you can't see it from the ground:
https://www.guttersupply.com/p-GutterFill.gstml<
How do they handle pine needles?
How do they handle pine needles?
Fine - I have a lot of coniferous trees around my house. The needles build up a little on top of the filters, but then either wash or blow off. I've noticed some build up, but before I can do anything about it, it's gone.
I've actually got a different, but similar brand on my house. I like this brand better, especially for 1/2 round.http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
Hafta ask Grant, it was his baby.
They are not 4' OC , but more like 32" or so..you can hang a deer offa them, SS lagged to the house.
Edit: I see Grant had the info. Them leaf things are cool, and easy to install..like big scotchbrite pads.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
Edited 4/3/2009 1:38 pm ET by Sphere
I was tought to hang them with a slight pitch, partly to better wash out any debris that gathers.
On long runs, I'd keep the middle high, and pitch down towards the ends. I also like to use 2 drops in anything over 30' or so.
Or set the fascia out of level, to match the gutter pitch <G>
Things are probably different here but I've never seen a pitched gutter in south Florida and we get 55 inches of rain a year. However, all our gutters are aluminum so they aren't going to corrode from standing water. The birds love the little puddles that stay in the low spots.
Got a call from an electrician. A regional garage builder had done his garage. He wondered why even with a mild downpour water overflowed the closed end of his gutter.
Seems his wish for a pitch on the slab toward the doors conflicted with his desire for downspouts off the rear end of the garage.
That's right, pitched floor, pitched foundation, pitched garage. Running the gutter with maximum (for the facia) pitch didn't even level it.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
that is called a water "feature"people pay extra for that kind of stuffNo Tag
I went over in the rain and you are right, it was a design feature. Comical watching it come out the spout and the other end of the gutter at the same time.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
The problem i have with hanging them level is that over time they can sag. I live in No CO so I have ice filling up the gutters after it snows and it is heavy.
A lot of the time the downspouts are at or near the ends of gutters and they tend not to sag as much as the middle. So over time the middle sags. Once that happens water sits in the middle and goes through a melt/freeze cycle and will make it sag further.
Maybe if you pitch the gutters in 6-8 years they will be level?
I'm no expert in this, but I will say that even though mine have a slight pitch, they still fill up with all kinds of junk and don't drain properly. I'd hate to see what level gutters would do.
Scott.
I was taught to have some pitch up here in Maine Ice is heavy and if there is pitch when they thaw the water can run down hill even if its only for short spells during the winter.
Carpentry and remodeling
Vic Vardamis
Bangor Me
Thanks for your input. I'm in Pittsburgh and get some snow and ice too, not as much though. I can see a pitch being helpful in that regard.
Some levels have a graduated scale to set slope, that second line.
With a reg. 4' you can eyeball the bubble.
Check the facia first, and the roof line drip....water don't care, it finds it self.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
View Imagehttp://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
Ok, I don't have that...
Need help? I'm broke.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
Level for me. Pitched gutters make the house look odd leaving less fascia visible at one end. Your eye doesn't know what's wrong: Is the roof wavy? It also changes the relationship with the drip edge of the roofing. On a long run with a 1/8" a foot pitch you end up with several inch gap between the top of the gutter and the drip which can cause more problems than a bit of standing water.
Thanks F & T, I was starting to feel guilty for hanging gutters wrong. Other than one other post and you it seems that the consensus is to hang gutters with a pitch. Although I've been given some great opinions and suggestions I think I'll keep doing what I've been doing, hanging level.
cirino
An old thread but I will post this anyhow just in case someone like me comes looking for references in the future.
Tommy Sylva says slope the gutters, I trust him as many others would agree.
Reference Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEV1OoGKBpE
Matt