Whatever your home improvement project, you’ll always hear that it’s best to leave it to a professional home remodeler. This is especially true if you are dealing with a gutter installation or replacement. Why is this?
It’s because gutter installation or replacement requires exact measurements where the following are involved:
Gutter Slope
Gutters may appear straight but troughs are actually sloped, pitching at about 1/4 inch for every 10 feet. Too low a slope and water won’t drain properly into downspouts, leading to water ponding and overflows. Too steep and your gutters will be visibly unaligned, taking away from your home’s overall curb appeal.
Gutter Placement
Because gutters catch rainwater from the roof, it’s easy to assume they are installed right along the roofline. However, they are actually installed a few inches lower than the roof by roofers, allowing rainwater to pull back on the underside of a roof and drip down. Installing gutters too close to the roof will actually prevent it from catching rainwater effectively.
Hanger Spacing
Hangers are responsible for holding up gutters. They have to be spaced right to ensure proper weight distribution, especially when it rains. In areas that don’t see a lot of rain, hangers can be placed close to the middle of the gutter, spaced no more than 36 inches from the center. For areas that do see a lot of rain, hangers have to be spaced closer at a maximum distance of 18 inches apart.
Planning to get new gutters?
Empire Roofing & More are the expert roofers to trust for all your roofing, siding and gutter requirements. To learn more about what we can do for you, simply give us a call at (412) 999-7135 or fill out our contact form. Ask us for a FREE quote today! We serve Pittsburgh and Wexford, as well as the surrounding PA communities.
