The rainy season can be more damaging for your home than you perhaps realize. While you may know that extreme weather can be harmful to the outside of any building. You may not have given a thought to a more insidious threat: standing water. If water is allowed to pool on your roof, for example, it can erode through everything and eventually cause leakage, damaging not only the outside but the inside of your home as well. 

This is why you have a rain gutter, and why achieving the proper rain gutter slope is important. Avoiding water damage while keeping the home aesthetically pleasing matters a lot to homeowners. All too often, unfortunately, those same homeowners fail to care for their rain gutters in the proper way. 

They ignore signs of damage and wear; as the gutters crack or begin to sag, they begin to fail to do their jobs effectively. Over time, this can translate to a lot of wear and tear and eventually even catastrophic damage to the home. 

As with many problems in life, you can go a long way toward avoiding catastrophe simply by being properly educated and properly prepared. Here are a few things every homeowner should know about rain gutter slope: 

The Importance of Rain Gutter Slope 

As we mentioned above, a properly functioning gutter is critical to the longevity of your home. A major part of the effectiveness of your rain gutter comes down to rain gutter slope; since gutters work based on gravity, the better your slope is, the more effective they will be. 

So, What Is a “Gutter Slope” Exactly? 

The definition of “slope” when it comes to gutters is simply the amount that they slant downward. While it seems simple enough to just angle your rain gutters downward a little. Achieving the ideal slope is actually extremely difficult and usually requires the help of a trained professional. This is because if a gutter doesn’t have enough slant to it, the water will simply pool inside of it and cause damage. 

However, if it has too much slant, the rain will slosh as it’s carried toward the downspouts. This can also cause damage. Not only that, but a gutter that is slanted too sharply will have a bizarre look to it that can reduce the curb appeal—and therefore the value—of your home. 

How Do I Figure Out the Ideal Slope? 

Ideally, you won’t have to figure out the slope of your rain gutter at all. Too many homeowners attempt to DIY projects like this and end up just damaging their homes. Untrained roof work carries more than just the risk of some damage to the home; if you’re climbing around on your roof and haven’t been trained to do so, you are putting yourself at risk as well. The much safer bet is simply to secure the services of a trained professional, such as the ones at Interstate Roofing. 

With that bit of caution out of the way, however, here is how most professionals attempt to find the ideal slope for rain gutters: it’s usually about ¼ inch per 10 feet of gutter. That means if you have 20 feet of gutter, you’ll usually set your downspout—on the lower end—about ½ inch lower than the opposite end. 

Note that this formula is for an ideal slope, and with many homes, it is impossible to achieve it exactly. The rain gutter in your home must also have an aesthetically pleasing look to it, which means you’ll want to avoid a huge slant. As always, ask for the advice of your roofing contractor to see how you can achieve sufficient rain gutter slope. 

Downspouts 

When you’ve figured out the specifics of your rain gutter slope. You’ll have to work with your contractor to make a decision on where to locate the downspouts on your home. The downspout is the part of the gutter that actually carries the water away from your home, so it needs to be installed with care as well. 

Usually, your contractor will install one downspout per approximately 20 feet of gutter. However, this can vary a bit depending on the rain gutter slope that your home is utilizing. Remember, of course, that the gutters must be designed in such a way as to maximise the benefits you receive from gravity. 

Building Your Rain Gutters 

Rain gutters work by a very simple principle, really: they use gravity to carry rainwater off your roof and deposit it harmlessly somewhere else. What a proper rain gutter looks like, however, depends on a number of factors. Ask yourself the following questions when considering what type of rain gutter to install: 

What Is the Weather Like Where I Live? 

Depending on the climate you live in, your home will have different needs regarding the rain gutters. For example, if you live in a part of the country that receives a great deal of rain and snow throughout the year, you’ll need a bigger and heavier-duty gutter than if you live in a more arid area. 

What Kind of Materials Do I Want? 

The materials you use are chosen for several reasons, some of them practical and some of them aesthetic. We don’t want to undersell the value of an aesthetically pleasing rain gutter; one that is an eyesore will reduce the value of your home, ultimately costing you money, no matter how effective it is. 

However, you’ll also need to ensure that your rain gutter can do its job with maximum efficiency. Of course, the less maintenance it requires, the better for you, and certain materials are more durable than others. 

As a general rule, look for the most durable material that fits into your budget, and look for a company that can utilise this material in a way that boosts your home’s curb appeal. 

How Big Should the Rain Gutter Be? 

While the average width of a rain gutter is approximately five inches, in particularly wet climates they may need to be a little wider. You’ll also want to check your local zoning laws. Many places have regulations on the size that gutters are allowed to be. If your community has a requirement on the exact size of your rain gutter. Your hands will be tied when making that particular decision. 

Maintenance 

Last, but certainly not least, after your gutters have been installed, you’ll want to ensure they receive regular maintenance. Having a proper rain gutter slope, with downspouts installed in the correct areas, will minimise the maintenance that you need. 

However, over time, rainwater will still cause natural wear and tear that must be repaired. That’s why it’s critical to ensure you have a roofing contractor such as Interstate Roofing whom you can trust.